miles program
Aug 23, 2011 | 10:42 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: AA
Posts: 2
miles program
I am new to this forum, so excuse me if question has been asked already. I am fairly high spender and accumulated miles and platinum level at AA through citi/advantage card. Since I discovered this forum I am totally confused if i am collecting miles the most effective way. Most of my flying done using points.
And I do enjoy flying business. It appears that AAdvantage offers best return for flying business to Europe. Thank you for your help.
And I do enjoy flying business. It appears that AAdvantage offers best return for flying business to Europe. Thank you for your help.
Aug 23, 2011 | 11:03 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Not here; there!
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold
Posts: 34,943
Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8530/5.0.0.601 Profile/MIDP-2.1 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/417)
Welcome to FT!
While the Citi/AA credit cards offer some great sign-up bonuses, you normally earn only one mile per dollar charged. With the SPG Amex card, you earn one SPG Starpoint per dollar charged, but you can convert 20,000 Starpoints to 25,000 AAdvantage miles, so you effectively earn 1.25 AAdvantage miles per dollar charged. And Starpoints can be converted to other airlines' frequent-flyer miles as well, and/or used for free hotel stays at Starwood properties.
Welcome to FT!
While the Citi/AA credit cards offer some great sign-up bonuses, you normally earn only one mile per dollar charged. With the SPG Amex card, you earn one SPG Starpoint per dollar charged, but you can convert 20,000 Starpoints to 25,000 AAdvantage miles, so you effectively earn 1.25 AAdvantage miles per dollar charged. And Starpoints can be converted to other airlines' frequent-flyer miles as well, and/or used for free hotel stays at Starwood properties.
Aug 24, 2011 | 9:30 am
#3
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: NYC
Posts: 511
First, Welcome to Flyertalk kirov42!
If you are earning PLT with AA it seems you are doing it right. If you want some advice on how to price your mileage read this.
Here are some ways to earn more AA miles, try what is right for you:
1. You might want to consider signing up for the Citi AA Biz card that would net you 75k aa miles. Read thisFlyertalk thread.
2. Fidelity has 50k AA bonus miles for opening a brokerage account. Read this flyertalk thread.
3. Online Banking with Bank direct. 100 miles per month for ever $1,000 in Mileage Checking Acct. Read this thread.
Finding a good "return" for your miles is a bit tricky if you do not first find how much those miles cost to accumulate. Business Awards can be a good deal if you paid less for the miles you are using than the cost of the ticket of your award flight.
I hope I gave you some useful information in your quest to maximizing the rate of return on your AA miles.
If you are earning PLT with AA it seems you are doing it right. If you want some advice on how to price your mileage read this.
Here are some ways to earn more AA miles, try what is right for you:
1. You might want to consider signing up for the Citi AA Biz card that would net you 75k aa miles. Read thisFlyertalk thread.
2. Fidelity has 50k AA bonus miles for opening a brokerage account. Read this flyertalk thread.
3. Online Banking with Bank direct. 100 miles per month for ever $1,000 in Mileage Checking Acct. Read this thread.
Finding a good "return" for your miles is a bit tricky if you do not first find how much those miles cost to accumulate. Business Awards can be a good deal if you paid less for the miles you are using than the cost of the ticket of your award flight.
I hope I gave you some useful information in your quest to maximizing the rate of return on your AA miles.
Aug 24, 2011 | 9:12 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: AA
Posts: 2
Thank you guv1976. SPG looks like a nice alternative, but i find that AMEX not accepted widely outside US. Based on this most of my spending will be done with M/C, so miles accumulation will be somewhat ineffective. Also, are there any airlines that offer you preferred status based on spending?
Aug 25, 2011 | 8:51 am
#5
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Northwest NJ
Programs: Starwood Platinum,Marriott Platinum, United Silver
Posts: 2,313
The Continental Chase President Plus card (about $495 per year) offers lounge access plus Elite Qualifying Miles for each $5,000 charged. Spend enough and you could get some serious status.
Other than that to my knowledge, it would be the AMEX Centurion card which is invitation only, $5,000 application fee and $2500 per year, but right now I have Elite mid tier with Continental, Delta and US Air. Sadly, Continental will be leaving the program shortly and there is no word on a replacement, if any.
Other than that to my knowledge, it would be the AMEX Centurion card which is invitation only, $5,000 application fee and $2500 per year, but right now I have Elite mid tier with Continental, Delta and US Air. Sadly, Continental will be leaving the program shortly and there is no word on a replacement, if any.