How to Choose the Best Frequent Flyer Credit Card For You
When choosing an frequent flyer credit card, there are two main directions you can go.
Bank sponsored cards provide miles to go toward a flight with any airline for each dollar you spend. These are some of the most popular because they can be used on almost any airline and are offered by practically all the credit card issuers.
The other type of card is an airline rewards credit card tied to one specific airline with a partnership with the bank or credit card company you use to help provide you with the best deals and travel rates.
Filtering Your Options
When trying to decide which card is best for you, there is typically an abundance of cards available. Some will also work much better with your lifestyle than others. Take these points into consideration when choosing a frequent flyer card:
- Airlines you prefer to fly with the most
- Terms and conditions of the rewards program
- Whether or not using the card will have any benefit toward your travel
- Any blackout dates and whether or not they will affect you
- Any fees that will be applied
- Interest rates for unpaid balances
- Any other restrictions
Before choosing a card, make sure you can actually use it by flying with an airline that operates flights from an airport near where you live. You may find a card that provides an excellent deal and suits your lifestyle and travel plans perfectly, but the airline only flies from an airport that is several hours from your house. If you have to travel that far out of your way just to get the airline with the greatest deal, you're probably not getting a deal at all. Make sure the airline is near you and you have easy access to it.
Be Disciplined in Your Card Usage
Aside from looking over each card's detail, keep in mind the restrictions that apply to the credit card and that you do not go over your limit. If you have excessively late payments or miss a payment, your card may be revoked and your airline perks will no longer apply. Make sure you can pay your card off each month, and don't go out of your way to make purchases on your card just to gain miles. In the end, if you are gaining hundreds of dollars in interest on your card, it may wind up costing you more to pay it off than it would to simply buy a plane ticket. Stay within your budget and the miles will rack up as you go.