Credit Card for Airline Miles

[Princess Minnie321]

I was looking into opening a card for the promotional miles you receive and was wondering if anyone had any insight. These are the two I am comparing:

Capital One Venture
earn 40,000 miles = to $400 in travel
annual fee is waived for first year
no black out dates

Chase Sapphire Preferred
earn $50,000 points =$625 in travel can earn another $5,000 points by adding an authorized user
annual fee is waived for first year
does not say there are no blackout dates so risk the time we want to go is blocked out. We are booked at Disney for 11/6-11/13


What is the difference between earning points or miles? Is there a better card I am missing?

I would cancel the card after we travel next November to avoid the annual fee. I always pay off my balances monthly so I am not worried about interest rates. The airfare is very expensive so I was hoping to get enough to at least cover one airline ticket. We are waiting for JetBlue to post their November rates before selecting an airline because my DH has about 18000 points with JetBlue from travelling with work. His points should cover the flight down to Orlando.

Does anyone have an advice? We do not travel by airline often and probably would not be taking another big trip like this for another 2-3 years.

Thank you!

 

[hsmamato2]

You need to choose based on your needs.... say if Southwest flies in your area, their cc and bonus are the best around,and for booking/scheduling ease with points they are unparalleled.
Different points cc's are usually linked with different travel programs,strictly speaking, points programs usually net more $$ for travel than cashback programs. The benefit to a cashback card is it's more flexible,you can usually redeem against a statement cost,like hotel cost,then 'erase' the cost from the statement via points accrued.
I like The Chase Sapphire preferred a LOT, due to the many transfer options they offer,the online shopping portal,etc. It's very flexible for travel spending, you can book travel right from their site,or transfer your points to other loyalty programs...(i.e. I can transfer Chase points to my SWA account for flights, or to my IHG account for a hotel room,or I can book a hotel thru their site using my points)
I also would try to choose a card that gives you the best value back you seek, and don't cancel it before the AF hits next year. Choose one that you can keep and use for a while. Be aware that most cc companies are drawing a harder line than previously for opening a card for a bonus then closing before the year is out, it may mae it harder for you to get similiar deals in the future.
If you have a general rewards card like the sapphire, it can be redeemed in many ways,which makes it valuable IMHO. (last week I saw for my dates at Disney, 2 nights onsite at a value hotel for approx. 15k Chase points, or SWA and their sales+points = a GREAT travel deal)

 

[Marionnette]

I was looking into opening a card for the promotional miles you receive and was wondering if anyone had any insight. These are the two I am comparing:

Capital One Venture
earn 40,000 miles = to $400 in travel
annual fee is waived for first year
no black out dates

Chase Sapphire Preferred
earn $50,000 points =$625 in travel can earn another $5,000 points by adding an authorized user
annual fee is waived for first year
does not say there are no blackout dates so risk the time we want to go is blocked out. We are booked at Disney for 11/6-11/13


What is the difference between earning points or miles? Is there a better card I am missing?

I would cancel the card after we travel next November to avoid the annual fee. I always pay off my balances monthly so I am not worried about interest rates. The airfare is very expensive so I was hoping to get enough to at least cover one airline ticket. We are waiting for JetBlue to post their November rates before selecting an airline because my DH has about 18000 points with JetBlue from travelling with work. His points should cover the flight down to Orlando.

Does anyone have an advice? We do not travel by airline often and probably would not be taking another big trip like this for another 2-3 years.

Thank you!

Chase Sapphire rewards in Ultimate Rewards Points. They can be used to transfer into a FF program, hotel FG program, redeemed for GCs or applied to travel which is booked through their portal. You can also redeem the points for a statement credit (not necessarily just travel-related expenses), although this is probably the worst bang for your buck. There are no "blackout dates" because you can book the travel yourself, choosing any available flight and seat.

CapitalOne's Venture card program works like a statement credit. You book your travel and pay with the card. Then you go online (or call) and choose to pay for that expense with your award miles. You can also redeem for cash, merchandise or GCs but it will cost you more pts./$ for those choices.

Both cards require excellent credit. Both cards can be used for things other than travel but your best use is for travel.

 

[Psychodisney]

I have the Venture and I think I'm going to add the Chase Sapphire. From what I've read, you can transfer the points to your Southwest RR account. Also, if you book through the chase portal, your points are worth more. (For example: a $625 flight would cost 50,000 pts vs 62,500)
Venture gives you 2% on everything. Chase Sapphire gives you 2% on travel and restaurants, 1% on other purchases.

 

[quagmire0]

We go every 2 or 3 years or so, and I've done the Southwest promo twice. This year, I found that they had both the premier and plus cards doing 50k miles. You can do both. In short, our family of 6 will be flying to Disney World from Chicago for about $180 in annual fees (one card is $99, one is $79, charged your first month) and whatever the security fees are on the tickets. Not only that, but we had points to spare. Once you have your points, close the accounts. In another couple years, open new accounts and wash, rinse repeat.

 

[ibob52]

The airfare is very expensive so I was hoping to get enough to at least cover one airline ticket. We are waiting for JetBlue to post their November rates before selecting an airline because my DH has about 18000 points with JetBlue from travelling with work. His points should cover the flight down to Orlando.

Here is a list of ~ Ultimate Rewards ~ Travel Partners ~ unfortunately JetBlue is *not* on the list.

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Airlines

British Airways Executive Club

Korean Air SKYPASS

Singapore Airlines

Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards®

United MileagePlus®

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Hotels

Hyatt Gold Passport®

IHG® Rewards Club

Marriott Rewards®

Ritz-Carlton Rewards®

 

[a742246]

Here is the site for Southwest 50,000 points offer:
www.southwest.com/inflight
There biggest plus is that you can get an companion pass (best deal out there).
Their annual fees are 99 dollars a year but they give 6,000 points every year after the first year!

 

[Princess Minnie321]

Here is a list of the Ultimate Rewards ~ Travel Partners ~ unfortunately JetBlue is *not* on the list.

Chase Sapphire Preferred

Airlines

British Airways Executive Club

Korean Air SKYPASS

Singapore Airlines

Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards®

United MileagePlus®

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Hotels

Hyatt Gold Passport®

IHG® Rewards Club

Marriott Rewards®

Ritz-Carlton Rewards®

Wow thank you. I just assumed it was every airline. This is really good to know.

 

[Psychodisney]

You can use Capital one venture points on any airline. That's the nice flexible part there. Also rental cars and hotel.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

I WOULD have recommended Barclays Arrival+ Card but they're changing the rewards system and not for the better. We're downgrading ours to the regular one before the annual fee comes up. If you fly Jetblue more often than other airlines it might be worth a shot waiting until their new card comes out which is supposed to be be in March I believe.

 

[Marionnette]

Wow thank you. I just assumed it was every airline. This is really good to know.

You can book JetBlue through the Ultimate Rewards travel portal and use your Chase Sapphire points that way. Not only that, if you don't have enough UR points to pay for the whole flight, you don't have to buy more points. You just pay cash for the difference.

But you cannot transfer your UR points into JetBlue's FF program.

 

[calypso726]

Capital One Venture is fixed value card and DH and I each picked up that one up to get $800+ in excursions for free on our DCL to Norway, Iceland and Scotland last year. We picked up the Barclay Arrival Plus card as well for the same reason as well as the Wells Fargo Propel. Cancelled the WF Propel and downgraded the Barclay card to the no fee version to keep a card with chip and pin and will probably also cancel the Cap One card.

DH and I have been dabbling in travel hacking for the last 3 1/2 years and have managed to take numerous domestic and international flights all in first class using points and miles earned on credit card sign up bonuses and spending category bonuses. The Chase Sapphire Preferred is a keeper card for us. Be aware that Chase has started denying applications for this card regardless of credit score if you have had 5 credit card apps within the last 24 months. We value our points based on how we can redeem them. If I rack up 62,500 points with my Cap One Venture they are only worth $625. However, the same 62,500 Ultimate Reward Points with the Chase Sapphire Preferred transferred to British Airways or United can get me a first class ticket to Europe which would cost over $10,000 if I were to pay for it out of pocket. Of course I never would pay that insane amount of money to fly first class. This is why we travel hack Therefore, variable points are far more valuable to us than fixed value. The other variable point used for airline cards we have and are keeper cards for us are the Amex Starwood Preferred Guest - SPG points transfer to over 30 airlines, the Amex Everday card - Membership Rewards transfers to 17 airlines.

My suggestion for you would be to pick up the Amex Everyday Preferred card. You will get 15,000 Membership Rewards after spending $1,000 in 3 months. Jet Blue is a transfer partner with Membership Rewards (200 TrueBlue points to 250 MR) the annual fee is $95. The card earns 3 points per $ at supermarkets up to $6,000 per year, 2 points on gas, and 1 points on everything else. You also get a 50% bonus on all the points you earn if you use your card 30 or more times in a billing period. Some people just divide up their purchases into 2 or 3 separate transactions at the store to meet the bonus requirement. When the year rolls around and the annual fee comes due again you can down grade it to the no fee version (2 points supermarkets, 20% bonus on rewards earned after 30 times used in a billing cycle) which also earns MR points transferable to airlines. Keep using that card as your main card and you may have enough points for another free flight or two a couple of years down the road when you are ready to take another trip. I hope this helps

 

[ibob52]

You can book JetBlue through the Ultimate Rewards travel portal and use your Chase Sapphire points that way. Not only that, if you don't have enough UR points to pay for the whole flight, you don't have to buy more points. You just pay cash for the difference.

But you cannot transfer your UR points into JetBlue's FF program.

 

[JWigs]

I have had the delta, BA and now AK card as well as Cap One Venture since 2011.

By far the best card we have found is the Cap One Venture. Mostly due to the 2 pts per $ every day and not limited to only travel. As someone mentioned, you can use it for any travel related expense (air, hotel, car or even some tickets as long as it's coded travel).

We let the points grow (which it does quickly) and when we fly somewhere it pays for 1 or something 2 of our tickets.

The AK card we got recently to get the annual buddy pass ($99 + 20 tax) for our now 3 yr old since we take a Disney trip annually and don't want to pay full price for her ticket. It works for us but it may not work for everyone. I definitely recommend cap one though they have great customer service and we've had no issues plus it's chipped and no fees overseas if you travel abroad.

 

[Albort]

credit card picking... u should start with what city you live in and see if its a hub or if you have a preferred airline. There is a lot of great deals out there.

 

[Ava]

Any recommendations for the best card for Jet Blue or Delta points? Those are our two best options for direct flights to Orlando. I'm trying to save for a trip in April 2017 so if I can rack up enough points for some free flights by then that would really help.

I wish Southwest flew direct from La Guardia. We'd have to take a car to Newark or Long Island to get a direct flight on SW and with the extra time plus traffic plus car expense I've never gotten the math to work in our favor.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

Any recommendations for the best card for Jet Blue or Delta points? Those are our two best options for direct flights to Orlando. I'm trying to save for a trip in April 2017 so if I can rack up enough points for some free flights by then that would really help.

I wish Southwest flew direct from La Guardia. We'd have to take a car to Newark or Long Island to get a direct flight on SW and with the extra time plus traffic plus car expense I've never gotten the math to work in our favor.

I'd go for the Amex delta card and one the give MR.

The JetBlue card's sign up bonus is a joke-not worth the credit pull imho.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

I'm a big fan of the sapphire preferred. While it only gives 1% on most purchases, you can get way more than 1% on rewards through travel partners. It's one card I continue to pay the fee on.

 

[JWigs]

Any recommendations for the best card for Jet Blue or Delta points? Those are our two best options for direct flights to Orlando. I'm trying to save for a trip in April 2017 so if I can rack up enough points for some free flights by then that would really help.

I wish Southwest flew direct from La Guardia. We'd have to take a car to Newark or Long Island to get a direct flight on SW and with the extra time plus traffic plus car expense I've never gotten the math to work in our favor.

Deta partners with Amex and they do waive the first years annual fee but does have an annual fee as most airline cards do.

They will give you a free checked bag on delta flights as well as early boarding and 3 pts per $ when you charge delta charges on the card. We cut the card bc we fly AK a lot more now and it makes more sense.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

I'd go for the Amex delta card and one the give MR.

The JetBlue card's sign up bonus is a joke-not worth the credit pull imho.

There currently IS no new Jetblue credit card. This is why I suggested to the OP to wait until March when the new one comes out. Whole different credit card company in Barclays (Mastercard I believe). I got a survey several months ago asking about different scenarios with sign up bonuses and perks of the card so hopefully they took our opinons seriously.