Credit Card recommendations?

[mark&sue]

We are thinking of changing our credit card for one that gives better rewards such as airmiles. As we always pay off the balance we do not need one with a good interest rate.

Any suggestions?

Many thanks



Susan

 

[wilma-bride]

Sue

I've just got the Virgin Atlantic (MBNA) credit card, purely for the airmiles. I am the same, in that I pay off the balance in full every month but, I am using it to pay for everything so that the miles build up.

There are 2 different types of card - the white earns 1 mile on every £1 spent (2 on every £1 spent with VA or VH), the black earns double that. You also get bonus miles with your first spend. There is an annual fee for the black card but it depends whether the miles you would earn would outweigh the fee cost (I think it's £115). I have the white card as I don't spend enough to justify the fee on the black.

The only minor drawback I've experienced is that, because it's American Express, it's not necessarily accepted everywhere.

 

[BRobson]

We have just got the Tesco Clubcard Credit Card. For evey £4 you spend at Tescos you get 5 points . 1 point for every £4 you spend everywhere else!

You can convert these points into Clubcard deals. You can convert the points into Airmiles,Holiday Vouchers etc. We are opting to convert ours to BA Miles - for every 250 Clubcard points you get 600 BA miles.

 

[Laurafoster]

I used to have the VA american express however i found that the miles were not as good value anymore. The miles plus money fares are not as much cheaper than getting the full fare flight anymore.

I now have the Tesco clubcard credit card - its a master card so much more accepted. As i get all my petrol and food shopping from tescos i get 5 points per £4 i spend there plus you use your clubcard too so your efectively getting double points for everything spent in tescos plus a point per £4 everywhere else. If you use tescos regularly its a good card! This year ive managed to get my RAC membership, MOT and a weekend away all for free using my points!

 

[Hilary]

DH has a NatWest cc and I have a Tesco one. Both will transfer points directly to an AirMiles account.

We've looked at the Virgin cc to get Virgin miles, but have decided that, for us, it's a better bet to collect AirMiles as these can be used towards many holiday options (including Virgin flights).

Over the years (and I do mean about 20 years!) we've had a few good deals with our AirMiles, but I've no idea if we would done better some other way!

 

[mark&sue]

Thanks everyone for your help. After looking at all the options we have decided to go for a Ryanair credit card as they offer free flights to europe and as we are buying a holidy home in Spain at the end of the year this will be really useful.


Many thanks


Susan

 

[Tron[ADS]]

Your best place to check for current credit card deals is moneysavingexpert.com (.co.uk ?)

I'm not sure about these air miles ones...I always thought they were a bit of a scam....has anyone actualy managed to claim back anything decent ? I know my sister has loads of them stored up, but can never seem to be able to use them.

 

[daggerr]

There's a handy credit card rewards calculator at CreditCardTuneUp.com . It will calculate which of the various rewards credit cards will pay you the most for your normal spending profile.

A few of the better cards are the AmEx Blue Cash, Citi Driver's Edge, and Chase Freedom card. That calculator will help you figure out which card will pay you the most.

 

[Hilary]

I'm not sure about these air miles ones...I always thought they were a bit of a scam....has anyone actualy managed to claim back anything decent ?

Yes, we've had some very good use from ours over the years:

• practically a whole trip to Orlando for two - free flights (had to pay taxes), car rental and even some accommodation
• less than half price flights to Vancouver for four of us
• lots of days out for four - Legoland, London Eye, Madama Tussauds, etc.