Credit Cards with Best Point Plans for Airline Tickets

The only reason companies have cards with "free" anything is because they make a profit from them.
It's a sham.

Don't get caught up in that... even if you pay off every month.

Also, a lot of those companies with airline miles have yearly fees to use the card.. keep that in mind as well. Think about how much it is worth to use it. Plus, make sure you have great credit before you ask. The fees can be horrendous.

The airlines are changing. These "deals" are not good any longer. You have to accumulate a lot of miles and then pay fees to use the points and then only fly on selected flights. It is not like it used to be years ago.

We have a business and we pay in full every month. We run loads of expenses per month through our business card. I like to get points in order to have my choice to do anything. So far, I have already received over $1000 cash back and it is just August. I will redeem again around Christmas for another $500-$700.

It is not worth the hassle with airlines. Get cash back then buy a good ticket so you can fly when you want and have no restrictions. Airlines are always having good promotions and you end up better off with a good promotion and not worrying about blackouts and non refundable fees.

G.,

Sorry. I wouldn't do that. Even if you are paying it off every month? You aren't earning enough points to do anything for a while - unless of course - you are spending $10K each month...then you MIGHT be able to make something of it...

Here's a link for you to find out what you can get - your spending habits, credit rating, etc.

https://www.google.com/compare/creditcard/qs?gclid=CMj-gf...

If your credit is excellent, you can get some really good bonus start-up offers. Southwest is one.

Check out this site:

http://thepointsguy.com/2014/05/50000-point-southwest-air...

This offer is from May, so it might not be there still, but there are more like it.

First question you have to answer:
What airline serves your airport the best?
Each airport is usually served by 1 major airline, and all the rest have limited flights. If you live near Dulles in DC, you should look at United. In Charlotte, look at USAir. In Dallas, look at American. Look at your local airport, and see what airline has the most flights. It doesn't make any sense to get a card for an airline that doesn't have a lot of flights from your airport. You'll never be able to use the points.

Once you know that, THEN look at the details for that airline's card and see if it's worth the service fees. Do they only give points, or do they give you companion tickets? Will you actually use the companion tickets every year? Do the companion tickets have fees attached?

I used to have a USAir card, because it's the major airline out of Pittsburgh. It had a $150 annual fee. BUT, I got 2 round-trip companion tickets anywhere each year for free. So, for the cost of my ticket plus the $150 annual fee, I could go on vacation anywhere in the continental US with both my kids. Obviously $150 is far less than the cost of 2 tickets to anywhere and I used the companion tickets every single year. Plus I got points. So it was worth the $ to me.

However, USAir merged with American this year. In the new program, the $150 fee stayed, but the companion tickets were removed from the program. Paying $150/year just to earn points isn't worth it, so I cancelled the card. There is no point in getting a different airline card, because there aren't enough flights on any other airline out of Pittsburgh to make it worthwhile. Now I'm going with a generic (non-airline) card. It earns points that can be redeemed like cash towards a ticket on any airline. Cards with cash-back options are also good.

It goes without saying that you need to be really really disciplined and always pay it off to make this strategy worthwhile at all.

My hubby has a Southwest card and we're very happy with the dollar per point earnings, bonus points on certain purchases, and the point values they charge for flights are reasonable. There's no blackout dates and you can also cash in points for gift cards all over. We haven't paid for a plane ticket in 3 years, including flying the whole family to Florida, buying tickets for friends and family to visit us, and we financed Christmas one year solely on gift cards from points.

My mom has a US Airways card and is always complaining about how many points flights cost her and being unable to get a flight on points at certain times or to certain places.

People really need to learn how to use Google.

I have the Chase Explorer card. It's 2 points for every dollar you spend.
I haven't had to actually pay for a plane ticket in years.

Gotta love the critics who say not to use credit cards-even if you pay them off monthly. Whatever!
I agree that you need to know who will best serve you carrier wise and then go from there. I have a Southwest card and do pay a $99 annual fee but I got 50,000 points to start up (This equaled three free flights to Vegas in January) and then every year, I get 6,000 points when I pay the fee. I charge everything I can that doesn't have a fee (cell phone, cable, etc) and generally earn 1500 to 2000 a month-it does add up. Hubby and I are going to New Orleans in October free and I still have 20,000 points for the next trip.