credit cards
Mar 31, 2002 | 12:18 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2001
Posts: 14
credit cards
I depend on using credit cards to generate
the vast majority of travel rewards. So far, I have been using the Marriott VISA card for
about 3 years.
With program rules changing constantly, it's
been difficult for me to keep track of what the best award generating credit card is. Can the members of this forum comment on how the Marriott card compares with Starwood & Hilton? How do these program cards compare in the ability to convert to FF miles?
the vast majority of travel rewards. So far, I have been using the Marriott VISA card for
about 3 years.
With program rules changing constantly, it's
been difficult for me to keep track of what the best award generating credit card is. Can the members of this forum comment on how the Marriott card compares with Starwood & Hilton? How do these program cards compare in the ability to convert to FF miles?
Mar 31, 2002 | 1:17 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA Platinum, AA Lifetime Platinum, DL Platinum, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 8,179
Starwood Amex is hands down the best deal going these days, in my opinion. This includes hotel and airline cards. My reasons are:
- No annual fee the first year, then $30 thereafter.
- Points can be converted 1:1 into about 25 airlines' programs, including all major US airlines except Southwest.
- If you transfer 20k points, you get 25k miles on all airlines.
- Points can be redeemed for free nights at any Starwood property with no blackout dates or capacity controls.
- No annual fee the first year, then $30 thereafter.
- Points can be converted 1:1 into about 25 airlines' programs, including all major US airlines except Southwest.
- If you transfer 20k points, you get 25k miles on all airlines.
- Points can be redeemed for free nights at any Starwood property with no blackout dates or capacity controls.
Mar 31, 2002 | 2:30 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Tha OC
Programs: Outgrew all status except AA: Plat for life (the program's); Costco: Ex Plat
Posts: 681
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">B]Starwood Amex is hands down the best deal going these days[/B]</font>
Frankly, as with most good deals, I'm torn between wanting to support them by spreading the word, and fear that doing so may result in management watering down future benefits or cancelling the whole program (it's happened).
BK
Mar 31, 2002 | 4:45 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: La Jolla, CA
Posts: 112
Bidkat, I suggest sharing your good deals on these boards. It will come back to you many times over. There are hundreds of great ideas here, and only a handful a year get shut down. Most non-FT people aren't hardcore enough to use most of the ideas.
Mar 31, 2002 | 7:03 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Austin
Programs: AA P4L, WN, BA, DL, UA, HHonors, IHG
Posts: 3,505
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by gsw:
Whatever card you use, be sure to enroll in a dining program. It's an easy way to accrue miles. </font>
Whatever card you use, be sure to enroll in a dining program. It's an easy way to accrue miles. </font>
------------------
Middle_Seat
Mar 31, 2002 | 10:13 pm
#8
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Phila Delta ex-PM, ex-UA-PE
Posts: 2,665
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by phoenixitc:
Some folks might say that Diners Club is a pretty good card
</font>
Some folks might say that Diners Club is a pretty good card
</font>
- tranfer capability with almost every major airline
- perhaps the best rental car insurancec
- 60 day billing period
- 2:1 transfer bonuses (occasionally, last year to BA).
However it also has:
- $95 annual fee
- fee to transfer points to airline miles
- domestically poor acceptance of DC card (AMEX is much better).
Jeff
Apr 1, 2002 | 8:47 am
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: El Paso, TX, USA
Programs: Kicked out of all of them
Posts: 32,554
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Middle_Seat:
If only there were a McDonald's dining program...
</font>
If only there were a McDonald's dining program...
</font>
http://www.upromise.com/nspage?su=9802
Apr 1, 2002 | 10:06 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Tampa, FL USA
Posts: 467
If memory serves me, your Marriott card earns 1 point per dollar spent. As an alternative to the Starwood card, you could get an AmEx Hilton card that pays 3 points per dollar. In addition, you could then get a Hilton/Visa from Citibank for those mechants that do not take AmEx. The Visa card pays 2 points per dollar. This approach would allow you to focus all your credit card spending into a single program. One advantage of Hilton over Starwood is nearly 3 times as many hotel locations.
Having said all that, I would still give the edge to Starwood mostly because of no blackout. One thing to be aware of though, I think they have a 1 year expiry on the points in the absense of any account activity.
Having said all that, I would still give the edge to Starwood mostly because of no blackout. One thing to be aware of though, I think they have a 1 year expiry on the points in the absense of any account activity.
Apr 1, 2002 | 11:12 am
#11
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Texas
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 106
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Steve M:
Starwood Amex is hands down the best deal going these days, in my opinion. This includes hotel and airline cards. My reasons are:
- No annual fee the first year, then $30 thereafter.
- Points can be converted 1:1 into about 25 airlines' programs, including all major US airlines except Southwest.
- If you transfer 20k points, you get 25k miles on all airlines.
- Points can be redeemed for free nights at any Starwood property with no blackout dates or capacity controls.</font>
Starwood Amex is hands down the best deal going these days, in my opinion. This includes hotel and airline cards. My reasons are:
- No annual fee the first year, then $30 thereafter.
- Points can be converted 1:1 into about 25 airlines' programs, including all major US airlines except Southwest.
- If you transfer 20k points, you get 25k miles on all airlines.
- Points can be redeemed for free nights at any Starwood property with no blackout dates or capacity controls.</font>
Apr 1, 2002 | 1:22 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SF CA USA. I love large faceless corporations. And they cherish me in return (sometimes). ;)
Programs: UA Premier Gold/disappointed 1MM, HH Gold, IHG Plat, MB lifetime Gold, BW Diam Sel
Posts: 17,819
YES to Starwood Amex. It's my principal card now. Starpoints are like a currency that can be converted into a bazillion airline programs (with a bonus, even!). And of course, can be redeemed for Starwood hotel stays as well.
I also have HHonors Amex, UA FirstCard Visa, and Gold Points Visa. I use them sometimes too. (The HHonors Amex gets bonus points -- 5 x charges instead of 3 x -- when used at HHonors hotels. And the Visas are handy for places that don't take Amex!)
Kathy
[This message has been edited by KathyWdrf (edited 04-01-2002).]
I also have HHonors Amex, UA FirstCard Visa, and Gold Points Visa. I use them sometimes too. (The HHonors Amex gets bonus points -- 5 x charges instead of 3 x -- when used at HHonors hotels. And the Visas are handy for places that don't take Amex!)
Kathy
[This message has been edited by KathyWdrf (edited 04-01-2002).]
Apr 1, 2002 | 3:12 pm
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,809
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by phoenixitc:
Some folks might say that Diners Club is a pretty good card </font>
Some folks might say that Diners Club is a pretty good card
</font>
I intend to drop DC this year when my membership term runs out and will likely take up with Starwood Amex.
Apr 1, 2002 | 10:06 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Los Angeles, CA,
Programs: Hertz President Circle, Copaair Presidential
Posts: 709
I also think that the Amex Starpoints card is hands down the best value there is out there.
In comparison to Diners, it only has $30 annual fee. It is much more widely accepted than Diners. There's the 5,000 bonus mile transfer to any airline you choose from their list of 25+, not just to BA as Diners would limit you to. Finally, there is NO FEE for transferring your hard earned miles.
I do know Diners offer a 60 days grace period and pretty good car rental insurance. Besides these two benefits, which many here may place tremendous value on, the Starwood card cannot be beaten, in my opinion.
In comparison to Diners, it only has $30 annual fee. It is much more widely accepted than Diners. There's the 5,000 bonus mile transfer to any airline you choose from their list of 25+, not just to BA as Diners would limit you to. Finally, there is NO FEE for transferring your hard earned miles.
I do know Diners offer a 60 days grace period and pretty good car rental insurance. Besides these two benefits, which many here may place tremendous value on, the Starwood card cannot be beaten, in my opinion.
Apr 1, 2002 | 10:23 pm
#15
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: SFO/JFK
Programs: Hilton: Diamond, Bonvoy: Lifetime Titanium, Hyatt: Platinum, AS: MVP Gold
Posts: 632
As one who has long carried both Starwood AMEX and DC, I can tell you it's no contest. I charge >$60k a year on my Starwood and <$10 on my Diners.
This may be my last year for Diners. The bump in fee + the transfer fee will likely do it in. The only reason I even consider hanging on to it is the primary rental insurance.
This may be my last year for Diners. The bump in fee + the transfer fee will likely do it in. The only reason I even consider hanging on to it is the primary rental insurance.