If you're interested in flight rewards but aren't charging a bundle, you might want to check out the MBNA World card. For every $25,000 charged you get a free domestic airline ticket up to $400 on any airline, and the airline will treat it as a paid ticket (i.e. you get FF miles for the flight). There are also hotel and rental car awards, and no annual fee. Keep in mind that you can't combine these points with the miles you get from flying, though.

Hope this helps,

Mike

[we need a preview feature!]

[This message has been edited by WhoME (edited 03-26-2003).]

I've looked at this card before. You need 21-day advance purchase and it's not necessarily on the airline of your choice, so you may end up with orphan miles.

I have a similar card from MBNA (I will switch to this one as soon as I can redeem an award from that first one) as my secondary CC since AMEX isn't accepted everywhere. On the couple of occasions I've redeemed flights with them , they have been pretty accomodating about the airline choice. I imagine that they wouldn't go for $100s extra but for domestic flights the fares tend to be pretty close. The 21-day requirement is not ideal but for me this is a very good secondary card with no annual fee...

Michael

You might seriously consider AA if the prices aren't that different. They have a "Gold Challenge" or "Platinum Challenge" that gets you elite status quickly. You can get some miles from www.opinionplace.com . Getting a survey seems to be hit or miss but free miles are free miles. All miles earned -no matter how they are earned- count towards lifetime miles which can get you lifetime gold or platinum depending if you earn 1 or 2 million. You can upgrade with miles on any fare which most other airlines don't allow. You get miles for booking online. If you are going to fly coach you might as well fly with MRTC. AA has good flights to the Caribbean if that's a consideration. Check out all the ways you can earn miles without flying as these can add up if you do it right. Just my opinions.

I forgot to add that once you achieve status as a gold you earn electronic up-grades that can get you a better seat depending on availability and status.

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Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else.

[This message has been edited by MoreMilesPlease (edited 03-27-2003).]

"How about the AA Challenge? 10,000 miles (5,000 Q-pts) in 90 days will get Him Gold. Gets the bonus faster."
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Where can I learn more?

You guys have been great! Thanks for the postings and the personal emails.

Still finalizing the credit card of choice, but pretty certain that AA will be the airline. The determining factors were;

- by planning in advance the cost differential, if any, versus SWA will be minimal

- the ability to get to a gold status level to get the early boarding, upgrades, etc (important since getting on early ensures overhead space to do carryon)

- the number of destinations they cover

I want to THANK YOU all for the great inputs. I have now become a reader of this great forum and hopefully on occasion will have something to contribute.

regards,
MC

A common omission and important point about Southwest's program is that the credits expire after 1 YEAR. Most airline programs have miles that never expire as long as you keep adding to them (once per three years) while you must get sufficient credits on Southwest within one year to get the free roundtrip. If you are looking to get the miles and use them right away (providing you get enough credits right away) Southwest may work for you. If you want the flexibility to bank the miles without worrying about exipration it may not.

I would also consider what airport is easier/closer to get to for you. Personally, I may be in the minority, but I will not drive an extra hour each way to save $100, but I would drive the extra to save the connection if the overall travel time is shorter.

Try FewMiles site. It's excellent for AA stuff.
http://members.shaw.ca/fewmiles/AA/index2.html