It is more rewarding if you spend more money on
airfare as that category has the highest Membership Rewards earnings.
Not exact matches
The Citi Prestige ® Card has several bonus
categories, and it also offers great perks such
as a Priority Pass membership and an annual $ 250
airfare credit.
Moreover, not only
airfare and hotel stays are considered
as travel purchases — campgrounds, car rental, motels, cruises, and many other purchases also fall in «travel»
category.
Most cards offer more than one mile per dollar for only select purchases that fall into specific
categories, such
as airfare and groceries.
When you buy miles from American Airlines, the purchase actually codes
as airfare, which means it falls into the travel
category of many credit cards.
Also, remember that for The Business Gold Rewards Card from American Express OPEN, you must specify «
airfare»
as your 3x the points earning
category prior to purchasing the
airfare.
As with most rewards credit cards, point values vary by
category, so do your homework to make sure you're getting the most value (if you're redeeming points for anything other than
airfare, that is).
For instance, while other cards» credits can be applied to any expense that falls under the travel
category, including
airfare, the American Express Platinum's travel credit applies only to incidentals, such
as baggage fees and in - flight purchases.
While most cards only let you use travel credits toward airline incidentals, such
as checked bags and in - flight meals, the Sapphire Reserve and Citi Prestige let you use the credits toward any purchase that falls under the cards» travel
categories, including
airfare.
Airfare, when purchased directly with the airline, is another 2X
category on the Marriott Premier Rewards Card and the Ritz - Carlton Rewards Card and should also code
as 3X on the Sapphire Reserve.
If you don't fall into the
category above then, unless you have more United Miles than you can possibly spend on
airfare, do not redeem them for a rate
as low
as 0.83 cents each — that's just an all around bad deal.
Many cards have bonus
categories that earn 2 to 3 points per dollar, such
as airfare, gas or groceries, but they'll only offer one point per dollar for all other purchases.
The Citi Prestige ® Card has several bonus
categories, and it also offers great perks such
as a Priority Pass membership and an annual $ 250
airfare credit.
You can choose which
category earns more, such
as airfare, which Chase doesn't offer.
And if she had spent on a 2 % cash back card instead, she wouldn't have gotten the
category bonuses she gets with her American Express Premier Rewards Gold card, such
as 3x
airfare and 2x gas, groceries, and dining.
That said, when you buy American AAdvantage miles, these are processed by American Airlines itself, so you * do * earn the 3X bonus for these purchases, if you chose
airfare as your 3X
category.
Because MileagePlus X transactions are categorized
as «Travel — Airline» by Amex, you may even receive
category bonuses, such
as the 3 points per dollar you can earn on
airfare purchases with the Amex Premier Rewards Gold card (this has yet to be confirmed).
Flexpoints, US Bank's proprietary rewards currency, are famously most valuable when redeemed for
airfare: they're worth between 1.33 and 2 cents each, which makes the US Bank Flexperks Travel Rewards card an (almost) unlimited 2.66 % to 6 % rewards card, depending on the flights you ultimately redeem your Flexpoints for,
as long
as you're sure to spend exclusively in the card's bonus
categories.
We then picked out cards that gave the most rewards in travel - related
categories, such
as airfare and hotel bookings, or offered key travel features, such
as no foreign transaction fees.
The Marriott Rewards card earns 5 points per USD spent at an Marriott hotel world wide,
as well
as 2 pt / $ of travel spend on
airfare, car rentals and restaurants, making it a broad and useful bonus
category for frequent travelers.