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!

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!

Thanks for the reply! I am actually based out of the US. Just updated the profile, my bad! I should be able to get any card. Currently have the amex marriot and amex blue cashback. Thanks

OK.

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?

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.

And it doesn’t have to be an either/or question. For many people it makes sense to use one of more UR or MR credit cards to earn flexible points and also hold (*) one or more hotel/airline branded cards for the ancillary benefits (free bags, elite status, ….). The correct answer depends on the travel needs/patterns and probably also on the spend pattern.

(*) often in a sock drawer with minimal spend on those cards.