I would like to get a credit card that offers frequent flyer miles. However, since there are so many from which to choose, I am somewhat confused. So I would appreciate some help, advice, tips and/or warnings.

Is there a card that offers miles for several different airlines?
Where is the best place to learn about this?

A little info:
- I really won't be traveling all that much, to the islands mostly, altough I would like to go to Paris in a few years.
- Will travel out of Baltimore
- I pay off my credit card balance each month
- I only charge between 5 to 10 K a year

Any help will be greatly appreciate.

Bob

Hi! Do you have a "favorite" carrier?

A lot of us use the Hilton and/or Starwood American Express Optima cards. Both cards are free, although the Starwood card is now becoming free for the first year and $30 a year thereafter, still cheaper than most others out there. A benefit to having the Starwood card is that after acquiring 20,000 points, you can transfer the points to many major airlines and Starwood will throw in another 5,000 points. For transfers less than that the transfer rate is 1-1.

There is currently a long thread on the Starwood board about the new version they've just introduced. That would tell you quite a bit more.

I use 2 cards, a hotel (Hilton AMEX) and an airlines (Alaska Visa). This allows me to gain points/miles depending upon the situation. While staying at Hilton or shopping at Costco the best usage is the AMEX and the rest of the time VISA works best. I'll charge everything that can be charged and pay off each month to maximize mileage.

Welcome to FT.

Naturally, you want to check out Mileage Workshop. There is a whole page devoted to credit cards that earn miles:

http://www.mileageworkshop.com/concoursec.html



------------------
Addicted to airline miles? Check out: Mileage Workshop

I place my personal charges on an AAdvantage Citibank Visa and my corporate charges on American Express, which is linked to my Membership Miles account. I primarily use my AA miles to upgrade internationally (my EXP status works well for domestic upgrades) and my Amex miles for free hotel nights.

Welcome to FlyerTalk!

I have the following cards for the following reasons:
1. United Visa - I want to get to both my childhood home and Hawaii. United does this for me.
2. AMEX - wide acceptance and good list of partners.
3. Sheraton AMEX - got it as a gamble after I heard they were coming out with a new card. I don't know that I will keep it after the free year is up.

I hope that sharing some of my thinking helps out. There are a ton of them out there and if you're unsure my suggestion would be to start with a no fee card so you don't have a sunk cost when you figure out which one is really for you.

I use the Starwood Amex and the NW Visa primarily. I also have used the Diners Club. I would also suggest that you read www.mileageworkshop.com by MileageAddict. It is an excellent resource!

[This message has been edited by RKG (edited 06-23-2001).]

The Sheraton AMEX. even at $30 gives the most flexibility and minimal cost. You will be surprised how much more you will charge, once you get a card that gives you miles. I was looking at my cancelled checks for the past 20 years, and it's amazing how many fewer checks I have since getting Affinity credit cards - and since I pay online now, amazingly few. But the biggest change is discovering how many ways you can charge instead of writing a check. So, you might be surprised that it will be more that 10K a year. There are many places that don't take AMEX, so a MC is a good choice, but it is deciding who is your carrier of choice out of the city where you live and where you want to go. There are sign up bonuses that vary so you want to find the best one.

------------------
DtG

Back in January, Consumer Reports Travel Letter said

"Those who generate less than $7,500 in charges annually are 'not spending money wisely,' says consultant Randy Petersen, president and CEO of Frequent Flyer Services. Your alternative is to get a no-fee bank card with a low annual percentage rate (APR) and buy your travel."

$7,500 not be a firm threshhold. For example the Starwood Amex card awards 1 mile per $1 for a $30 annual fee.

But do compare discount fares to where you normally travel vs. annual fees for the number of years it takes to get an award. Don't forget paid travel usually awards bonus miles while reward tickets do not.

Hello FTers,

I also vote for the Sheraton/Starwood AMEX.

Va.SquireFlyer

Welcome to Flyertalk! I am a big fan of the Hilton HHonors Platinum AMEX. There is no fee, when you sign up they automatically make you Hilton Silver, and you receive 3 points per $ spent, and 10 points per $ spent at Hilton.
AMEX has always given me GREAT customer service on any disputed charges and these days, who has time for bad service.
Good luck selecting a card.

http://www.hilton.com/en/hhonors/poi...editcard.jhtml

It is 5 points per dollar at a Hilton hotel

Thanks to all of you who took time to offer your advice. You certainly gave me much to consider. Thanks again.
Bob

Amex Optima...my favorite way to accumulate miles...