Saturday, 30 April 2011

Are Airline Credit Cards Right for You?

By Tim Parker


There's an old adage among people who regularly invest in the stock market. Depending on who you talk to, it will sound slightly different but it goes something like this: "Never trust airlines and ______" the last word depends on the particular investor. Many investors say autos. Others say the movies but almost all of them mention airlines.

What does this have to do with airline mileage credit cards? You'll find out but first, let's take a look at what an airline miles credit card is. With the large and diverse offerings of credit cards, you can find a card with just about any perk imaginable, but the airline rewards credit card was one of the first reward-style cards on the market.

These cards give you rewards points for your purchases in the form of discounts on airline tickets. Some card issuers will give you frequent flyer miles for the airline of your choice while others, will give you a gift certificate (or card) or even offer to book your flight for you.

Sometimes your new airline credit card will give you access to the airline lounge that you see inside of the airport. Often these lounges have comfortable seating, internet access, and many other amenities that make your travel experience more enjoyable. Additionally, you will qualify for discounted rates at participating hotel chains, rental car companies, and restaurants.

Just like most credit cards on the market, the better your credit, the better your card interest rate will be. So remember that every time you pay your bills on time, it may earn you a lower interest rate on your next credit card. If you do your homework, you are sure to find a card that will give you bonus points just for opening the card. With very minimal research, one can find 5,000 or more bonus points being offered to new card holders..

Do you want rewards for spending or traveling? Some credit cards will offer you rewards for each mile you travel. Similar to sky miles or other airline rewards, if you travel long distances, this may be the best option for you. The other option is to be rewarded for each dollar you spend anywhere. This is very similar to how most rewards cards work.

When you pick a rewards card, it's important to do your research and think about which card is right for you. If you don't do a lot of traveling, a more general rewards card from one of the major credit card companies may be more beneficial to you.

Never invest in the airlines, right? Here's why it may be important to you. Some experts advise never taking out a rewards card that is tied solely to frequent flyer miles because most of the airlines always seem to be a few days away from going bankrupt. Additionally, changes or total elimination of the frequent flyer programs could leave you without any rewards.

Instead, look at the rewards cards that come from the well known credit card companies - the ones who have a large selection of travel rewards. By doing this, you're almost sure to keep those rewards points available to you.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment