credit cards: cash back vs. airline miles

[Alfred]

I've been using a card that provides a cash back incentive from the days when I wasn't traveling much. Now that I do travel a bit, I am wondering if it might be worthwhile to switch to a credit card that gives miles instead of $.  

Has anyone made a comparison between the two?

[MNKenr]

... in response to credit cards: cash back vs. airline mile..., posted by Alfred on Jul 1, 2002

I did compare the two a couple months ago. I decided to go with a Juniper Mastercard. It will pay back up to 2% with a max of $500 back a year. I figured I would be able to get half a ticket with that for a lot less charges than getting half a ticket with airline miles. Plus I would be able to use any airline.

I noticed on the miles cards you have to pay a yearly fee (I do not personaly aggree to paying a fee to own a credit card). Also the fine print on a lot of cards limit the value of the ticket you can choose. I do not remember the numbers I ran. However it seemed the most benefit payback I could find with a miles card was .5-1% back.

I ended up going with the 2% cash back. No fee, very low interest rate, and a reward I am open to use any way I see fit.

MNKenr

[Jack]

... in response to Re: credit cards: cash back vs. airline ..., posted by MNKenr on Jul 1, 2002

So Ken, what's up with you? Isn't it getting close to you being able to announce an engagement or something?

[MNKenr]

... in response to Re: Re: credit cards: cash back vs. airl..., posted by Jack on Jul 1, 2002

Well as a matter of fact as I am typing this I am getting my laptop prepped (installing DVD for movie, charging extra batteries, having drivers availible) for yet another trip over to visit Kate. I will be in Odessa July 4th until 15th. The only plans we have made for the trip is to be beach bums along the Black Sea.

About engagement announcements. I guess I never really communicate my thoughts and desires well on a messageboard, so I never really reported my 'status'. A lot of things can happen with no notice, and a lot of personal challanges have to be met. I am waiting until I am happily married until I announce anything :-)

MNKenr

[Oscar]

... in response to Re: credit cards: cash back vs. airline ..., posted by MNKenr on Jul 1, 2002

MNKenr,

I only use Delta Airlines because I live in Salt Lake City, which is one of their major hubs.  I have over 140,000 skymiles saved up right now on them, maybe not a lot for some who travel a lot, but quite a bit for me.

Yes, I don't like paying a yearly fee either, but for that $135 each year, I get a companion ticket (each year) to fly anywhere in the continental USA so it has already paid for itself.  Flying from SLC to say Orlando is not so cheap..

And using the card to charge airfares you always get double miles as well.  So I figure I am getting about 50-60K skymiles per year on my card which is enough for 2 to fly free to Hawaii!  

So for me, it is a good thing..

[Oscar]

... in response to credit cards: cash back vs. airline mile..., posted by Alfred on Jul 1, 2002

Well, I have the American Express Delta Skymiles credit card.
I got it because when you sign up, you get 15,000 delta sky miles (for the platinum card, 10,000 I think for the gold card).
Then, everything you charge gets a one-for-one sky mile, but many things you get double sky miles for, like grocery stores, gas, and some other things.
Then, if you charge over I think 10K or 12K per year on it, they give you another bonus 10,000 sky miles bonus!  
And the real kicker for me was that with the platinum card (don't know about the gold card), every year when you pay your fee, you get a free companion ticket for anywhere in the US.  Now it's true that the card does cost $135 per year, but I think that for me it is definitely worth it.  
I also had a discover card but closed it because I put everything on the sky miles card.

My 2 cents

[wsbill]

... in response to Re: credit cards: cash back vs. airline ..., posted by Oscar on Jul 1, 2002

time to get one I guess....

How many skymiles do you need to get to Kiev or Odessa ? and back...From Memphis of course.

[Alfred]

... in response to Re: Anyone know if Northwest/KLM have a ..., posted by wsbill on Jul 1, 2002

and 100,000 miles to get arround the restrictions like blackout dates etc.  You can find this on the NW website.  Login to your frequent flier account and follow the links.

[Oscar]

... in response to Re: Anyone know if Northwest/KLM have a ..., posted by wsbill on Jul 1, 2002

I know that for Delta, to go roundtrip from the USA to Europe takes 50,000 skymiles.  To go to Hawaii roundtrip it takes 30,000 miles and for anywhere else in the Continental USA it takes 25,000 miles.

Can't speak to other airlines..

Later