I've spent several hours researching all of the non-airline credit cards offers, to find a replacement for my NEA card.

Elan from Firstar($55 fee) http://www.firstar.com/persfin/pers3-credit-fr.html

Evercard ($39 fee) http://www.everbank.com/main.asp?IdPage=pro_evm

MilesOne ($19 fee) http://www.capitalone.com/indexn.shtml

and First Union ($75 fee) http://www.firstunion.com/

All of these cards seem to have the best redemption rates, after NEA changes there structure on 12/31/01. Most of them give 2,500 bonus miles after first use of the card. I think that they all cap earnings at 10,000 miles per month, but I may be mistaken. All of them redeem at the same rate:

R/T within a zone 18,000 = $360 (NEA N/A)
R/T within US 25,000 = $500 (NEA $400)
Mex, Canada, Carib 35,000 = $700 (NEA $600)
Alaska, Hawaii 40,000 = $800 (NEA $600)
Europe 50,000 = $1000 (NEA $800)

The First Union Card earns 1.2 miles per dollar charged, the others are 1 mile per dollar. First Union will also let you redeem unused miles for cash at a rate of 1%.

Looks like I will be switching to First Union after my NEA changes. Of course by then who knows what other offers will be available???



[This message has been edited by Darla (edited 04-22-2001).]

Thanks for the research Darla,

Do any of these programs offer to pay for hotels or auto rental? That's what I usually use my points for. One huge complaint I had with NEA was that I could book a hotel directly for $50 say, but when I would call NEA to book throught them with points they would tell me the rate was $179 instead of the $50 and would charge me extra points because of it. Incredibly, they would pay the hotel the $179 instead of the $50.

Hi, I'm new to this board so please bear with me. Are you referring to the MBNA NEA card? Did you recieve notification that the program is changing? I also have this card and had no idea they were changing the requirements.

Big time WELCOME Pat H . Yes, that is the card we are talking about. Use the link from the seperate NEA posting. I haven't officially received notification about this, but you can call NEA Member Benefits (1-800-637-4636 and talk to them about it.

Personally, I think a VERY good card is the First USA Southwest Airlines VISA. (http://www.firstusa.com/cgi-bin/webcgi/webserve.cgi?partner_dir_name=southwest_airlines_c lassic&page=cont)

You can cash in a free domestic trip for 16 Rapid Rewards credits (1 credit=$1000 spent on the card). In the first year, the card gives you 4 credits. So the first year redemption is 12 RR credits. Annual Fee = $39

The GREAT thing about this card is that the 16 credits gives you a TRANSFERABLE Tix!!!! That means you can go to Ebay.com (http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?MfcISAPICommand=GetResult&ht=1&SortProp erty=MetaEndSort&query=southwest+airlines) and sell it for usually $330 on average........That's 2 cents per mile in the 2nd year of card usage (i.e. $330/16,000) or 2.75 cents per mile in the First year (i.e. $330/12,000)

Others in the know acknowledge that this card is pretty unbeatable in this regard.

As you know, you can get paid immediately thru Paypal.com.

You can then have the OPTION of USING your newly earned money to purchase a tix on ANY airline (thereby collecting miles), putting in the bank, or keeping the domestic reward for yourself (lowest redemption in the industry among the majors).

The card is COMPETITIVELY PRICED at $39 or you can go for the $59 Platinum card. Only bad thing about the card is that it's offered thru First USA.

Thanks, Wonderer. What a bummer. Sure won't be worth having anymore.

Pat

Now, as far as I can see, there is only one viable choice. Yes, the NEA Card was superior and not just in the reward program terms. When it's gone, it looks like the Visa/MC that I carry to back up my AMEX will be the Hhonors card from Citibank. At 2 and 3 points per dollar spent, it's not as good as other Hhonors cards, but it's still not bad. Add on the 7,500 point signup bonus and NO annual free and it looks even better. Plus, for people like me who are planning to use most if not all of their points and miles for vacations in the Hhonors program, this option sounds especially good.

I'm glad Hilton decided to make a Visa w/ no annual fee.

The problem is the redemption/dollar earned on the card is terrible.

Someone is much better off with a frequent flier or other rewards card.

Case in point: MBNA is coming up with a Cruise Card that gives you 2% back on cruises (Carnival Cruises cancelled their affiliation with MBNA, where they were offering 4% back. Carnival says it's coming out with a new card that is "even better" than the old. I'll wait & see!).

Scrog....I don't know if any of the cards I listed above offer hotel or rental redemptions, I didn't see those options listed, but perhaps if you call them...maybe they do!

Wolverine... Oh I was so disappointed when I got my letter about the Carnival Cruise card from MBNA. I've earned two $800 certificates from that program. I charged over $3000 in gift certificates at my local grocery store just so I could max out before they discontinue the program, to get my third certificate.

I have a site about the new MBNA Cruise Rewards program http://members.tripod.com/~DarlaBernard/index.html

Where did you hear about a new Carnival replacement? I thought the old program at 4% was quite generous, now Carnival says they are going to have an even better one? Keep sending me on those free cruises! More info please, thanks, Darla

Wolverine......I have posted earning & redemption information about the new Carnival & Capital One credit card here:
http://members.tripod.com/~DarlaBern...pitalCC-2.html

My experience: Firstar never answered their 24/7 800#. Called once evening, then during regular business hours.

Evercard seems to have some promise, but they've only been in business since 11/99. With all the dot-bombs that have occured recently, I'm a bit leery of doing business with such a newbie.



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HAS ANYONE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE CHANGES?

The Web site states all current memebers will be notified "more than 8 months" before the program changes. And also that the changes will be mailed to all active members in April 2001. (gives them the 8 months notice)

But here it is 18 May and I have not seen notification. And if I did tomorrow, would already have less than the promised "more than eight months".

HAS ANYONE BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE CHANGES?

The Web site states all current memebers will be notified "more than 8 months" before the program changes. And also that the changes will be mailed to all active members in April 2001. (gives them the 8 months notice)

But here it is 18 May and I have not seen notification. And if I did tomorrow, would already have less than the promised "more than eight months".

I was wondering that myself why I haven't been notified yet. I haven't used the card for awhile because I get my maximum allowable points in a month or two of charges. My year is up in August and I'm not sure if I'll keep my cards.

I have not been notified either...