Which Airline rewards are the best?

[friskykitten]

We belong to SWA's rapid rewards but it has an experation point. Ie: You have to fly so much within a year's time to get a free ticket. The flight's credits don't roll over from what I understand. So what I am wondering is what are the best reward programs for free air travel? Marriott rewards credit card has an annual fee; Southwest does too I think, some points or credits expire with in a year or two......etc. Are there any really good programs, with no fees and great reimbursements out there?

Low interest rates and no annual fees for credit cards are a plus too!! Thanks for any suggestions and opinions!!

 

[travelcoupons]

I'd say it's a tossup between Northwest & American. They both seem to offer the most ways to earn miles without actually flying.
I'm not real familiar with American, but I have earned many a mile on Northwest. Northwest also offers the lowest domestic reward tickets (20,000 miles from Sept-May). Northwest miles can also be used on/or earned on Continental and Alaska Airlines flights.
Northwest miles never expire.

Some of the current non-flying mileage earning opportunities on NW:

Worldperks Visa Card - Sign up for 3,000 bonus miles. $55 annual fee...1 mile per dollar charged.
They also have a NO FEE Visa card, but you only get 1 mile for every $2 charged and no bonus miles.

Once you have the Worldperks Visa, sign up your e-mail address by 12-31-01 with US Bank for an additional 1,000 bonus miles.

Sprint Long Distance Sign up before 12-31-01 for 21,000 bonus miles over 1 year, plus mileage for long distance usage. 5cents per minute/ $5.95 monthly charge.

Goldpoints Sign up for Radisson's Goldpoints program. You earn points for staying at Radisson, Park Inn, Country Inns & Suites, car rentals from Thrifty, meals from TGI Fridays, various online purchases, etc. You also can get 500 points for updateing your e-mail address once you have enrolled. You can then turn around and redeem these points for Northwest Airlines miles 2,000 points = 500 miles.

Dining for miles Sign up for dining for miles by calling 1-800-818-2040. You will earn 10 miles/dollar charged at participating restaurants.

Auto Insurance 250 Northwest miles for requesting an auto insurance quote from AIG. Call 800-692-4047 Extension 2414.

 

[friskykitten]

Thanks for that information, travel coupons! We have flown Northwest once, United once and SWA once. SWA (almost) always wins hands down with the low prices but I really don't like the non-assigning of seats. We have four kids with one under five so it is alright for now but when she becomes of age it will be better for us to be able to select seats ahead of time. I will look into your suggestions and hope for some more enlightenment!! I am looking to replace my Universal Studios Discover card which has been converted to a regular Discover. But I earned 12 free tickets to US/IOA before they ended their program!!

 

[Sheree]

I had the Universal Discover too and the Carnival Cruises Visa. Both are done!

Now I use Hilton HHonors, no fee amex. each dollar = 2 pts. 40,000 pts gets a companion air ticket on US Air and some others.

I also have the LL Bean Visa. Free S&H on orders and you get $10 coupons for every x number of dollars you spend overall.

Sheree

 

[Beverly Lynn]

I have earned 3 free tkt on Continental with their FTP program. and not one mile was from flying. I earned it all from long distance calls and promotions they had going on. I also like Usairs program as its the main airline out of pittsburgh. I think that whatever airline you fly the most you should utilize their program as much as possible. I wish we had more flights out of Pit with Continental.

 

[pbhunt]

I agree with Beverly Lynn, You should belong to the programs for whichever airlines you use most often. Oakland is a major west coast hub for SW, and we earned 2 free tickets with them in the past year. I also belong to United's progam, you earn 150 points, for every $250 you spend at Safeway (grocery store chain) I have 10,000 points with them but haven't flown.(25,000 pts. for a ticket) United points will, however, expire and drop off your account, probably before we fly United. There is, I think, a credit card called SkyMiles, which allows you to collect points on the airline of your choice, I'm sure it has an annual fee. You might do an internet search to get more info.

 

[macs4us]

Have flown first class to WDW many times with my miles on United - usually can get flights for $150 rt from San Diego, then upgrade. I also like that you can convert your United miles to the Hilton Hhonors program (5,000 mile min). I have a ton of miles with America West and NW too - I hardly ever fly, but I look for free miles. Check out this site for some free miles: http://www.mileageworkshop.com/

Really missing clickrewards....

Good luck,
Amy

 

[ducklite]

I carry Continental's Platinum M/C from Chase and US Air Platinum Visa from BofA. Yes, both have an annual fee of $60 or so, but considering that I earn at least two r/t domestic coach tickets a year between them, it's a small price to pay. I charge EVERYTHING, gas, eating out, clothing, groceries, cable bill, cell phone bill, doctor and dentist. If they'll take a credit card, I pay with it. I wish I could pay the mortgage with it! I'll pay for my cruise with the CO card in a couple months, that's 6000+ miles right there! The key is to pay it off every month, otherwise what you pay in interest will eat up more than what you save on air fare.

Currently I'm saving CO miles for first class tickets for my 2003 vacation. Half way there

DH and I are also enrolled in the Hilton Honors Mutual Fund program, you pool your points into one account. You'd be suprised how quickly they accumulate. The best part is taht you get Gold status quickly because they consider all the points, not just one or the othre spouses towards it! You can transfer FF miles into and out of the HH program, although you lose a ton doing it.

Anne

 

[ncligs]

Ducklite, We do the exact same thing. Charge "everything', and pay in full when the bill comes. We also have the same 2 credit cards,(Continental,US Air) to get Frequent Flyer miles. But we also have the GM credit card, that has a maximum of $500 per yr, towards a new car.
We are going to be able to fly "First Class", round trip to Hawaii, for free, just for using our credit card for everything. As you say though, you have to "pay in full", when you recieve your credit card bill, to make this worthwhile.