What card to get?
 

Hi everyone,

Hope this is the right forum for this question.

I'm looking to get a mileage card - preferably AA but I'm flexible. Basically I want one with a large initial bonus, and no annual fee (not just for the first year - no annual fee ever).

I have heard these exist, but am having a hard time finding them.

Any suggestions?

If not, what do you feel is the best card to get now? I won't use it too often (maybe a few thousand dollars a year) so I am most interested in the initial bonus.

Thanks!

All 1 point per $ mileage cards come with annual fees. There are a few 1 point for $2 that are annual fee free.

I'd look at Starwood amex. Starpoints transfer to a large number of airlines, you get a 5,000 mile bonus when you transfer 20,000 points. The card is free for the first year, and $45 per year after that.

do a search on Starwood in the Amex credit card forum.

I don't understand why you don't like the 1 year free cards. The bonuses for signups are huge. Just cancel when you year is up, then, in some cases (Citi cards, for example), re-apply after 60 days. Or just apply for a different type of card for the same airline. (A business card, for example. Everyone has a business.) Or perhaps apply for an American Express card that offers Membership Rewards points that convert to your airline's program.

It should be particularly easy to get a ticket to Europe on American Airlines via the Citibank AA credit cards. Plus, there are many other ways to earn AA miles.

See my website below, with particular attention to the Credit Card section.

Thanks for the responses. I don't really want to cancel them because A) won't that hurt my credit rating? and B) I am looking for another card to help build my credit rating (and thus keep it for a long time). Not really into the "cancel and get another one" game, but admittedly I don't really know the effect that will have on my credit - I just assumed it was bad (not that the scoring procedure makes sense though anyway).