The Airline Miles Credit Card - Still Worth It?
Before reward points and cash back credit cards became popular, the industry leader in credit card programs was the airline miles credit card. The typical program allowed you to earn one frequent flyer point from a member airline of your choice for each dollar that you spend on the credit card. In recent years as the airlines have struggled to be profitable, frequent flyer programs have become the step child of the industry.
Most carriers have significantly cut the number of frequent flyer seats on various routes or raised the mileage required to get a frequent flyer ticket. However, there is still an argument for the airline points credit card.
First, if you are frequent flyer on a major carrier it may still be to your advantage to the carry an airline miles credit card for that airline. Frequent flyer miles can also translate into hotel stays and other redeemable options such as magazine subscriptions. Examine your situation and if you consistently reach platinum status on a single airline, an airline frequent flyer card may be the way to go.
Second, if you have miles that are about to expire, you might consider getting a credit card to save the miles. While frequent flyer miles are harder to use than in years past, they still have some value. If you have 25,000 miles or more in your airline frequent flyer account, that is probably worth at least $350. You can even look at selling miles if you do not use them, but no one wins if you let your miles expire. Look for a card with no annual fee and then get the card and make a few purchases. Airline miles usually expire if there is no activity in your account for 18 months.
Last, if you have a certain amount of miles in your account but no quite enough for a ticket, you might consider getting an airline miles card for that carrier. Look for cards with no annual fee for one year and also a teaser mileage bonus. For example, some cards offer 25,000 miles if you spend a certain amount in the first few months you have the card. At the end of the day, 25,000 miles is a considerable amount. It might push the miles in your account to a level where you can qualify for a better ticket award option. Just remember to cancel the credit card before your one year anniversary so you will not be charged the annual fee.
While credit cards that earn you frequent flyer points are no longer the golden child of the credit card industry, they still can serve unique purposes. If you like to travel or travel a lot, there may be cases where you should evaluate having an airline points credit card.
Before reward points and cash back credit cards became popular, the industry leader in credit card programs was the airline miles credit card. The typical program allowed you to earn one frequent flyer point from a member airline of your choice for each dollar that you spend on the credit card. In recent years as the airlines have struggled to be profitable, frequent flyer programs have become the step child of the industry.
Most carriers have significantly cut the number of frequent flyer seats on various routes or raised the mileage required to get a frequent flyer ticket. However, there is still an argument for the airline points credit card.
First, if you are frequent flyer on a major carrier it may still be to your advantage to the carry an airline miles credit card for that airline. Frequent flyer miles can also translate into hotel stays and other redeemable options such as magazine subscriptions. Examine your situation and if you consistently reach platinum status on a single airline, an airline frequent flyer card may be the way to go.
Second, if you have miles that are about to expire, you might consider getting a credit card to save the miles. While frequent flyer miles are harder to use than in years past, they still have some value. If you have 25,000 miles or more in your airline frequent flyer account, that is probably worth at least $350. You can even look at selling miles if you do not use them, but no one wins if you let your miles expire. Look for a card with no annual fee and then get the card and make a few purchases. Airline miles usually expire if there is no activity in your account for 18 months.
Last, if you have a certain amount of miles in your account but no quite enough for a ticket, you might consider getting an airline miles card for that carrier. Look for cards with no annual fee for one year and also a teaser mileage bonus. For example, some cards offer 25,000 miles if you spend a certain amount in the first few months you have the card. At the end of the day, 25,000 miles is a considerable amount. It might push the miles in your account to a level where you can qualify for a better ticket award option. Just remember to cancel the credit card before your one year anniversary so you will not be charged the annual fee.
While credit cards that earn you frequent flyer points are no longer the golden child of the credit card industry, they still can serve unique purposes. If you like to travel or travel a lot, there may be cases where you should evaluate having an airline points credit card.