air / mileage credit card

[serialkiller]

So I been looking into a mileage credit card and came across this one

linky linky

The "elite-level" one.

so far everything sounds good, but I wanted to get other peoples opinions.. and maybe even recommendations to other mileage credit cards. Thanks for any help in advance.

Jorge

 

[imported_Imp]

Looks nice..until you add up the annual fee. How much is the fee and what do you gain(lose) annually net due to that? I'll probably never get a card with a premiumm but I do love how gold cards look.

 

[serialkiller]

Originally posted by: Imp
Looks nice..until you add up the annual fee. How much is the fee and what do you gain(lose) annually net due to that? I'll probably never get a card with a premiumm but I do love how gold cards look.

yea, thought about that one. The annual fee is $75, kinda high but I think it would pay itself off with the unlimited companion program. They have a non elite version where its pretty much the same thing but less points for things and with a no annual fee. But after some thinking I came to a conclusion that forking out an annual fee and getting a trip faster vs not forking out a fee and finally getting a trip three times longer then if you were an elite member is probably worth it.

basically what I am trying to say is. For me forking out the fee and getting a trip much faster is worth it because I would like to take frequent trips because I am young.


any more thoughts and opinions? Thanks IMP!

 

[serialkiller]

anybody else?

 

[Kelemvor]

There are plenty of cards with no annual fee. I'd go with one of those...

But it depends how much you travel. I have over 150,000 miles on my card and we dont' travel much so we're switching to a "Cash Back" type card.

 

[serialkiller]

Frank junior, what type of card do you have? And how long did it take you to get that much miles? Only thing I'm worried about with the no fee cards is that it will probably take forever to accumilate points.

 

[Dunbar]

I believe you have to spend $15,000 before you can use the 15,000 signup points. I think you are better off picking an airline that serves your market well and apply directly for their card. In my experience, American has really good domestic award availability. They have a 20,000 mile signup bonus, no annual fee for 1-yr, card.

 

[Dunbar]

dp

 

[serialkiller]

Originally posted by: Dunbar
I believe you have to spend $15,000 before you can use the 15,000 signup points. I think you are better off picking an airline that serves your market well and apply directly for their card. In my experience, American has really good domestic award availability. They have a 20,000 mile signup bonus, no annual fee for 1-yr, card.

whoa, I highly doubt you get the 15,000 bonus points after spending $15,000. Its after your first purchase with the credit card. I wouldn't have even thought about applying if i had to spend $15,000 in order to get my bonus points.. hahahahah

 

[Dunbar]

Originally posted by: serialkiller
whoa, I highly doubt you get the 15,000 bonus points after spending $15,000. Its after your first purchase with the credit card. I wouldn't have even thought about applying if i had to spend $15,000 in order to get my bonus points.. hahahahah

What you get is 15,000 flight points but you can only use an equal amount of spending points for an award. So until your spend points equals 15,000 those flight points are useless (and typical economy saver awards start at 25,000 points.) Now, they do give you 5-to-1 spending bonus for gas and groceries so it's not as bad as it seems. But it still only makes sense for people who can charge a lot of money on the card. If you're not a big spender I think an airline card is a better value since the bonus miles carry no such restriction.

Read all about it here.

 

[mikebb]

If you're not looking strictly for airline miles, but general a general travel card, I'd check out hotel cards, specifically either HHonors (Hilton) or SPG (Starwood) Amex cards. Check out Fatwallet and Flyertalk for the scoop from the experts

fatwallet travel credit card thread

flyertalk forums

 

[serialkiller]

Originally posted by: Dunbar

Originally posted by: serialkiller
whoa, I highly doubt you get the 15,000 bonus points after spending $15,000. Its after your first purchase with the credit card. I wouldn't have even thought about applying if i had to spend $15,000 in order to get my bonus points.. hahahahah

What you get is 15,000 flight points but you can only use an equal amount of spending points for an award. So until your spend points equals 15,000 those flight points are useless (and typical economy saver awards start at 25,000 points.) Now, they do give you 5-to-1 spending bonus for gas and groceries so it's not as bad as it seems. But it still only makes sense for people who can charge a lot of money on the card. If you're not a big spender I think an airline card is a better value since the bonus miles carry no such restriction.

Read all about it here.

ah yes, in that case yes you would need to some how spend $15k in order to use the 15,000... but I am not sure if this is still the same as of today... i read through flyertalk and it seems like it was either outdated or things have changed. The companion minimum is $299 instead of the $379 that everybody is saying on that forum.... and its either i read the fine print wrong, but I did see anything about having to have the same amount of purchase points in order to use flight points... I guess I should just call citi up and ask them wasup. Thanks for the heads up though Dunbar!

Jorge

 

[serialkiller]

Originally posted by: mikebb
If you're not looking strictly for airline miles, but general a general travel card, I'd check out hotel cards, specifically either HHonors (Hilton) or SPG (Starwood) Amex cards. Check out Fatwallet and Flyertalk for the scoop from the experts

fatwallet travel credit card thread

flyertalk forums

Awesome mikebb!! That starwood card does sound very attractive compared to the citi premierpass.... woo hooo..i will have to do a little more research on this and see how good the starwood would work for my case. Thanks mikebb!

 

[JonTheBaller]

I have a "Baller-Level" mileage card, very selective - they don't even list the info on their web site

 

[Journer]

any good skymiles card for college student with FICO over 650...under 700? lol

 

[jagec]

It just seems iffy to me...

OK, one point for every mile you fly. You'll get that with any airline's frequent flier program. Unless you can double-dip on the card and a frequent flier program...which wouldn't be too bad. For now let's discount this portion; unless you fly a LOT it won't make a huge difference.
2 points for every dollar in gas or groceries. For about $1k in gas and $2k in groceries per year, that's 4,000 points/miles per year.
and one point for every TWO dollars on everything else. I don't know how much you guys charge on your cards in a year, but let's say $15k after gas and groceries...so 7500 miles. Or 11500 miles a year, so a little over two years to get a ticket.

To compare, my Dividend card will give me 5%*3k = $150 + 1% * 15k = $300, which is pretty much a domestic ticket right there.

I guess it depends on where you're flying, and how much of a spender you are. My frugal lifestyle isn't well suited to a miles reward card

 

[serialkiller]

Originally posted by: JonTheBaller
I have a "Baller-Level" mileage card, very selective - they don't even list the info on their web site

must be the black american express card ey?

hahahaha

 

[serialkiller]

Originally posted by: jagec
It just seems iffy to me...

OK, one point for every mile you fly. You'll get that with any airline's frequent flier program. Unless you can double-dip on the card and a frequent flier program...which wouldn't be too bad. For now let's discount this portion; unless you fly a LOT it won't make a huge difference.
2 points for every dollar in gas or groceries. For about $1k in gas and $2k in groceries per year, that's 4,000 points/miles per year.
and one point for every TWO dollars on everything else. I don't know how much you guys charge on your cards in a year, but let's say $15k after gas and groceries...so 7500 miles. Or 11500 miles a year, so a little over two years to get a ticket.

To compare, my Dividend card will give me 5%*3k = $150 + 1% * 15k = $300, which is pretty much a domestic ticket right there.

I guess it depends on where you're flying, and how much of a spender you are. My frugal lifestyle isn't well suited to a miles reward card

yea i hear ya, only reason why I am looking into a mileage cc is because i want to start traveling...... and cant use my platinum select divident because of the balance transfter =) heheheheheh....

The starwood amex looks very promising.... only problem is, its an amex.... I only try to use master/visa because they are more widely exepted... =(

 

[JonTheBaller]

Originally posted by: serialkiller

Originally posted by: JonTheBaller
I have a "Baller-Level" mileage card, very selective - they don't even list the info on their web site

must be the black american express card ey?

hahahaha

I cannot reveal any details as I've been sworn to secrecy by the issuer. I don't like to brag, but the benefits are very good.

 

[serialkiller]

Originally posted by: JonTheBaller

Originally posted by: serialkiller

Originally posted by: JonTheBaller
I have a "Baller-Level" mileage card, very selective - they don't even list the info on their web site

must be the black american express card ey?

hahahaha

I cannot reveal any details as I've been sworn to secrecy by the issuer. I don't like to brag, but the benefits are very good.

well, looks like this average joe wont be applying for that card. =)

 

[erub]

there seems to be a lot of confusion in this thread..are people not reading the same link that I am?

anyway, I second the "pick an airline and stick with it group" - I recently grabbed a Citibank AAdvantage card when they were offering 25K miles sign up plus free companion pass (i've heard that these are mostly useless though) - first annual year no fee

my mom has had good luck with this card for years, and my dad has been using a Southwest RapidRewards card (although WN keeps scaling back the rewards, they cost more $ and now have seat limitations, making this card less valuable)

 

[Doboji]

I have the US Aiways VISA.... actually works pretty well... I've racked up enough Dividend Miles for some free flights.

 

[mikebb]

Originally posted by: serialkiller

Originally posted by: mikebb
If you're not looking strictly for airline miles, but general a general travel card, I'd check out hotel cards, specifically either HHonors (Hilton) or SPG (Starwood) Amex cards. Check out Fatwallet and Flyertalk for the scoop from the experts

fatwallet travel credit card thread

flyertalk forums

Awesome mikebb!! That starwood card does sound very attractive compared to the citi premierpass.... woo hooo..i will have to do a little more research on this and see how good the starwood would work for my case. Thanks mikebb!

Not a problem. What I forgot to mention is if you do decide to go with this card, make sure to use an app link that gives you a bonus 6000 pts on first purchase.

SPG App Link (borrowed from FW thread)