Help with choosing CC for FF miles?
 

I have spent the last several hours researching which credit card would be the best choice for me. My main goal is to get miles which can be used for future fares. From what I've read, SPG may be the way to go, but I just want some feedback before making a final decision. If there is a card that you think is a better fit for me, please advise.

Here is some info that may be relevant. I am self-employed and work out of my home. I suppose I could get a business card if that is advantageous, although doing a quick overview of the SPG Personal vs Business, it looks like I can get 25,000 bonus miles with the Personal, but only 10,000 with the Business. Should I just go with the Personal if I go with SPG?

My monthly expenses (mostly online using my CC) are 8000-12,000. I also make most of my grocery/gas purchases at Costco (another advantage of AMEX SPG).

SLC is my home airport, with several airlines to choose from, so I'm not sure I want a card that is tied to one specific airline. I am very new to all this, so I appreciate any help you can give. If there is some pertinent information I have left out, please let me know. Thanks in advance.

I love the SPG Amex. Get both the personal and business cards.;)

SPG Amex is a great card and is fee free the first year I believe,so why not try it and see if it works for you.
My personal experiences were that is was not worth me keeping,but I would certainly recommend it if it fits your needs.

Since you want it mainly for airfare,keep in mind if your preferred carriers are CO or UA,then it is not the card for you,as they transfer at 2:1,vs 1:1 for the others.

I also carry the Costco card,which gives 2% cash back on travel,in addition to 3% for gas.I am finding myself leaning more toward cash back cards and less toward point/mileage cards,although I carry a ton of them also. If they have annual fee,I make sure I get at least the equivalent value of the fee in benefits.

I would also suggest you also get a Visa or MC as backup if you don't already have one,for the places that don't take Amex or for the times you run into trouble with Amex,as many on these boards are discovering.

Good luck with your decisions-it can get overwhelming and there is no "golden"card that fits everyone's needs.

Ok. One more question. Am I correct in thinking that getting frequent flyer miles for every mile you fly only occurs when you are a member of an airline's specific frequent flyer program? For example, when someone does a MR on a Delta flight, let's say 6000 miles RT, they get 6000 FF miles if they have a Delta frequent flyer account. In other words, I can't get FF miles based on how much I fly through SPG except for the cost of the fare that I pay for using the card. So, do people that do MR's have FF accounts with multiple flight operators? Is there any cost to become a member since it's not tied to a credit card? Sorry for all the beginner questions, but I'm quite new to this. Thanks.

You only get flight miles when you fly and if you are a member of the FF program. So yes, fo ryou example, on a Delta flight you must be a member of Delta's FF program (or a member of a partner airline program that allows you to earn miles on DL flights, such as Skyteam airlines)

Most of us here have memberships in at least 3 different FF programs to cover the 3 major alliances: oneworld, Star Alliance, and Skyteam

No, there is no cost to become a member of most (if not all) FF programs

SPG one more vote although I will be using Citi AMEX for 2 yrs (if they keep 5/3).

Both SPG Personal and Business version can get 25,000 points with 15,000 spending. If you really have trouble finding it, PM me.

Just curious, what card(s) do you believe offered better value to you? I've been looking for a while, and other than the Schwab 2% CB on everything card (which I am still considering as a backup) I haven't been able to find a card that would make me consider relegating my SPG. Thanks.

My preferred carriers are CO and UA ,so SPG gives me no value there.My hotel stays tend to be Hilton and Marriott,so I use their affinity cards for those stays. I also use my Southwest card for WN airfare,which maintains my CP.I have also been churning Citi AA cards to build up miles there while they are still allowing it.

I was planning to get the Schwab card,and may still so so,but for now I am using my Costco card as my cash back card.

For me this combination works and I could no longer justify the 45.00 annual fee for the SPG card.