Airline miles credit card

[lorimay]

Anyone have a really good credit card that they can recommend?
Flying to Paris in 2018 before our British Isles cruise and want to start saving for airline miles.

 

[FigmentSpark]

Have you looked at it the other way? What airline are you considering? Check which loyalty cards collect those points or look for a card with cash back or that can buy any airline. Also, I assume you're in the U.S.? You can start your search here:

http://money.usnews.com/credit-cards

 

[lorimay]

Have you looked at it the other way? What airline are you considering? Check which loyalty cards collect those points or look for a card with cash back or that can buy any airline. Also, I assume you're in the U.S.? You can start your search here:

http://money.usnews.com/credit-cards

Thanks

 

[Mari23]

You may want to look into the chase sapphire card lines, barclay arrivals plus or the capital one venture. All of them pretty much offer 2pts or more in some kind of way in spending with decent bonus points.

Good luck!

 

[jujubiee4]

The chase points seem to be the most valuable because of the many they partner with.

Look for cards with big signing bonuses. Check travel blogs as they have the most updated
information. For years i only used my American Express then stumbled on a blog giving
advice how to save on travel with miles/points.

The last 14 months i applied for the best bonuses that were out. I have booked 16 flights
since then and not paid for one. That is HUGE for us since we come from the west coast.
Has allowed us to book two cruises this year and Aulani next year.

Get cards with FLEXIBLE points/miles. (hope you got in on the Chase Reserve offer)

 

[mmouse37]

I agree with the Chase Reserve...it sounds expensive at first but you get so much back. We got 100,000 miles just for signing up and another $300 travel credit. Booked a trip to Portugal with the points and still have over half the points left over for more travel.

They also pay to get TSA precheck membership or Global Entry membership. You also get a Priority Pass card to visit numerous different airport clubs.

MJ

 

[lorimay]

The chase points seem to be the most valuable because of the many they partner with.

Look for cards with big signing bonuses. Check travel blogs as they have the most updated
information. For years i only used my American Express then stumbled on a blog giving
advice how to save on travel with miles/points.

The last 14 months i applied for the best bonuses that were out. I have booked 16 flights
since then and not paid for one. That is HUGE for us since we come from the west coast.
Has allowed us to book two cruises this year and Aulani next year.

Get cards with FLEXIBLE points/miles. (hope you got in on the Chase Reserve offer)

The bonus is now 50,000 points, I just missed it by 12 days.
I think this may be the best card for us.
I will show my husband when he gets home tonight.

Thank you so much!

 

[havaneselover]

The bonus is now 50,000 points, I just missed it by 12 days.
I think this may be the best card for us.
I will show my husband when he gets home tonight.

Thank you so much!

I got this card in October and never thought I'd keep it after the first year but I will be. Between the paying for tsa precheck, sign on bonus, great trip insurance, and 50% bonus on chase freedom rewards it's well worth it. The net $150 annual fee is really not so bad.

 

[jujubiee4]

Try going into a branch I read online some have had luck going in there.
If you and your husband can get one seperate from the other that will be great.

Barclays 625. Capital one Venture same.(this is my favorite).

Keep your eye open for when amex offers their 100k platinum card again.

Also Chase might be offering a new card in the future. I'm on their customer
service panel and the last survey they sent me has me thinking that.

Be careful wherever you apply to try to stay withing chase's 5/24 rule.

 

[jujubiee4]

I got this card in October and never thought I'd keep it after the first year but I will be. Between the paying for tsa precheck, sign on bonus, great trip insurance, and 50% bonus on chase freedom rewards it's well worth it. The net $150 annual fee is really not so bad.

Yes I agree the 450 annual fee was hard to swallow at first. However i used the 300 credit plus the 100 for global
entry so that eased it a lot. Unless something else comes better i will never give up the Reserve.

 

[texasgingerbread]

Totally depends on your airport HUB. I follow "The Points Guy" and open and close credit cards every 24 months to get the bonuses again. It's work but it pays off. Just keep a spreadsheet. Anyhow, depending on where you are flying out of would depend on which card I would recommend. Chase is great for travel like everyone mentions - and has no Int'l fees.

 

[AquaDame]

Try going into a branch I read online some have had luck going in there.
If you and your husband can get one seperate from the other that will be great.

Barclays 625. Capital one Venture same.(this is my favorite).

Keep your eye open for when amex offers their 100k platinum card again.

Also Chase might be offering a new card in the future. I'm on their customer
service panel and the last survey they sent me has me thinking that.

Be careful wherever you apply to try to stay withing chase's 5/24 rule.

The branch offer has ended too (I waited too long, darn). I agree that the Sapphire is worth it - that is the one we have. I also have an Alaska card because they are frequently the best domestically from my home airport. Once a year I get a companion pass that takes the second ticket down to $119 - a couple times we have used it over the holidays when fare jumps from around $400 to $1400!

 

[texasgingerbread]

Try going into a branch I read online some have had luck going in there..

Branch ended March 12.

 

[jujubiee4]

The branch offer has ended too (I waited too long, darn). I agree that the Sapphire is worth it - that is the one we have. I also have an Alaska card because they are frequently the best domestically from my home airport. Once a year I get a companion pass that takes the second ticket down to $119 - a couple times we have used it over the holidays when fare jumps from around $400 to $1400!

I see you are going on the Norwegian cruise. How did you do on airfare? Did you transfer points/miles or
just pay it outright? I'm really hoarding points because i would like to use them for Europe for 2019.

2 Years ago my husband and I sent my mother n law on the Magic's Europe cruise for her birthday along
with my daughter.

It was 627 round trip each from Lax to Heathrow then Copenhagen. At that time we thought that was a steal.
Nowadays i read where people are getting their Europe trip practically free by maneuvering miles.

 

[jujubiee4]

Totally depends on your airport HUB. I follow "The Points Guy" and open and close credit cards every 24 months to get the bonuses again. It's work but it pays off. Just keep a spreadsheet. Anyhow, depending on where you are flying out of would depend on which card I would recommend. Chase is great for travel like everyone mentions - and has no Int'l fees.

This is interesting. Does it hurt your credit at all? Have you ever been denied with them saying you already had
the bonus. I think i read on flyertalk where American express is now limiting to one lifetime bonus?

I wish i would have got on on thee deals when they were really hot. I'm late to the game.

 

[AquaDame]

I see you are going on the Norwegian cruise. How did you do on airfare? Did you transfer points/miles or
just pay it outright? I'm really hoarding points because i would like to use them for Europe for 2019.

2 Years ago my husband and I sent my mother n law on the Magic's Europe cruise for her birthday along
with my daughter.

It was 627 round trip each from Lax to Heathrow then Copenhagen. At that time we thought that was a steal.
Nowadays i read where people are getting their Europe trip practically free by maneuvering miles.

We paid for this one outright - our trip in 2015 we used up all our points going to Munich for Oktoberfest. There is only one nonstop flight from my home airport to Europe - Ive found when I want a specific flight its better to just pay out of pocket.

 

[coloradocutie]

Something to consider is that summer is high season for travel to Europe and if you are looking to use miles/transfer points to miles in order book seats, you should start looking when the booking window for reward seats opens up, which may be a year or 331 days in advance. You would need your miles by then, especially if you are looking for more than one seat. It is great to do, though, if you have the points and the seats are available!

We used Amex points transferred to British Airways and got 4 first class seats back from London after the EBTA. Chase points transfer to more partners, though. And FYI, on British Airways you have to pay the fuel surcharges on the tickets even if you pay with miles.

Good luck! Enjoy your cruise!

 

[texasgingerbread]

This is interesting. Does it hurt your credit at all? Have you ever been denied with them saying you already had
the bonus. I think i read on flyertalk where American express is now limiting to one lifetime bonus?

I wish i would have got on on thee deals when they were really hot. I'm late to the game.

I have excellent credit and it has affected it at all. Starwood AMEX is one time per lifetime. Others I rotate...specifically AA, British Airways (purchase AA flights on miles), Chase Southwest, and Chase Sapphire. I don't know about the other AMEX cards but the Starwood is only once. (Once for personal and once for business)

 

[tink1970]

Amex is strict about one time only bonus...at some meeting with the bigwigs one of the BiggestWigs made a point to say that shutting down churning is a major goal of his. If you read this thread on these boards you can get some great suggestions. Warning-it's long!

https://www.disboards.com/threads/i-love-credit-cards-so-much.3528202/