We know, we know – credit cards can get us in trouble. But let’s operate under the assumption that a) we’re only going to spend the money we already have in our possession and b) we’re going to pay them off on time every month. With those two disclaimers, why wouldn’t we want to use a credit to purchase big-ticket items like airfare and hotel rooms when we travel, if for no other reason than being able to accumulate the rewards miles, right? So which cards have you found work best? Seems like we need to look in at least two tiers: First, which free card do you prefer and second, which fee card has helped you the most. Read on for a couple of our suggestions – and to offer your own please.
In the first category (free cards), why wouldn’t we want to try for the United MileagePlus Gateway card. It’s completely free and has great return on United Airlines. You’ll pick up 30,000 miles on United just for enrolling (assuming you meet the minimum purchases in the first few months) plus — did we mention there’s no annual fee — and you get 7 times the miles when you purchase your United flights with this card. Learn more at https://www2.theexplorercard.com/rewards-cards/gateway-card. Which free cards do you like and why?
In the paid category, seems like everyone might want to consider the AAdvantage Business World Elite MasterCard by Citi. The signup bonus is a whoppin’ 75,000 miles and you’ll earn twice the miles for every dollar spent with American Airlines, gas stations, and telecommunications companies. Again, the assumption is that you complete the required spending within the required time frame, but wow – you could even just use this card for 11 months then cancel it! They waive the annual fee for the first year – so it would actually also qualify in Tier 1 free cards (assuming you remember to cancel it!). Learn more at: https://creditcards.aa.com/cards/citi-business-card-american-airlines-direct/.
Of course, if you’re a long-time reader of Brigada, you know that we’re fans of American Express Platinum. You get the best travel rewards/points system on the market plus free lounge access in most airports (at select airline and paid travel lounges), giving you quiet place to retreat plus good, fast wi-fi and — snacks! Many lounges offer full-course buffets that beat any other restaurant in the airport. Learn more about the AMEX Platinum card here: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/credit-cards/card/platinum/.
Many cards have referral rewards too. (Brigada never uses these links – to keep us honest in referring the items that really matter rather than only the links that would generate some kind of benefit.) You could team up with a partner, make the referral from one to another, than share the referral funds/miles with no problem.
Of course, not every card is available in every country. The above 3 cards are all available in the USA but might not be available in your land. Be sure to tell us your fave in the land you love.
Which cards, plans, and benefits have helped you or your team the most? Please share your lessons learned. Thanks in advance – and good luck hunting.
Capital One Venture card, 125 miles equals $1.00.
Southwest! We received a promo this year that qualified us for a free Companion Pass for every flight for the rest of the year and into next year. Wow! This has been amazing for travel within the US and some international destinations, especially given their VERY generous baggage policy. This would have been especially great for a travel-heavy furlough. Referrals count toward renewal so here’s a link :) —
https://www.referyourchasecard.com/226n/5982S4QGWX ($65/year but new card holders get a $400 statement credit and 40,000 bonus points. Business owners = 80,000 points, so that’s a big head start toward the Companion Pass.)
I’ve been very happy with my Chase Sapphire Preferred card. It does have an annual fee ($95), but I’ve earned far more than I’ve spent. I like that there is flexibility with my rewards — I CAN use them for travel and they go further with travel if booked through Chase, but I can also use my rewards lots of other ways. The card includes many features that are super helpful for travel like covering rental car insurance, lost baggage, and no foreign transaction fee. For me, it came down to comparing which card best rewarded the areas I spent the most money in.
If you want to get/give referral benefits: https://www.referyourchasecard.com/19q/4UXLHB8Q2A
BEST:
Amex Platinum (paid)
Chase Sapphire (paid)
Capital One Venture (mid-tier paid)
I do not have any points-earning cards that earn miles that are also free.
We try to buy EVERYTHING with cards and optimise relevant ones for travel/lodging/restaurants that give 2x, 3x or even 5x points per $1
We just obtained SIX flights for FREE two weeks ago for two of us and had a minimal amount of fees in airport taxes. The route? DUB-AMS-JFK-ATL and a layover there for four days. Then ATL-YYZ and a three day layover before YYZ-YVR-KOA. Still looking for flights KOA-SYD-POM (in Papua New Guinea). Six months there and then POM-SYD-??-DUB for mid- and end of next year.
As a couple with regular travel and no home of our own since 2019 (not even rented – hence the web site below ) we live earning and spending points to get around the world as part of our missionary work.
I love the IHG Premier credit card with Chase. The points are worth the most when used to book IHG hotels. As a missionary living in the Middle East, plane tickets to close locations are usually relatively cheap with various budget airlines. When traveling, both for work or for personal travel in the area, I can use my points to get free housing nearly anywhere I go, which makes travel so much easier. Using the card to book a room also comes with hotel benefits like a free room upgrade or extra points. My family of four nearly always ends up with a suite when booking a regular room. I also find the customer service to be very good (I usually use the online chat function when I have booking questions or need to revise a booking). I used to get airline points, but I have found this hotel card to be much more usable and worthwhile, even in the country. If you’re interested, my referral link is below. Annual fee – $99.
https://www.referyourchasecard.com/210u/2PTHSV0LKM
I actually have a different perspective on reward cards. I am on the field therefore I don’t take many trips that require flights and unless I go into a major tourist city, no places around me take credit cards. So credit cards are basically used only for HA ticket purchases, Kindle purchases, and hotel reservations during some vacation/holiday trips (although we don’t always stay in hotels or places that takes credit cards). I suppose I can use it for online purchases from like Shoppee, but reimbursements goes into my local bank and not my bank in the US; meaning more things to keep track of. So from that perspective, Amazon credit card from Chase is the best as I get to save points for all the stuff I need/want to purchase during HA to bring back to the field. It has no annual fees or international purchase fee.