This article looks at different airline miles credit cards and compares them.
When I was younger, there weren't many airline credit cards to choose from. The Citi AAdvantage MasterCard was the first credit card with airline miles, and you can still get it today. Even though this card had a lot of benefits, it wasn't the best airline credit card for everyone.
How airline credit cards have changed over time
Over time, credit cards with airline miles started to change. Soon after the Citi AAdvantage MasterCard came out, Citi teamed up with United Airlines to offer the United Airlines Mileage Plus card. Shortly after that, Continental Airlines came out with its own World MasterCard. These leaders in the airline miles credit card industry made it possible for frequent travellers to get a type of credit card that is now widely used.
Getting together with airlines
Airlines credit cards got a new look when credit card companies and airlines worked together. Today, you can choose from as many airline credit cards as there are airlines. Most of these airline credit cards are pretty much the same, but there can be small differences from one card to the next. With any of these cards, you can only use the miles you earn with the airline that is listed on the card. The only time this isn't true is if the airline has other companies that are like it. In this case, the miles might also work on the sister airlines.
Generic Credit Cards for Airlines
There are a lot of credit cards that are made in partnership with airlines, and there are also a lot of general credit cards. The word "generic" doesn't mean "off brand" or "low quality" in this case. Instead, you can earn airline miles with these cards that you can use with any airline you want. Most of the time, these cards work by giving each airline mile a monetary value, usually between 1 and 2 cents. You can then use these miles to buy a discounted airline ticket through your credit card company. The credit card company bought the ticket from the airline.
You have a lot more freedom to choose which airline to use when you have a generic airline credit card. This gives you the freedom to choose the airline that has a flight at the best time and place for you. It also lets you take advantage of changes in the price of tickets from one airline to another.
Extra Benefits
When you get an airline credit card, you should think about more than just the number of miles you need to earn free travel. For instance, airline credit cards only offer discounts on air travel. On the other hand, some cards let you use your points for things like car rentals, cruises, hotel stays, vacation packages, and more.
Also, pay attention to the special perks that come with airline miles credit cards. Some let you get extra miles if you buy certain things. For example, if you use a credit card that has a partnership with a certain airline and buy something from that airline with the credit card, you might be able to earn bonus miles.
Some airline credit cards offer sign-up bonuses as well as incentives. When you use an airline credit card for the first time, it's not unusual to get 5,000 bonus miles. Both the Gold Delta Skymiles Credit Card and the American Express Credit Card offer 10,000 bonus miles. Of course, you should keep track of how many miles you need to get a free ticket. With airline credit cards, the average number of miles needed is 25,000, but you should always read the fine print before making a decision.
