Credit Cards With Airline Miles
|
Airline Miles Credit Cards Or Frequent Flyer Credit Cards, What's The Difference?
Airline miles and frequent flyer credit cards can be a great way to save money on vacations and airline tickets. As with most products, knowing the differences between the products that are available is the key to making sure you get your best deal. The first thing to know is that there are two classifications of “Airline” credit cards. Most people are unaware of the differences between the two types of cards so I thought I would make things a little clearer.
The first thing you need to know about airline credit cards is that they are horrible credit cards unless you intend to use them specifically for the purpose of airline travel. Most of them have annual fees and higher interest rates than credit cards that are available. If you are the type of person that will even occasionally carry a balance on their card this class of card is not for you. The interest rate that you pay coupled with the annual fee will probably negate your gains in airline miles. This being said, let’s look at the first type of airline cards.
Frequent Flyer Credit Cards – These cards are sponsored by a specific airline. The credit cards are co-branded with a major bank like American Express or Bank of America. These are the original frequent flyer cards that hit the market. These cards are perfect for those people who are “brand loyal” or otherwise compelled to use one airline by work or airport location. These cards will allow you to establish frequent flyer accounts that actually have cash values.
Credit Cards With Airline Miles
The downside is that these cards do not allow you to shop fares because the miles will not accumulate on other airlines. These cards usually have the higher annual fee when compared to airline miles credit cards and has the higher of the interest rates between the two classes. I presume the higher rate is because of the extra expense to the issuer for the co-branding. Of coarse I could be wrong; I am due for my first mistake this year. The next type of airline credit card is airline miles credit cards.
Airline Miles Credit Cards – This class of card is usually sponsored by credit card companies or banks don’t have an affiliation with a specific airline. This class of airline card has its pros and cons as well. The best feature among airline miles credit cards is the ability to use them on multiple airlines. These cards usually reward the user with “points’ as opposed to miles like frequent flyer credit cards do. These points can then be converted to airline miles or other travel related perks. Unlike frequent flyer cards the card holder has the choice to apply these points to hotels, restaurants, retail stores as well as airline miles.
Savvy shoppers with good credit can also find better rates and no annual fees on some airline miles credit cards. One of the best cards in this class is hands down the Capital One® No Hassle Miles(SM) Rewards card. It doesn’t have an annual fee and its interest rate is tolerable should you have to carry a balance. The down-side of the airline air miles credit cards are the “gotchas.”
Credit Cards With Airline Miles
These are the little things in the fine print that can zap your air miles or cost you money. Read the guidelines carefully. For instance some cards will totally erase your air miles earned in a reporting period is you are more than 3 days late on your payment. Even though this is within the credit card issuer’s grace period there is a separate rule for the air miles benefit. So, make sure you read the fine print to make sure the card meets your lifestyle and spending habits.
The best way to get the most of the perks on both classes of cards these cards is to charge and pay back around 00 each month. One example is that my wife and I just found out that our mortgage company allows people to pay with American Express. Just using our air miles card to pay our mortgage each month we will earn one free ticket per year! Just remember what I said at the beginning. Unless you are using air mile credit cards for the specific purpose to earn air miles they are probably not a good idea.
|
Can someone recommend a good credit card that earns airline miles?
I have good credit (from bills being in my name and paying on time, I am almost 21) and I was thinking of getting my first credit card. I want to get one that earns airline miles and just pay my bills with it. I plan on paying the balance off each month and earn easy miles that way.
Should I get a cashback credit card or an airline miles credit card? Here are the details: the?
cashback credit card gives me a $50 cashback bonus when I make my first purchase. I get 5% cash back for purchasing in certain bonus categories (up to $1,500 every quarter) and 1% cashback for all other purchases. There is no annual fee for this card.
The airline miles card gives me 50,000 bonus miles after my first purchase, and 1.25 miles for every $1 I spend. There is a $95 annual fee with this card.
I use the Delta sky miles through American express. However, they do require a high credit score and these “miles” accounts always have a higher annual fee. I have had quite a few and the American express has been the best for miles and the lowest annual fee. Hope this helps
Can people use those frequent airline miles from credit cards on other things?
Car rentals or hotels?
Or even magazines?
*** Don’t have one. Please don’t state that you are always better off with a 1% card
Im just curious
They are just like any a credit card rewards program – you can use them for almost anything = vacation, air travel, cruises, hotel, rental car, magazines, merchandise like jewelery, electronics, household products, and some services like massages
If I got a credit card with airline miles as a bonus……?
I’m thinking about getting a credit card with airline miles as rewards. If I did that, would I have to use the miles I earned on the airline that the card is affiliated with? For example — if I got an American Express American Airlines credit card, would I have to use the miles I earned on only American Airlines flights? Thanks!
Best Credit Card Company with Airline Miles?
I’m looking to transfer my balance to an Airline Miles Credit Card. Which has the best points system and low interest rate?
From what i found, you have to earn 10,000 – 25000 points to earn a roundtrip which equals to 10000-25000 dollars.
Anyone have a good one?
thanks