but if you travel a lot for work, I would try to stick with one airline when possible.
Sticking with one airline lets you get status quicker which helps with free upgrades, cheaper change fees (depending on the airline) and lounge access.
I think cash reward cards are best for most people Â
Cash is good for anything, and you’re not restricted by anything.
That said, if you are going to do a lot of personal travel then a travel rewards card might make sense for you. But I would stay away from airline cards. Too many drawbacks: expensive, locks you into one airline, and restrictions on use. Also airlines have devalued their frequent flyer programs, so you get less value from the cards tied to them.
If you really want a travel rewards card, go with a general travel card that lets you both earn and use rewards most anywhere. Chase Sapphire Reserve is usually cited as the best. But with a $450 annual fee, you really need to be committed to travel to make it a better option than a cash rewards card.
upwards of $500 for an annual fee I'd recommend the Amex Platinum card.
and you can still go on one airline as much as possible and accrue miles on that one airline but you accumulate points/dollar as a faster rate in my experience with the Amex Platinum.
Also, the perks are unmatched in my experience.
Annual $200 airline credit (you pick an airline and $$ you spend on that airline comes off your CC bill = up to $200) - I used to use it every year for a seat upgrade.
$15 per month in uber credits right off your bill ($35 for December)
free TSA pre-check/global entry
Priority Pass access (airport lounges)
Centurion Club access (Amex branded airport lounges)
if you are a frequent traveler airport lounges are great. clean (relatively speaking) bathrooms, food, drinks, more comfortable chairs, better access to power/work needs, etc.
you also get instant Gold status automatically with many chains/services like Hilton and the Marriott family (Bonvoy), and others like Hertz and Avis
plus, more random things like shopping credits such as $20 off chewy.com or $15 off boxed.com, things that are helpful if you use them
not to mention things that may be standard with all cards (not sure) like purchase protection and return protection.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve may be the best overall card, but if you fly exclusively on one airline, you may do better with that airline's card. The CSR returns 3x points for any travel which is worth 4.5x points when redeemed through Chase. It also offers 1:1 exchange with their airline partners. But if you fly exclusively with one airline you may do even better. An airline card will give you other perks concerning that airline such as free bags and sometimes early check in and upgrades. The Jet Blue plus card gives you 6x points each worth close to 2 cents. That works out to close to a 10% rebate. On top of that they give you anniversary points. I haven't looked that closely at the other airline cards but Southwest and Delta also have generous perks with their cards. The best source of information is "The Points Guy", a blog dedicated to explaining and comparing credit card perks. The Points Guy - ( New Window )
Work well for me in NorCal
Alaska companion pass costs me with annual fee and companion costs around 190 per yr
Use it to go to Maui free Probably nets me 250 in savings after the 190
Works out well
Southwest. Going to Vegas, San Diego etc real cheap
But east coast I would know anymore
ron from ninerland summed it perfectly. When I traveled I didn't have one airline since they didn't all fly to the same places. I used my Chase Sapphire card. I recently signed up for the Chase Ink Business card, but that's for the $$. I discovered card churning a couple years ago. I don't go nuts like the reddit people, but I pick them up every so often and get the perks.
The rewards are better on non-airline cards at the moment. Do the Chase Sapphire Reserve if you do even a tiny amount of travel. Combine that with Chase Freedom Unlimited for everyday purchases. If you do that you get a minimum of 2.25% back on every purchase which is the best possible outcome. There a lot of strategies for maximising your gains. The above is the best strategy for when you want to keep it simple. If you travel a lot it is probably worth it to use more than 2 cards.
I'd be happy to refer with a Chase code if you want either of those.
My main airline is delta so it works out well. Not quite the same level of benefits compared to Amex platinum. But... The free companion ticket ends up paying for the annual fee for me. Well worth it.
RE: Don't do an airline card as your main spending card Â
The rewards are better on non-airline cards at the moment. Do the Chase Sapphire Reserve if you do even a tiny amount of travel. Combine that with Chase Freedom Unlimited for everyday purchases. If you do that you get a minimum of 2.25% back on every purchase which is the best possible outcome. There a lot of strategies for maximising your gains. The above is the best strategy for when you want to keep it simple. If you travel a lot it is probably worth it to use more than 2 cards.
I'd be happy to refer with a Chase code if you want either of those.
That is the strategy that I use: The Sapphire Reserve/Freedom tandem. Surprisingly this is not a hack. Chase actually encourages the practice.
Sticking with one airline lets you get status quicker which helps with free upgrades, cheaper change fees (depending on the airline) and lounge access.
That said, if you are going to do a lot of personal travel then a travel rewards card might make sense for you. But I would stay away from airline cards. Too many drawbacks: expensive, locks you into one airline, and restrictions on use. Also airlines have devalued their frequent flyer programs, so you get less value from the cards tied to them.
If you really want a travel rewards card, go with a general travel card that lets you both earn and use rewards most anywhere. Chase Sapphire Reserve is usually cited as the best. But with a $450 annual fee, you really need to be committed to travel to make it a better option than a cash rewards card.
and you can still go on one airline as much as possible and accrue miles on that one airline but you accumulate points/dollar as a faster rate in my experience with the Amex Platinum.
Also, the perks are unmatched in my experience.
Annual $200 airline credit (you pick an airline and $$ you spend on that airline comes off your CC bill = up to $200) - I used to use it every year for a seat upgrade.
$15 per month in uber credits right off your bill ($35 for December)
free TSA pre-check/global entry
Priority Pass access (airport lounges)
Centurion Club access (Amex branded airport lounges)
if you are a frequent traveler airport lounges are great. clean (relatively speaking) bathrooms, food, drinks, more comfortable chairs, better access to power/work needs, etc.
you also get instant Gold status automatically with many chains/services like Hilton and the Marriott family (Bonvoy), and others like Hertz and Avis
plus, more random things like shopping credits such as $20 off chewy.com or $15 off boxed.com, things that are helpful if you use them
not to mention things that may be standard with all cards (not sure) like purchase protection and return protection.
The Points Guy - ( New Window )
Alaska companion pass costs me with annual fee and companion costs around 190 per yr
Use it to go to Maui free Probably nets me 250 in savings after the 190
Works out well
Southwest. Going to Vegas, San Diego etc real cheap
But east coast I would know anymore
I prefer Delta so may look into that. Appreciate it.
Link - ( New Window )
I'd be happy to refer with a Chase code if you want either of those.
I'd be happy to refer with a Chase code if you want either of those.