Looking for new LAX-PHL airline/program
 

Does anyone have opinions as to the better reward programs for Delta, US Airways, VirginAmerica? And their associated credit cards? Or should I just stay with my Chase Sapphire.

Thanks!

The US mileage program will soon be merged with AA. By all accounts and in my own experience, the AA program is far superior to DL's as far as redeeming miles is concerned.

+1

A lot depends on your flying patterns and especially on what features of an FF program are most important to you. But still...

AA is in most respects the best USA FF program. Now, a big caveat here is that no one knows what will happen to that program as the merger with US unfolds. But still, it's a given that DL is lousy for mileage redemption and Virgin's has many shortcomings, so it's likely that even a watered down AA FF program will be the best of the three. Plus, FWIW, given that LAX is an AA hub and PHL a US hub, I would think that the new AA/US would have the most options for connecting between the two.

As for the credit cards: The Chase Sapphire is a good cc. But getting one or more AA and/or US ccs need not be mutually exclusive with retaining CS. You could get some nice sign-up/initial spending mileage bonuses with the AA/US cards but still retain CS as the main card.

What are you looking for in a credit card? Where else do you fly? CS is a great card, but UR points can only be transferred to Chase airline mileage programs (BA, SW, UA, VS, for example). Another consideration - do you fly enough on one carrier to earn elite status? If not, having a credit card from your preferred carrier typically means free baggage check, priority boarding, other bennies.

PHL is a major hub for US, currently offers 3 daily nonstops versus 2 for VX. Their Barclay's card offers some very nice bennies, including $100 companion pass, 5k discount on mileage redemptions, no minimum spend for sign-up mileage bonus (after $89 annual fee), periodic mileage bonus offers for min spend - and will soon be merged with AA.