As anyone who has opened a mailbox lately no doubt knows, there are many credit card offers floating around out there. There are credit cards touting big cash back bonuses, free gift certificates, and even money for college. The original credit card bonus, however, was created by the airline industry, and the airline mile credit card is still one of the most popular on the market.
It can of course be difficult to choose among all those competing offers, so it is important to know what to look for, and how to compare and choose the right one for the way you travel.
Tip #1 – Start with what you have
One of the best places to start is with the airline on which you already have some frequent flier miles. If you can combine the miles you have already accumulated on past trips with the miles earned on the credit card, you may be able to fly free in no time. Start by looking at which frequent flier programs you are already a member of. Check your mileage balance on each of the programs, then look for affiliated credit cards to boost your mileage.
Tip #2 – Get your bonus
One of the best things about airline affiliated credit cards is that many of them offer bonus miles simply for getting approved and using the card the first time. The smart credit card shopper can therefore end up with 5,000 miles, 10,000 miles or even 15,000 or 20,000 miles in the frequent flier bank without ever leaving home.
With most airlines starting to hand out free tickets at the 25,000 mile level, it is easy to see how these bonus miles can add up. Be sure to shop around and see which airline affiliated credit cards are offering the highest level of bonuses, and act accordingly.
Tip #3 – Watch the annual fee
Airline miles is not the only bonus that comes with the airline credit card. Most airline affiliated credit cards also come with a bonus most of us could live without – an annual fee. While most credit card offers these days tout no annual fee, airline affiliated credit cards are an exception, and most of them do charge a fee for their cards. This fee can range as low as $29 to as high as $85 or even $100 or more. When comparing credit cards, it is important to take this annual fee into account. The good news, however, is that the amount of the annual fee is generally converted into airline miles, just like everyday spending.
As anyone who has opened a mailbox lately no doubt knows, there are many credit card offers floating around out there. There are credit cards touting big cash back bonuses, free gift certificates, and even money for college. The original credit card bonus, however, was created by the airline industry, and the airline mile credit card is still one of the most popular on the market.
Written By: Brooke Sikula
