Capital One Rewards - Lousy!!

[maps]

Hi all

I guess I was lucky for awhile. I have a Capital One card and it allowed me to use 18,000 points for an airline ticket within my zone. That means, for me to fly NH to FL was only 18,000 points; anywhere else in the US was 25,000.

I always told my husband this was a good deal and now I jinxed myself because they just changed the program and it's horrible! It now takes 35,000 points for the same ticket and it maxes at $350. What a rip off!

I essentially charge everything and pay it off at the end of the month just to accumulate points for airline tickets.

Does anyone have any good card recommendations?

I tried looking at flyertalk but some of the lingo is way over my head!

 

[LoraJ]

I guess they told you NO!





I use my Amex points to transfer them to my frequent flyer program. Not sure if they have any limits. I should check into that.

 

[Crazoo]

Damn that sucks...

Go for a dividends or cash back card, use the money on whatever you want.

Or my other fav card is Citibank's Drivers Edge, 2-3% cash back on any vehicle purchase (new/used, any make/model)

 

[SplshMtn99]

??????
I wonder if you are on a different program than me with Capital One.

I use my Capital One No Hassle Visa for free airline tickets. It takes me about 1 yr to get enough points. I charge as much as possible (which is ALOT)-- and pay it in full EVERY month.

Just 3 weeks ago, I bought 2 airline tix from Southwest for $135 each -- Prov to Orlando. I bought the tix on my own from Southwest's website. I then cashed in only 10,800 points and was re-imbursed for one of the tix.

In the past, if I didn't have enough points for an entire ticket, I've been partially reimbursed for a ticket I bought.

I have 6 months (I think) to earn enough points to cash in for that other remaining $135 tix.

It works for me. We've done it many times.....and I've cashed in for cash too. But the point ratio is better for tickets than it is for cash.

I love my Capital One card.

 

[KelNottAt]

I have the Capital One card, too. Have to admit, it seemed great when we signed-up, but not anymore. I'm tempted to redeem my many, many, points for gift cards and merchandise just so I can close the account and start over with a better deal.

 

[maps]

Check your Miles One Program. As of Nov 1, they changed they program and it is lousy. The only way I found out about it was when I went to flyertalk.com and someone mentioned it there.

Capital One never even bothered to send anything out about it. Luckily, I bought 4 tickects on Oct 30 so I at least got my money's worth.

 

[SplshMtn99]

Edited my previous post. I cashed in only 10,800 points in October for a free $135 ticket from Prov to Orlando --- not 16000 points.

I'm now looking into the rules change you mentioned.

Even if it did change, I'ld still be happy.
In 2002, I recvd $250 cash (25000 points)
In 2003, $200 cash. (20000 points)
In 2004, almost full reimbursement of an airline ticket. (10832 points)
In 2005, a free $135 airline ticket. (10800 points)

I'm using my card...and getting something back for nothing.

 

[DebbieB]

I had a Bank One card that used to have a good plan for airline tickets but then they changed it to 1 mile for every $3 spent if you paid off your balance each month, rather than 1 mile for every $1. I used my points to buy merchandise and cancelled it.