Should I get a card?
 

Traveling from OKC-LAX, LAX-BKK (Bangkok). Round trip, I am looking for the cheapest fare. I dont have a credit card that offers any sort of miles program. Should I start one and put this flight on it? I really dont have much use for a credit card other than taking out emergency cash but I was wondering if it would be beneficial for me to get one before I buy my plane ticket thailand. Thanks in advance!!!!!

You're asking this question on FlyerTalk? If course you should get a mileage card! If you don't have one already, you need to take into account how long it will take to get it and when you want to buy your ticket. Most of the cards also give you big signup boni, so even if you don't use them, they're usually worth it.

And welcome to FT.

You travel internationally without a credit card? Do you live off of traveler's checks? How do you pay for hotels? Do youself a favor and at least get an ATM card. The conversion rate is better than you will find at most hotels, and there are ATMs almost everywhere now.

The whole point of the mileage cards is to try to run every single penny of average spending through the card (to generate as much mileage as possible), and then pay it off in full the next month to avoid finance charges.

Great advice from JoeSixPack. Heed those words. Gotta have the card -- and why not get miles or points for the money you're spending anyway?

Gotta have a card
 

Do you eat? Do you buy groceries? Do you ever purchase new clothes? Why would you buy pay cash for anything if you can buy it with a credit card and get miles? (And, of course, pay it off every month--running a balance defeats the entire purpose of this.)

Djlawman

yikes guys
 

I didnt know there is so much concern. I am only 21 and have been using my visa check-card every time I travel. I actually use it for everything. Being as I am only 21, credit cards scare the living heck out of me. There are horror stories all over campus about kids signing up for credit cards and getting stuck in a hole for the next 15 years.

My old roommate use to have one and he bought stuff like there was no tomorrow. He always said, "If I die before I go bankrupt, then I win." Unfortunatly for him, he didnt die. :rolleyes:

So, since I basically only want a credit card so I can start racking up miles. What is a good card/plan for me since I am a budget type spender and wont spend much more than $500 a month but would like to start collecting miles.

By the way, I am impressed with all the responses. Especially since I only have a few posts to my name.

Don't be surprised about the amount of responses, as we are glad to help people get addicted <cough> excuse me, familiar with the world of points and miles

Here is a thread that you might find interesting, and could prove helpful

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=270587

Make sure you browse the forums, and if you have a question regarding a particular topic, the search function is your best friend ;)

You can get miles many ways without even flying. Do you have a phone? You can get miles for the right long distance server.

Do you buy stuff (or would you like to) from places like Lands End, LL Bean, etc.? You can get miles from them too.

There are all kinds of places to get miles. Go to Gary Steiger's website:

http://home.earthlink.net/~pgary/TravelFrame.html

He's on here all the time. I can't believe that I beat him to this post! I don't know Gary but he has a great site that many, many people talk about. I have been visiting it for years to get advice on where to get miles.

If you are the type that does not have alot of self control with money then you may have reason to be scared; however, getting a credit card and using it has MANY advantages such as:
- Building a credit history which will be needed when you want to buy a car, rent an apartment, buy a house, ...
- Letting a bank float you money for your purchase for a month or so before you payoff it off. A check / check card takes money out of your account very shortly after purchase. Interest earned is low now, but every little bit helps.
- Earn FF miles, free gas, free auto maintainence, ... or many other rewards.
- Alot of the FF cards come with additional travel insurance for free. Auto rental insurance is VERY expensive in Australia and my US car insurance policy did not provide coverage out of the US; however, the Mileage Plus Visa provided primary coverage as a benefit.

It sounds like you are ahead of the game. Since you asked for advice, here is mine:

Your credit profile will suffer because your debit card isn't reported to the credit agencies. This means you will actually get punished when you decide to purchase a new car or house, because it will look like you never had credit.

So first, figure out what kind of credit card you want. There are airline affiliated credit cards, hotel affiliated credit cards and other loyalty program credit cards (like eBay anything points). Pick a credit card affiliated with the airline/hotel/etc., you plan on using the most. My personal preference is airline mileage, but I will be making several trans-pacific trips. You might find free holiday stays better. You have a lot of choices.

Get a revolving credit card (but avoid Capitol One at all costs). Any credit card is better than none.

If you get turned down, don't sweat it. Go open the mall and open a charge account at places you shop at anyway, like JC Penny's, Macy's, etc., or apply for an American Express charge card. Use it and pay it off to build you credit.

Once you have this card, don't ever cancel it. If you don't need it, put it in your sock drawer or cut it up. You want a positive credit reference open forever. The more years of positive credit history you have, the better.

Call once every year or two and ask for an increase in credit if you can. You are judged on your debt to credit ratio.

And I wouldn't worry about running up your card. If you are using a debit card, it will be the same thing, just pay it all off at the end of the month.

Credit cards are nothing to be scared of -- as long as you consider them the same as cash. Budget strictly every month and pay off the FULL balance every month. Then you're fine. A credit card isn't a license to go out and buy anything you want at any time -- it's a way to buy something, then get a little more interest on your money in the bank by getting a grace period before you have to pay for it.

I got my first reward card when I was 21, too, and I've never gone back. I can't believe I actually had cards that gave me nothing ... even at $500 a month, you're going to be getting 6,000 miles or more points per year, on top of any actual travel you do. You'll find the numbers add up fast. Next thing you know, you'll be taking your first free trip. Even at 6,000 miles a year -- you could get a free round trip every four years or so. Seems like not much, but that would be one trip that you would have to pay for otherwise.

Sorry. Will try again below.

Sorry. I will try again below.

I just returned from Vietnam. As you can see, I am really jet lagged. :(


Thanks for the nice words. :)

Definitely get one, for all the reasons mentioned earlier.

However, if you don't have much use for one in general, the miles you earn may not justify an annual fee. In that case, consider the Starwood Amex. American Express isn't accepted everywhere, but it's accepted by lots of places including every airline, car rental company and hotel chain of importance. And it earns you one airline mile per dollar (more if you wait until you've charged $20,000, but it looks like that's not in your immediate future). There are also no-fee MasterCards/Visas that are accepted more widely but earn 0.5¢/mile. There is essentially no downside to having one of each. Use Starwood where you can, the other elsewhere. And pay your bills on time. (You don't have to be home to do that; all major cards let you check your bill online and pay it by direct transfer from your bank account.)

Browsing the credit card forums, or searching there, will tell you more.