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Airline Credit Cards: Compare and Apply
Alaska Airlines Signature
Visa
|
|
Annual
Fee |
Intro.
Bonus |
Earning |
Features |
Redemption
Opportunities |
|
|
$75 |
20,000
miles |
1 mile per $
2 miles per $ on Alaska Air
purchases |
2
Boardroom Club passes
$50 companion
ticket |
From Alaska
Account:
Alaska/Horizon, American,
British Air, Cathay, Continental, Delta, Hawaiian,
LAN, Norhtwest, Qantas, Amtrak (West
Coast)
VIA Transfer:
None |
Best
for Alaska Airlines flyers who
purchase their own tickets on Alaska Air and
qualify for the 2 mile per $ earning rate will
benefit most. Otherwise, the Starwood Amex offers better earning power with a
lower fee, as Starwood points can be transferred
to your Alaska account at 1:1, with a 5000 point
bonus for 20,000 point increments.
Upsides
Boardroom passes, high
introductory bonus, and the $50 companion ticket
are positive features, especially for West Coast
based flyers. Alaska also has one of the most
diverse partner programs -- you
can book awards on
American, British Airways, Continental, Delta, Northwest,
Qantas, and Hawaii airlines with your Alaska
miles.
Downsides
High annual fee.
Competitive
Alternatives Starwood Preferred Guest American
Express
--
Can transfer points 1:1 to Alaska for free, and get
a 5,000 mile bonus for each 20,000 points
you transfer, effectively earning 1.25 miles per
dollars spent
Diners Club
-- Can transfer
points 1:1 to Alaska
accounts
| |
iAmtrak
Guest Rewards World MasterCard
|
|
Annual
Fee |
Intro.
Bonus |
Earning |
Features |
Redemption
Opportunities |
|
|
$0 |
5,000 points |
1 points per
$
2 points per
$ on Amtrak |
|
From Amtrak
Account:
Amtrak
VIA Transfer: Continental
Airlines, Midwest Express Airlines, Starwood
Hotels, Hilton Hotels, Hyatt Hotels, Carnival
Cruises |
Best for
Heavy Amtrak
travelers who want to top off their accounts --
although the Starwood
Preferred Guest American Express
also lets you transfer its points into your Amtrak account
at 1:1. We think it's a more flexible
option.
Upsides
No annual fee. Easy transfer
of points to and from Continental and Midwest
Airlines. Amtrak point rewards are also a good
value if you live in the Northeast for the Regional,
Metroliner, and Acela trains. You may also
transfer your points to many hotel chains,
but points do get diluted.
Downsides
Limit on annual number of
points you can transfer to Continental/Midwest.
Competitive
Alternatives The Starwood
Preferred Guest American Express lets you
transfer points to Amtrak at an even 1:1 ratio. We
recommend this card over the standard Amtrak card
for added
flexibility.
| |
Citi®
Platinum Select® AAdvantage® World
MasterCard®
|
|
Annual
Fee |
Intro.
Bonus |
Earning |
Features |
Redemption
Opportunities |
|
|
$85 (no fee first
year) |
25,000 AAdvantage® bonus miles
after you make $750 in purchases within 4
months |
1 mile per
$ |
Reduced mileage awards --
7,500 fewer miles to select destinations announced
quarterly |
From American
Account:
American, OneWorld (Aer
Lingus, British, Cathay, Finnair, Iberia, LAN,
Qantas), Alaska, Sahara, Air Tahiti, Taca, El Al,
Hawaiian, Japan, Mexicana, TAM
VIA Transfer ($25/transfer):
Hilton, InterContinental,
Marriott |
Best
for
American Airlines
frequent flyers who can take advantage of the
occasional reduced mileage award. If you have
miles in your AAdvantage®
account already, the 25,000 mile bonus is worth
more than the first year fee when part of a
typical award.
Upsides Ability to transfer to select
hotel programs, generous signon bonus is enough for
a free domestic roundtrip ticket.
Downsides High annual fee,
conversion rate to hotel programs.
Competitive
Alternatives Starwood Preferred Guest American
Express
--
Can transfer points 1:1 to American for free, and get
a 5,000 mile bonus for each 20,000 points
you transfer, effectively earning 1.25 miles per
dollar spent
Diners Club
-- Can transfer points 1:1 to American
accounts
|
|
Continental
Airlines
|
|
Annual
Fee |
Intro.
Bonus |
Earning |
Features |
Redemption
Opportunities |
|
|
NA |
NA |
NA |
See Continental Airlines for
details
|
From Continental
Account:
Continental, SkyTeam (Air France,
Aeroflot, Aeromexico, Alitalia, CSA, Delta,
KLM, Korean, Northwest), Alaska, Copa, TAP, Virgin
Atlantic, Emirates.
VIA Transfer:
Amtrak |
|
Competitive
Alternatives Chase
Freedom (SM) Card Visa. No annual fee and lets
you convert points into Continental miles. 6,000
points = 5,000 miles. Great option for people who
also want cash back flexibility.
Amtrak Guest
Rewards World MasterCard
. No annual fee and
lets you convert points to Continental one for one...but limits
you to 25,000 miles per year
in conversions.
American Express Membership
Rewards -- Can transfer points
1:1
| |
Delta SkyMiles Gold American
Express: EDITORS CHOICE BEST MAJOR AIRLINE
CARD
|
|
Annual
Fee |
Intro.
Bonus |
Earning |
Features |
Redemption
Opportunities |
|
|
$0 first year, $85 after ($40
for current Amex members) |
15,000 miles
2500
additional miles when you add another cardmember
to your
account |
1 mile per $
2 miles per $ on Delta purchases and
'everyday' items (dining, gas, groceries, home
improvement\) |
|
From Delta
Account:
Delta, SkyTeam (Air France,
Aeroflot, Aeromexico, Alitalia, Continental, CSA,
Delta, KLM, Korean, Northwest), Air Jamaica,
Alaska, Avianca, El Al, Emirates, Singapore, South
African
VIA Transfer:
None |
Best
for Delta Airlines flyers who
frequently purchase their own tickets on Delta, or
have heavy 'everyday' (dining, gas) spending to
earn double points.
Upsides Double points on 'everyday'
purchases. Occasional 'double points per
dollar on everything' promotions make it very
lucrative when offered .
Downsides High annual fee unless you
already have an Amex card, no travel
discounts.
Competitive
Alternatives Starwood Preferred Guest American
Express
-- Can transfer points 1:1 to Delta for free,
and get a 5,000 mile bonus for each
20,000 points you transfer, effectively earning 1.25
miles per dollar spent.
Diners Club MasterCard
-- Can transfer points 1:1 to Delta
accounts
American Express Membership
Rewards -- Can transfer points
1:1
| |
|
JetBlue TrueBlue American
Express
|
|
Annual Fee |
Intro. Bonus |
Earning |
Features |
Redemption
Opportunities |
|
|
$40 |
10,000 award
dollars |
1 award dollar per $
200 award
dollars = 1 JetBlue point
100 JetBlue points = 1 roundtrip
|
|
From JetBlue Account:
JetBlue
VIA Transfer:
None |
Best
for JetBlue frequent
flyers, who already have JetBlue flight credits and are
looking for a way to supplement their JetBlue
account.
Upsides
Only card that allows collection of
JetBlue points besides Amex Membership Rewards, and is
more efficient than Membrship Rewards (20,000 dollars of
purchases for a ticket versus 25,000 for Membership
Rewards).
Downsides No options besides JetBlue
redemption. People who like to fly JetBlue
domestically, but not often may be better off earning
hotel points with a different card, as hotel rewards are
generally more valuable than domestic JetBlue flights in
terms of the number of dollars you need to spend to get
a valuable award.
Competitive Alternatives
American Express Membership Rewards
-- Can transfer points -- 25,000 needed for a
reward | |
Northwest
WorldPerks Visa
|
|
Annual Fee |
Intro. Bonus |
Earning |
Features |
Redemption
Opportunities |
|
|
$90 (Signature, for higher credit
line) / $55 (Platinum, up to $15K
line) |
10,000 miles signature, 7500 platinum |
1 mile per $ 2 miles per $ for
Northwest Airlines purchases |
Reduced 19,000 mile award
travel discount annually (Signature),
21,000 Platinum. Normally 25,000 miles. |
From Northwest
Account:
Northwest, SkyTeam(Air France,
Aeroflot, Aeromexico, Alitalia, Continental, CSA, Delta,
KLM, Korean), Alaska, Malaysia, Malev, JetAirways,
Midwest
VIA Transfer:
None |
Best
for
Northwest frequent flyers, although
competitive alternatives like the Starwood Amex deserve serious
consideration.
Upsides
Occasional bonus promotions, annual
reduced mileage award (only valid on North America
tickets, 7,500 each on two purchased together).
Downsides
High annual fee, low
signon bonus.
Competitive
Alternatives Starwood Preferred
Guest American Express
-- Can
transfer points 1:1 to NWA for free, and get a
5,000 mile bonus for each 20,000 points
you transfer, effectively earning 1.25 miles per dollar
spent.
| |
Southwest RapidRewards Visa
|
|
Annual Fee |
Intro. Bonus |
Earning |
Features |
Redemption
Opportunities |
|
|
$59 |
8 RapidRewards
credits
|
1 reward dollar per $
2
reward dollars per $ on Southwest and preferred
hotel/car rental purchases
(1200 reward
dollars = 1 RapidRewards
credit, 16 credits =
roundtrip ticket) |
2 RapidRewards bonus
credits each year on your card anniversary |
From Southwest Account:
Southwest, ATA codshares
VIA Transfer:
None |
Best
for If you have a RapidRewards account with
flight credits you'd like to top off, this card is the
most efficient way, as Southwest dilutes point transfers
from other programs (Diners, Amex Membership Rewards,
Hiltont) heavily
Upsides
Most efficient way to earn
RapidRewards credits through purchases (19500 dollars
purchased for one roundtrip, versus 24,000 for Diners
and Membership Rewards).
Downsides
High annual
fee, no flexibility in redemption
partners.
Competitive
Alternatives Diners Club
MasterCard --
24,000 points = 1 roundtrip
American Express Membership rewards
-- 24,000 points =
1
roundtrip
| |
United
Airlines
|
|
Annual Fee |
Intro. Bonus |
Earning |
Features |
Redemption
Opportunities |
|
|
NA |
NA |
NA
|
NA
|
From United Account:
United, StarAlliance (Air Canada Air
New Zealand, ANA, Asiana, Austrian, bmi, LOT, Lufthansa,
SAS, Singapore, South African, TAP, Thai, US Airways,),
Emirates, Air China, Aloha, Qatar, TACA
VIA Transfer:
None |
|
Competitive
Alternatives Chase Freedom
(SM) Visa - No annual fee and lets you transfer
points you earn into United miles. 6,000 points =
5,000 miles. Also gives you cash back
flexibility.
United
flyers can consider using a US Airways account and using
the Dividend Miles Visa (below),
as US Airways miles
can be redeemed fully on United, although it has to
be from a US Airways account, so you can't
mix and match
points.
| |
US Airways
Dividend Miles Visa
|
|
Annual Fee |
Intro. Bonus |
Earning |
Features |
Redemption
Opportunities |
|
|
$90 |
25,000
miles (Signature)
|
1 mile/point per $ (2 miles/points
per $ on US Air purchases for
Signature)
|
Preferred
checkin/boarding
US Airways Club pass
$75
off Club membership
$99 companion
ticket |
From US Airwways Account:
US Airways/America West, StarAlliance
(Air Canada Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana, Austrian, bmi,
LOT, Lufthansa, SAS, Singapore, South African, TAP,
Thai, United,), Virgin Atlantic, Hawaiian
VIA Transfer:
None |
Best
for Flyers for whom US Airways or a
Star Alliance carrier is their most convenient airline
for redemption. The generous signon bonus is enough for
a free domestic roundtrip ticket pending availability,
and medium-load flyers on US will enjoy the convenience
of priorty boarding for Signature holders.
However, beyond the first year, an Amex Starwood may
be a better choice for average US travelers, as it
offers a 5,000 point bonus for every 20,000 points sent
to your US account, as well as the option for efficient
hotel rewards.
Upsides
Very generous signon
bonus (enough for a free ticket) and elite-like
boarding/checkin benefits for Signature card.
Downsides
High annual fee
Competitive
Alternatives Starwood
Preferred Guest American Express
-- Can transfer
points 1:1 to US for free, and get a 5,000 mile
bonus for each 20,000 points you transfer, effectively
earning 1.25 miles per dollar spent on all
purchases. | |
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