Miles or CC Points!
Aug 5, 2023 | 11:40 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2023
Posts: 3
Miles or CC Points!
Greetings, lovely people! As a newcomer, I'm still learning my way around here. I'd appreciate some advice on choosing the right credit card. Should I go for an airline-affiliated card, such as AA or United, or would it be better to stick with Chase or Amex Rewards and convert the points to airline miles for redemption? Please forgive any forum rule breaches. Thank you for your assistance!
Aug 6, 2023 | 12:07 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 34,985
That is the question!
The answer depends on what your travel plans are, and whether you can make good use of the ancillary benefits offered by the various cards. For example, is getting a free checked bag when you fly Economy Class important to you? Airline credit cards often offer that benefit; other cards do not. What are your intended redemptions? And in what class of service?
Your FT profile indicates that you are a resident of Canada. Are Chase cards even available to Canadian residents?
Welcome to FlyerTalk!
The answer depends on what your travel plans are, and whether you can make good use of the ancillary benefits offered by the various cards. For example, is getting a free checked bag when you fly Economy Class important to you? Airline credit cards often offer that benefit; other cards do not. What are your intended redemptions? And in what class of service?
Your FT profile indicates that you are a resident of Canada. Are Chase cards even available to Canadian residents?
Welcome to FlyerTalk!
Aug 7, 2023 | 1:01 pm
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 34,985
Then the important questions to answer are: What are your intended redemptions, and how important to you are the ancillary benefits associated with a co-branded airline credit card?
Aug 16, 2023 | 2:40 pm
#5
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Georgia
Programs: DL DM/2MM
Posts: 1,118
Of course, it depends on your travel and spending habits. For me, AmEx MR allows me to transfer points to foreign airlines whose redemption rates are much better than U.S. airlines. For instance, I booked a pair of business class seats on an AF flight instead of a DL flight to Europe next month. I booked months ago. For the same destination, I saved thousands of dollars worth of points redeeming through AF instead of DL. But there's several variables listed in that simple example. so my experience may not apply to you.
Aug 17, 2023 | 9:11 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS Plat, AA EP, Bonvoy Plat, Hilton Dia, Hyatt Glob, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 21,464
The answer depends on what your travel plans are, and whether you can make good use of the ancillary benefits offered by the various cards. For example, is getting a free checked bag when you fly Economy Class important to you? Airline credit cards often offer that benefit; other cards do not. What are your intended redemptions? And in what class of service?
(*) often in a sock drawer with minimal spend on those cards.