FF Novice... Where to start?
Mar 16, 2001 | 1:49 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2001
Posts: 2
FF Novice... Where to start?
I am looking into FF plans and am totaly lost in all the options... Most travel is domestic but my son is moving to Austrailia in Sept. so will need to be able to fly there as well.
I charge about $5,000 per month and always pay in full. Occationally I have months of larger payments (2 in college).
The annual fees seem high... are they unavoidable ?
I charge about $5,000 per month and always pay in full. Occationally I have months of larger payments (2 in college).
The annual fees seem high... are they unavoidable ?
Mar 16, 2001 | 1:56 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Third planet from the Sun
Posts: 7,024
Research the credit card forums---you will find lots of useful info their. Most credit card affinity cards will charge you--some more than others.
I have found Diners 2 for 1 BA promo's to be very useful but Diners is not as readily accepted in the US.
I have found Diners 2 for 1 BA promo's to be very useful but Diners is not as readily accepted in the US.
Mar 16, 2001 | 2:07 pm
#3
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1P; HHonors Silver
Posts: 2,686
Welcome to FlyerTalk.
There's some good introductory material at www.frequentflier.com.
The annual fees aren't unavoidable, but the benefits should outweigh the cost. If you charge only $5,000 a year, I think you'll still come out ahead.
If you sign up for an airline's credit card, check to see if they cap the maximum number of miles you can accrue annually. Consider carrying more than one card, e.g. Diners Club as well as an airline's affinity MasterCard/VISA. And don't be put off by "limited acceptance" claims. Sure, I could pay for my groceries with AmEx, but DC works just about everywhere in the U.S. that matters. (And from personal experience, I can tell you it's a great card to use in Australia!)
[This message has been edited by EPS (edited 03-16-2001).]
There's some good introductory material at www.frequentflier.com.
The annual fees aren't unavoidable, but the benefits should outweigh the cost. If you charge only $5,000 a year, I think you'll still come out ahead.
If you sign up for an airline's credit card, check to see if they cap the maximum number of miles you can accrue annually. Consider carrying more than one card, e.g. Diners Club as well as an airline's affinity MasterCard/VISA. And don't be put off by "limited acceptance" claims. Sure, I could pay for my groceries with AmEx, but DC works just about everywhere in the U.S. that matters. (And from personal experience, I can tell you it's a great card to use in Australia!)
[This message has been edited by EPS (edited 03-16-2001).]
Mar 16, 2001 | 5:42 pm
#4
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Melbourne Australia
Posts: 1,394
Mar 17, 2001 | 4:42 am
#5
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: SPG Plat, HH Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,015
Despite the many options, you can make your decision easy by doing two things: get a Starwood Amex and a MC/Visa associated with the airline you fly most.
If you search the forums you'll see the Starwood Amex is one of the best cards because it:
1. Has no annual fee
2. Can transfer miles to most major airlines
3. Transfers 25,000 miles to airlines when you transfer 20,000.
Go here to select: http://www25.americanexpress.com/car...ervlet?0/0/b/1
As for a MC/Visa (which you will need since Amex isn't accepted everywhere), instead of switching cards every time a promotion comes along, just get the one affiliated with your primary airline.
If you search the forums you'll see the Starwood Amex is one of the best cards because it:
1. Has no annual fee
2. Can transfer miles to most major airlines
3. Transfers 25,000 miles to airlines when you transfer 20,000.
Go here to select: http://www25.americanexpress.com/car...ervlet?0/0/b/1
As for a MC/Visa (which you will need since Amex isn't accepted everywhere), instead of switching cards every time a promotion comes along, just get the one affiliated with your primary airline.
Mar 18, 2001 | 3:20 am
#6
Join Date: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,278
Murc , you say you charge $5000 per month or more & always pay in full and are balking at the annual fee. Understandable, but wrong logic.
Let's say you live near a hub city for a major airline. A bank will offer a Visa/MC credit card affiliated from that airline for an annual fee of ~$40-$60 depending on the bank, airline, and type of plastic. The card will offer 1 mile per dollar charge. It typically takes 25,000 miles to get a free domestic ticket.
Based on your annual spend, you will have enough miles for you and a significant other to go on a trip in 10 months. All for that annual fee of ~$60. Not bad, eh?
There are many options to choose from, and you need to do some research to determine the best credit card based on your plans for travel & vacation and where you live. AMEX offers some decent cards; Diner's Club offers miles redemption on many airlines and hotels. My guess is that, if you are paying college tuition through a credit card, you'd want a Visa/MC as few colleges accept AMEX.
Other people have posted some links on this thread, and checking the 'Visa/Mastercard' Forum is also very helpful. But, don't sell yourself short and balk on the annual fee!
If you really don't want to pay an annual fee, consider a credit card associated with a hotel chain. Example: Hilton Visa offers Hilton points for purchases, which can be used at Hilton hotels or transferred to various airline programs. However, the miles transfer rate is anemic. You would earn many more miles with a credit card from that airline.
------------------
He who dies with the most miles ... is dead.
Let's say you live near a hub city for a major airline. A bank will offer a Visa/MC credit card affiliated from that airline for an annual fee of ~$40-$60 depending on the bank, airline, and type of plastic. The card will offer 1 mile per dollar charge. It typically takes 25,000 miles to get a free domestic ticket.
Based on your annual spend, you will have enough miles for you and a significant other to go on a trip in 10 months. All for that annual fee of ~$60. Not bad, eh?
There are many options to choose from, and you need to do some research to determine the best credit card based on your plans for travel & vacation and where you live. AMEX offers some decent cards; Diner's Club offers miles redemption on many airlines and hotels. My guess is that, if you are paying college tuition through a credit card, you'd want a Visa/MC as few colleges accept AMEX.
Other people have posted some links on this thread, and checking the 'Visa/Mastercard' Forum is also very helpful. But, don't sell yourself short and balk on the annual fee!
If you really don't want to pay an annual fee, consider a credit card associated with a hotel chain. Example: Hilton Visa offers Hilton points for purchases, which can be used at Hilton hotels or transferred to various airline programs. However, the miles transfer rate is anemic. You would earn many more miles with a credit card from that airline.
------------------
He who dies with the most miles ... is dead.
Mar 18, 2001 | 8:50 am
#7
In Memoriam
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Seattle
Programs: Ephesians 4:31-32
Posts: 10,690
Welcome, Murc,
I hope you enjoy FlyerTalk as much as I have over the years and learn as much as I have along the way. I must warn you, however, it is not only addictive, but might spur you to do some crazy things that you never dreamed you were capable of just to get miles and points.
It's true, it's true.
When I first started on FT I had one affinity card that was attached to my primary airline at that time. My family of four took a nice long free trip to Europe on those miles. Those tickets would have cost us more than most people make in a year if we had paid for them--works for me. I have been hooked ever since.
I hope you enjoy FlyerTalk as much as I have over the years and learn as much as I have along the way. I must warn you, however, it is not only addictive, but might spur you to do some crazy things that you never dreamed you were capable of just to get miles and points.
It's true, it's true.When I first started on FT I had one affinity card that was attached to my primary airline at that time. My family of four took a nice long free trip to Europe on those miles. Those tickets would have cost us more than most people make in a year if we had paid for them--works for me. I have been hooked ever since.