Check with
your specific airline frequent flier program to make sure its mileage account policies remain favorable.
When it comes to miles & points - earning credit cards, each of their earnings will usually fall into 1 of 3 different areas of travel rewards: 1) Airline credit cards earning miles within
specific airline frequent flyer programs, such as Chase United VISA, Delta AMEX... etc.; 2) Hotel credit cards earning points within specific hotel rewards programs such as the Chase Hyatt VISA, Hilton AMEX... etc., 3) Strictly cash - back cards that earn a fixed percentage return (usually from 1 - 2 %) on each purchase which you can then use later to credit travel - related charges such as the Barclay Arrival + or Citi Thank You.
Airline miles, miles that are held in
specific airline frequent flyer programs like United or Delta or Southwest, are not equivalent to the «miles» earned with her CapitalOne Venture card and a whole slew of other similar «miles» - earning cards out there.
Not exact matches
But if you mainly book flights with a
specific airline, you may want to consider applying for an
airline credit card and joining a
frequent flyer program.
While co-branded
airline credit cards offer special benefits to
frequent flyers of one
specific airline, general travel rewards cards can offer more flexibility in redeeming award flights and other travel bookings.
Miles earned through a credit card are generally tied to a
specific airline's
frequent flyer program.
The third type of rewards card,
airline cards, allow you to earn miles earned through a credit card, and those are generally tied to a
specific airline's
frequent flyer program.
If you use one
specific airline all the time, get its credit card to rack up even more
frequent flyer miles.
Furthermore, «if you're not loyal to a
specific airline, then it's worth considering ditching your branded
airline frequent flier cards,» adds Tran.
If you are not loyal to one
specific airline or you do not travel frequently, you should choose a general
frequent flyer credit card so you can redeem your reward points or miles for a flight with any
airline.
And co-branded credit cards can be especially appealing to cardholders who have a particular affinity for a
specific airline and want a faster way to accrue
frequent flyers miles, as these cards typically reward you with miles for every purchase.
As travelers are awarded points for flying with a particular
airline regularly or
frequenting a
specific hotel, credit card users are awarded points for regularly using a particular credit card and often for a particular purchase.
For one, few
airline rewards programs can offer the same
specific perks provided by branded
frequent flyer programs, which often include things like free checked bags or access to airport lounges.
Cathleen McCarthy: The battle of generic versus
frequent flier miles — A primer on how both generic credit cards and
airline -
specific cards offer and redeem travel miles — and which is best for you.
Similar to
airlines, hotels have
frequent guest programs (also known as hotel loyalty programs) where guests gain elite status by reaching
specific tiers.
Miles are also known as
frequent flyer miles, the same miles you earn when you fly with a
specific airline to accumulate mileage by using a
frequent flyer number.
If you are not loyal to one
specific airline or you do not travel frequently, you should choose a general
frequent flyer credit card so you can redeem your reward points or miles for a flight with any
airline.
This card appears to be a cross between the Premier Rewards Gold and Platinum Cards from American Express, and if you're a
frequent traveler who doesn't like tying up their points in a
specific airline and hunting for award space, it could be a good deal.
Additionally, members do not have to choose how to spend their rebate checks in advance, unlike some
airline reward cards which lock the customer into a
specific frequent flier program.
The flight award redemption rules are
specific to the
airline where the
frequent flyer miles are.
Their travel partners list has grown in the last few years and they include most of the ones I would prefer to move points into, like United
Airlines» MileagePlus, my favorite
airline -
specific frequent flyer program...
Also called
airline miles or travel points,
frequent flyer miles are earned by participating in loyalty programs offered by
airlines or credit card companies (which may or may not limit participants to earning points on a
specific airline).
Travel and air mile cards are not to be confused with
frequent flyer programs, as these are usually offered by a
specific airline.
They differ in that the
airline -
specific cards provide more avenues for earning miles, with special incentives often given for charging the cost of hotel and rental car companies with whom the
airlines has included in its
frequent flier loyalty program.
Best Credit Cards for
Frequent Travelers Bank of America Travel Rewards Credit Card This card doesn't limit you to
specific airlines, dates, or website, and for every dollar you spend on purchases, you can earn unlimited 1.5 points.
An eligible stay is a stay with an eligible rate i.e. any published rate excluding:
airline, inter-company, and employee discount rates or any complimentary, free, or barter room; any stays in connection with
frequent traveller awards, gift certificates or other awards or vouchers; group and
specific promotion rates; tour operator and wholesale net tour rates or long stay rates.
And general travel cards tend to be simpler than
airline -
specific credit cards, which require familiarity not only with the card features but also with a complex
airline frequent - flyer program.
Some credit cards are affiliated with
specific frequent flyer mile programs, while others earn you universal points redeemable for multiple
airlines or different types of travel reservations, including hotels and car rentals.
If you feel strongly about continuing to use a
frequent flier credit card, Brancatelli recommends shifting from an
airline -
specific card to a general
airline card, «which lets you put the miles where it makes the most good for you at the moment.»
Miles earned through a credit card are generally tied to a
specific airline's
frequent flyer program.