UAL Millage Programs For Debit Cards
 

Now that Continental and Alaskan have millage programs that allow you to gain miles using your debit card instead of a credit card.

Is there a bank which offers a UAL miles through a debit card?
We normally run everything as "credit" on our debit card because running as debit usually involves as fee (i.e. $.50). Wow! That does sound confusing re-reading it, only the banking industry could make it that complicated.
Basically, we want a card that automatically subtracts from our checking account, traditionally known as a "Debit Card"

Is there a difference (for these millage prorams) between using your debit card for a charge as debit vs using the debit card as credit?

BankOne has provided a United VISA debit for a while now:

http://www.bankone.com/answers/BolAn...PlusTHEONECard

As well as Continental (Chase & Keybank), Alaska (Bank of America) and UAL (Bank1) you can also get debit cards for America West (BofA), USAirways (BofA), Northwest (USBank) and American Airlines (Citibank). (There also used to be a Hawaiian Air card from Bank of Hawaii but they have closed it for new applicants)

Virtually all the debit cards have a $2 = 1 mile earning ratio (ie half that of a credit card) - the sole exception is the American Airlines Citibank Debit Card which has 2 levels -> a regular $2 = 1 mile card (annual fee $30?) and a premium debit card $1 = 1 mile (annual fee $65) - both have the same criteria its just a matter of how much you want to pay in annual fee.

Oh - and you only earn mileage when you choose "credit" for your card transaction (ie when you sign) - PIN transactions = no miles.

If you tend to have money sitting in your check account there is also the Bankdirect and Guaranty Bank mileage checking accounts with AA that you earn 1 mile per $10 in average monthly balance (see AA.com for details) - Australians can get a similar account through Woolworths Ezybanking to earn Qantas points on monthly balances.

[QUOTE=ANDREWCX]
Virtually all the debit cards have a $2 = 1 mile earning ration (ie half that of a credit card) - the sole exception is the American Airlines Citibank Debit Card which has 2 levels -> a regular $2 = 1 mile card (annual fee $30?) and a premium debit card $1 = 1 mile (annual fee $65) - both have the same criteria its just a matter of how much you want to pay in annual fee.
[QUOTE]

Continental's Chase Debit Card's highest level offer $1=1Mile, but thats only if you are willing to pay the $65 Annual Fee and maintain a average combined account balance of 25k or 50k for interest bearing cheacking, otherwise a $30 monthly fee applies... :(