There are two main variables that should be considered when
choosing a frequent flier credit card program. 1. Will I be
able to get benefits from the dominant airline(s) in my region?
2. Which air miles card will earn the quickest ticket with the
fewest strings attached?
There are two different types of airmiles online credit cards
featured in the credit card comparison chart below: airline-sponsored
cards & bank-sponsored cards.
Airline-Sponsored Credit Cards:
These types of airmile cards allow you to focus on a single
airline. If that airline has an outlet in or nearby where you
live, it may manage many of the paths to potential get-aways.
In most cases, this will make your travel rewards usage easy,
convenient, and economical.
American
Express, Chase
or
Citibank
offer great deals on airline sponsored travel reward
credit cards.
Bank-Sponsored Credit Cards:
These credit card offers often allow more flexibility, because
the frequent flier miles earned can be used on many airlines
rather than just one. If you don't have a dominant airline in
your region, these cards probably are your best bet. They have
other advantages, too: sometimes the minimum mileage required
for travel is lower than with airline-sponsored cards.
Chase
and Citibank all present great credit card offers for bank-sponsored
airmile cards.
Is an airmiles credit card the right card for you?
When you apply for a credit card, you want the best deal and
may not really care if the card is airline sponsored or bank
sponsored. Some of the credit card deals listed below offer
0% APR introductory rates. These are intended to reel you in
as a customer. If low interest rates are your main worry, an
air miles card may be a bad option for you, because the fixed
rates on these cards are likely to be a little higher than
other types of credit cards. Therefore,
if you're carrying a balance, look for a low APR credit card,
not a travel rewards card. There are many
reward credit card offers that
offer low interest rates. Check these
reward cards out, they offer
great savings on various products and services.
Annual Fees
Remember that there can be several "annual fees" or
"membership fees" for frequent flier credit cards.
Many offer standard, gold or platinum options, and the price
rises with the privileges and credit limits available at the
higher levels.
