My daughter goes to college this year and I got the first bill this week. The college will accept Visa, Mastercard or Discover. I would like to maximize points but my main issue is I am Delta/Starwood/AMEX guy and I don't see a way to leverage that since they don't accept AMEX. Looking at the other alternatives what would be the best card to maximize points over the next four years?

Thx

AARP!

Just another little tidbit, if I did do another airline affinity card it would be AA. I know there is a Citi AAdvantage deal going for 30k miles, anything better?

5 threads down forom this

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...-up-bonus.html

yeah, the AA is a good option if you need it now. If you have a business get the personal and business card at the same time to double your bonus to 150K. See the post at the beginning of that thread for the info

Most universities, if not all, impose a "convenience fee" on charges for tuition and fees. The nominal convenience fee can be no less than 2.99%. So if you choose to charge your daughter's tuition and fees, you are also paying an "extra" price for the miles/points.

Read this recent thread that's on the exact same topic:

Worth the miles/points if...

Earning miles/points is great but sometimes that may not be the most cost-effective option w/r/t paying tuition & fees.

Or get 2 personal, wait 65 days and then get the business

The actual potential is 225,000 miles for 3 cards, assuming no Citi AA cards and qualification for the business card. See this post: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/14386923-post2.html.

The short version--apply for 2 personal cards the same day, wait approximately 65 days and apply for a business card. There are bonuses of 75K AA miles for each card. Read the post carefully, follow its instructions to the letter, and have faith that the links noted to work in that post will still work even though the "official" deadline for these deals has passed and there is no confirmation during the online application process that you will get the miles (this is information that you can confirm through telephone contact with a CSR). If you look at the last few pages of this thread, you'll see recent confirmations, including one from this past Monday.

Good luck!

There is nothing in the paperwork about any additional fee for CC payment but I will call and verify. I looked at the AA thread but did not seem to get any of the links with the 75k promotion to come up.

About 1/2 just worked for me

Ok signed up and got the CitiAA card and teh 75k for $1500 offer and verified there are no fees for paying the college costs with a credit card. So unless something better comes along AA is getting my points

Good for you. I was going to tell you I used the link 2 days ago, but you got it. Also if you only want 1 pull from credit agency you have to apply for the other personel on the same day.

Already have a regular AMEX Platinum and a Delta Platinum with AMEX so no more AMEX cards for me. Still bumming the school does not take AMEX, getting MR and then waiting for the 50% bump deal would have been sweet.

The Citi Amex is not a 'real' Amex in the sense that it's issued by them. Just think of it as a Citi card.

You really only have 1 shot at this. If you don't apply the same day, it's probably 12-18 months before you can get another Citi AA personal card.

Great, thanks for the info, I went ahead and signed up for the CitiAmex as well. Pretty easy 150,000 miles.