Airline credit cards are credit cards which offer reward points in terms of airline miles. These are also known as frequent flyer credit cards. The credit card issuer offers these miles as a reward for using their credit card for making purchases. These reward miles can then be redeemed against your future purchases of airline tickets. In other words, you get a discount on your airline fare to the extent of the miles you have accumulated on your credit card.
If you are a frequent flyer, then it is beneficial for you to use this card since the more you use it, the more miles you can accumulate which can save on your future flight costs.
How many miles can you earn
Different airline credit cards offer different reward miles on your purchases. For instance,
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The card credits 1 mile per dollar you spend for purchases below $1000 per month and 2 miles per dollar for purchases over $1000 per month.
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The offers 2 miles per dollar of travel and restaurant purchases and 1 mile per dollar for other purchases.
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If you make your flight bookings through Orbitz.com using the card, then you can earn 3 points per dollar spent while 1 point for other purchases.
One of the best cards that give you the maximum reward miles is which offers double miles on all purchases and an additional 2 miles per dollar if you purchase through their exclusive online site, ShopDiscover.
When do these miles expire?
With most of the airline credit cards, the frequent flyer miles that you earn never expire i.e. you can redeem those miles anytime in your life irrespective of when you acquired them. In addition there is no limit to the number of miles you can earn. There are many people who fund their vacations through the miles earned by using these airline credit cards.
However there are cards which might cancel your earned miles after a certain number of years or have other conditions on earning these miles such as seat restrictions and blackout dates. So while choosing a card, you should read the offer terms carefully.
Can these miles be redeemed in other ways?
Yes. Several airline credit cards offer flexible redemption policies. This means that you can exchange your earned reward miles not only against airline tickets but also for making other purchases. For instance, the following cards allow you to redeem your miles for merchandise, gift cards, and cash – , , , and .
With the , you can redeem points against hotels, cruises, spa retreats, and shopping and entertainment including Banana Republic, Saks Fifth Avenue, COACH, Dell™ Computer, Callaway Golf, and The Sharper Image. They also allow you to transfer your points to other frequent flyer programs which can be a great help if you are not able to accumulate sufficient miles on a single card.
Additional Benefits
There are some airline credit cards that go the extra mile in offering you more benefits from using their card. The card offers 20,000 bonus points if you make purchases of $600 in your first 3 months. In addition, you can also earn 1 point for every mile that your friends and family travel for using your card to make their purchases. If you purchase a qualifying ticket above a certain amount, you get a complimentary companion ticket. The offers a 90 day purchase protection plan against accidental damage or theft.
Airline Specific Credit Cards
If you are a frequent flyer on a single airline, it makes sense to use a credit card issued by the airline itself. For example, the Delta Airlines issues 3 types of cards. The Delta Airlines – offers an instant decision in less than 1 minute. The offers a complimentary Crown Room Club access for you and two of your guests in addition to an annual first-class companion certificate. The offers you 20,000 bonus SkyMiles after your first purchase.
How To Choose The Right Airline Credit Card
In order to choose an airline credit card, you need to consider how frequently you plan to travel in the coming year. If you are going to travel frequently, then you need to find out approximately how much money you will be spending to find out which cards can give you the maximum frequent flyer miles. Another way to decide is to total up your expected monthly credit card purchases for the year and calculate how many miles you can earn.
But it is not just about the miles. You need to consider the other benefits that some of these cards offer and then choose the one which helps you in more than one way.
Finally, you must also compare the normal credit card terms like annual fee, APR and introductory period while making your selection. For instance, the Delta Reserve Credit Card costs you as much as $450 in annual fees while there are no annual fees for and . Choose a card which allows you to save more despite the annual fees.
Although most credit cards charge you over 13% APR, the offers you less than 12% APR. Some cards like and offer 0% APR for a certain introductory period.
Airline credit cards offer a host of benefits for flying frequently. However, you are eligible for them only if you have an “EXCELLENT” credit rating.