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If you are looking for the best possible Frequent Flyer Credit Card, here are some questions to ask:
- How close does the sign-up bonus get you to a free ticket? While a few cards offer enough bonus miles for a free ticket, most cards offer smaller mileage bonuses, enough to get you one quarter or half way to an award flight.
- Can the frequent flyer miles be used on the routes where you fly the most? While it may make sense to go with the card with the highest introductory offer, you also need to consider whether you can use the miles. This is particularly the case for cards associated with smaller, more regional airlines. If you live in a place not served by the airline, the free miles may not help you get where you want to go.
- Can the miles you earn be used with partner airlines? Many frequent flyer cards let you use the miles you earn with partner airlines (often the major carriers). This, of course, gives you a much wider range of choice in how you use your miles when you book your ticket. Do note, however, that bonus miles tend to be redeemable only with the carrier associated with the frequent flyer card, so again, you need to make sure that the carrier covers the routes you plan to travel most frequently.
- How many miles do you earn on your purchases? While most cards will award you one mile for each dollar you spend, a few cards offer more miles per dollar and some cards offer a smaller reward, such as one mile for every two dollars you spend. The latter also typically come with a smaller or no annual fee, so if you won’t be using your card that much, you might be better off opting for the card without an annual fee. A few cards, such as the WorldPerks® Visa® Signature Card, allow you to earn double miles. In this case, for purchases direct from Northwest Airlines®.
- Is there a limit to the number of miles you can earn in a given year? If there is a limit, these are typically so high (e.g., 100,000 miles) that they don’t apply to most people. However, if you will be charging enough each year to exceed the card limit, you may consider a different card or simply get more than one card.
- Do the miles expire? Many cards require you to have some type of account activity-either purchasing a ticket or redeeming miles-at certain intervals, such as every three years, in order to prevent your miles from expiring. Be sure you know the terms and conditions, so you don’t get any surprises.
If you don’t plan to make a lot of purchases, it makes most sense to choose one Frequent Flyer Credit Card and stick with that. Alternatively, you could select one of the many Airline Mile Credit Cards, which allow you to transfer miles into a frequent flyer account of your choosing. As with any rewards credit card, keep in mind that your earnings can be offset by the interest charges if you carry a substantial balance.
