Earning Points
My friends and travel blog followers sometimes ask me which credit card program is best for airline miles and hotel. If you are going to pick just one, I recommend you figure out the best airline to choose.
Airline Questions:
1. If you live in a smaller area and have to fly through a hub (like Atlanta or Charlotte to serve the gulf coast, for example), what are the airlines that service your area best?
2. If you plan to use points to visit specific places like say Europe or Australia, what are the airlines that best serve those areas in terms of good availability, layovers, prices, and flight times?
3. If you scope out a flight using points, which airline gives the best points return? For example Airline A requires 80,000 miles but Airline B requires only 50,000 miles for a similar flight.
Then once you have chosen an airline company that you want to earn points on, you will need to compare other costs and benefits that may be offered by multiple banks or credit card types.
Bank / Credit Card Questions:
1. Most require you to purchase a certain amount on your card before you earn points (say, spend $3k in 3 months). Will you be able to comfortably do that? Can you wait that long?
2. Most have an annual fee (say $95) that they waive for the first year. But some will award you the points as soon as you pay the $95 fee, which appears more expensive but is actually more achievable quickly.
3. How important are additional benefits? Most come with a free checked bag but some come with free day-passes to the airport lounge, travel insurance or auto insurance waiver, annual companion pass, etc. It’s up to you to compare and select what suits you best.
Our favorite choice for United Airlines is the
United Explorer Mileage Plus Visa from JP Morgan Chase Bank
Benefits and Features:
Earn 60,000 bonus miles after spend and pay off $3,000 in first 3 months
Earn 10,000 additional miles if spend total $6,000 within first 6 months
Annual fee $95 is waived the first year
Free First Checked Bag when you pay with your card
Priority Boarding
Earn unlimited miles with no caps
Credit Score required: Good to Excellent (700-749)
Regular APR: 17-24% variable
No blackout dates
Two points per dollar on United purchases and dining
Two day-passes annually to the United Club hotel lounge
Up to $100 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit
Built-in travel insurance and auto rental collision waiver
Our favorite choice for American Airlines is the
Citibank AAdvantage Platinum Select
Benefits and Features:
Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spend and pay off $2,500 in first 3 months
Annual fee $99 waived for the first year
Free First Checked Bag when you pay with your card & Priority Boarding
Earn unlimited miles with no caps
Regular APR: variable
Credit Score required: Good to Excellent (700-749)
Earn a $125 American Airlines Flight Discount after you spend $20,000 or more in purchases during your card membership year and renew your card
No foreign transaction fees