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Any Airline Rewards Credit Card Reviews: Compare and Apply
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American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Card
 
Annual Fee
Intro. Bonus
Earning
Features
Redemption Opportunities
American Express® Platinum Card



No fee the first year, then $175 annual fee.
Earn 10,000 Membership Rewards® bonus points when you spend $500 in 3 months - redeemable for a $100 gift card!
 
The Membership Rewards(R) program - Earn 1 Membership Rewards(R) point for virtually every dollar you spend and redeem for your choice of travel, shopping, and entertainment rewards.
 
No pre-set spending limit

Gold Card Events - exclusive access to tickets for select concerts, shows, major sporting events and more in cities nationwide

Express approval. Get a decision in less than 60 seconds.
From Points Account:
Any airline via their travel agency
 
VIA Transfer: Continental, Delta, British Airways, Southwest, Jet Blue, Airtran, Frontier, Alitalia, Air France, KLM, Virgin Atlantic,  Air Canada, ANA, Aeromexico, El Al, Hawaiian, Singapore, Air Tahiti, Mexicana
Best for 
Strong point flexibility with the ability to transfer your points 1 for 1 into many airline miles programs.

Upsides 
This is one of the most prestigious credit cards available. With the Membership Rewards program you have the ability to instantly transfer points one for one to your Continental and Delta Airlines accounts, and quick transfer is available to many more airline programs. Generous intro bonus of 10,000 points is enough for a $100 gift card. This is also a good card to build your spending history with Amex if you are interested in eventually stepping up to the 'black' Centurion card.

Downsides
Annual fee -- but no fee in first year and instant point transfers to Continental and Delta may make it worthwhile.



American Express Platinum Card: EDITORS' CHOICE - Super Premium
 
Annual Fee
Intro. Bonus
Earning
Features
Redemption Opportunities
American Express® Platinum Card
Basic card: $450

Additional card: $175 for up to 3 Platinum Additional Cards and $175 for each Platinum Additional Card after the first 3.
Earn 25,000 Membership Rewards® bonus points when you spend $1,000 in 3 months - Redeemable for one round-trip domestic airline ticket!
1 point per $1 spent
 
No Pre-Set Spending Limit

Complimentary Airport Club access**

24-hour access to Concierge service for the finest experiences in dining, entertainment, and luxury

Fine Hotels & Resorts Program -- exclusive amenities at boutique, resort, and luxury hotels around the world

The Membership Rewards First program - Enjoy exclusive access to rewards and experiences fetauring luxury retail, lifestyle, and world-class travel

**(includes Delta, Continental, Northwest, and American Airlines airport lounges worldwide for you and 2 guests or your family.)
From Points Account:
Any airline via their travel agency
 
VIA Transfer: Continental, Delta, Southwest, Jet Blue, Airtran, Frontier, Alitalia, Air France, KLM, Virgin Atlantic,  Air Canada, ANA, Aeromexico, El Al, Hawaiian, Singapore, Air Tahiti, Mexicana
Best for
This is one of the most prestigious credit cards available. It is great for frequent travelers who are interested in complimentary lounge access -- you get access to 4 of the top 5 U.S. airlines' lounge networks for one annual fee (American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Northwest Airlines). Most airlines charge you $450/year for access to just one network. In addition, you get strong point flexibility with the ability to transfer your points into many airline miles programs.

Upsides 
In addition to lounge access you have the ability to instantly transfer points one for one to your Continental and Delta Airlines accounts, and quick transfer is available to many more airline programs. See above for a list. The card also gives you instant Starwood Hotel Gold status which normally requires 10 or more stays in a year, but is free with the card. Benefits include 4pm checkout and select room upgrades.

Generous intro bonus of 25,000 points is enough for a free domestic roundtrip ticket or $250 gift card. You also have 24 hour access to a concierge who has access to priority dinner reservations and event tickets set aside just for Platinum cardholders by American Express.


This is also a good card to build your spending history with Amex if you are interested in eventually stepping up to the 'black' Centurion card.

Downsides
Annual fee -- but worth it if you frequent airport lounges or want to build the spending history.



  

Citi ® PremierPass(SM) Card - Elite Level
 
 
Annual Fee
Intro. Bonus
Earning
Features
Redemption Opportunities
$75
20,000 points when you spend $600 on the card within 3 months of account opening

2 Points for every $1 spent on everyday purchases plus earn 1 point for every $1 spent on all other purchases

Earn 1 point for every mile you fly on any airline

Earn 1 point for every mile friends and family fly on tickets purchased with the Card.

Get a complimentary companion ticket when you buy a qualifying ticket

Redeem your points for travel on any airline, with no blackout dates, and for rewards-from merchandise to statement credits.

From Points Account:
Any airline via designated travel agency
 
VIA Transfer: None
How it works
You earn one point per dollar for each purchase you make, and two points per dollar for 'everyday' purchases at gas stations and supermarkets. You also earn a special one point for every mile flown on tickets you purchase with the card. So, a $350 roundtrip ticket from New York to Los Angeles earns you 350 points for the purchase plus 5,000 points for the 5,000 miles flown roundtrip. You can use your points for "anytime, any airline" flight awards with no blackouts or capacity restrictions. Just say your destination, the time you'd like to fly, and they will book you on an airline that matches your needs.

Best for
Casual flyers who don't have an airline loyalty and very frequent flyers who purchase their own airline tickets and can take advantage of the flight points offer. The key difference this card offers is the ability to earn one point for every mile you fly on tickets purchased with the card, which can quickly accelerate earnings for busy flyers. 
The unlimited free companion ticket without blackout/capacity restrictions also adds to the unique benefits, although you often need to buy a more expensive base ticket to qualify.

Upsides
No blackouts or capacity controls on using your points for airline tickets and accelerated mileage bonus potential by earning points for both purchases and flights on top of your normal frequent flyer program. The introductory bonus is enough for a $200 gift card or $200 flight.

Downsides
High annual fee. We also note that hotel rewards with a no blackout program like the
Starwood Preferred Guest American Express are often a better use of points, with a value return of better than 2%, and fewer points required for a reward than airline tickets.


DinersClub MasterCard
 
Annual Fee
Intro. Bonus
Earning
Features
Redemption Opportunities
$95
None
1 point per $
 
Access to select airport lounges

Primary rental car insurance coverage

From Points Account:
Any airline via your own travel arrangements or their travel agency
 
VIA Transfer: Air Canada, Air France, Alaska, American, Asiana, British, Delta, ElAl, Eva, Frontier, Hawaiian, Iceland, Korean, Mexicana, Midwest, SAS, South African, Southwest, Thai, Virgin, Amtrak, Best Western, Choice, Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott, Priority Club, Starwood
Best for
Frequent travelers who are interested in easy transfers across most airline programs as well as every major hotel program.

Upsides 
Highest flexibility of any card for point transfers. Ability to transfer points to friends/family's airline accounts. Relatively low annual fee compared to Amex Platinum (which is $300/yr). Accepted as MasterCard (more locations than Amex).

Downsides
Lounge access privileges are mostly European, only two in the U.S. (Miami, Newark).  



Miles by Discover® Card
 
Annual Fee
Intro. Bonus
Earning
Features
Redemption Opportunities


Also available as a Business Credit card. Click here to apply.
$0
12,000  points (1,000 per month for 12 months)

0% intro APR
1 point per $

2 points per $ for the first $3,000 in annual travel and restaurant purchases
 
From Points Account:
Any airline via designated travel agency
 
VIA Transfer: None
Best for
It's the simplest way to earn and use points for travel, especially for casual travelers who don't like the rules of airline and hotel point programs. You earn 1 mile for every dollar you spend on regular purchases and 2 miles for every dollar you spend on restaurants and travel (up to $3,000 per year). every 5,000 miles gets you $50 off any flight, hotel, rental car, or other travel purchase on your card.  

Upsides
No annual fee, easiest redemption with no restrictions on availability. You can also use your points for gift cards or cash back.

Downsides 
The better value for many domestic travelers is free hotel rooms with a hotel program like
Starwood or Hilton. If you still are set on no blackout airline awards, the American Express Blue Sky card also has the same simplicity, but has a higher return, as 7500 points gets you $100 off any flight, hotel, rental car, or cruise purchase. Put another way, 15,000 points with the BlueSky card is worth $200, while 15,000 miles with the Discover card is worth only $150.


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Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from
American Express

Best Mile Credit Card - Starwood Amex

Read our review

 

Miles by Discover® Card
Miles by Discover Credit Card 
0% intro APR
Read our review

 


Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express
Starwood American Express Credit Card 
Up to 25,000 point bonus
Read our review


TrueEarnings® Card from Costco and American Express
TrueEarnings® Card from Costco and American Express 
Extra cash back
Read our review


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