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Any Airline Rewards Credit Card Reviews:
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American Express Preferred Rewards
Gold Card
|
|
Annual
Fee |
Intro.
Bonus |
Earning |
Features |
Redemption
Opportunities |
|
|
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.
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American Express Platinum Card:
EDITORS'
CHOICE - Super Premium
|
|
Annual
Fee |
Intro.
Bonus |
Earning |
Features |
Redemption
Opportunities |
|
|
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.
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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.
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DinersClub
MasterCard
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|
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).
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Miles by Discover®
Card
|
|
Annual
Fee |
Intro.
Bonus |
Earning |
Features |
Redemption
Opportunities |
|
|
$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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