
How to Get Longer Balance Transfer Periods
A balance transfer credit card is one that comes with a low introductory annual percentage rate or 0% APR, which you may qualify for depending
Airline credit cards are a great way to bolster benefits with an airline miles program, and if you know how to put the sign-up bonus and other rewards to work, you can walk away with thousands of dollars in value the first year.
Check out our summary of everything you need to know about airline credit cards below.
Typically, credit cards are branded (or sponsored) by the bank or credit card company issuing them. If you look at your credit card, you’ll see the relevant logos, and they might be from financial institutions such as Chase, Citibank, Visa, Discover, American Express or MasterCard.
Co-branded cards add a second corporate player to the mix. These second brands partner with the bank or credit card company to provide a card that comes with additional perks related to the additional brand.
For example, retailers partner with credit card companies to provide co-branded cards. This isn’t the same as a non-branded card solely for use in the store (which acts as a credit line for you with that retailer). A co-branded card lets you use the card at any location that accepts the co-brand (such as Visa or MasterCard) while earning points that you can use with the sponsoring retailer.
This same principle works in the travel industry, where hotels and airlines partner with banks to co-brand cards. Delta partners with American Express, for instance, to offer the Delta SkyMiles credit cards. You can use those cards anywhere American Express is accepted, and spending with the card earns you Delta SkyMiles points.
Co-branded credit cards provide a way for you to earn additional value when you spend with your card, and they can be a huge benefit to travelers.
Frequent travelers looking to cover travel expenses or earn luxury travel opportunities can choose from three types of travel rewards credit cards.
An airline card might be the right choice for you if you fly regularly with a specific airline. Some perks you might appreciate include the fact that points are credited immediately to your miles account, and the points you accrue with your credit card are in addition to miles you accrue by traveling. That means you could use your co-branded credit card to purchase fares with the airline — thus earning mile points by spending. But you also earn mile points associated with the flight.
Double-dipping with rewards is a great way to rack up miles and get a lot of free flights. Some credit card offers also include specialty miles that let you gain premium status with airline rewards programs faster.
The right airline card helps you maximize the value of the reward, and the first step to choosing a card is knowing which airline to work with.
For example, if you’re a frequent business flyer and you live in the Atlanta metro area, you probably fly out of Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport a lot. Around nine major domestic airlines are served by the airport, including Delta, United, Alaska Airlines and Frontier, all of which co-brand credit cards.
If you have a preference for one of the airlines, you might choose the relevant co-branded card; if you don’t have a preference, consider where you’re most likely to fly, and choose the co-branded card from the airline that offers the most potential flights.
If you’re more of an international traveler, you might opt for a card co-branded by an airline such as Virgin Atlantic.
Other tips for choosing an airline credit card are included below.
A sign-up bonus is a large number of mile points that you get just for opening and using your card. How much you have to use the card to get the bonus depends on the offer. Requirements usually range between $500 and $5,000 dollars spent on qualifying purchases within the first few months after opening the card.
Some examples of potential sign-up bonuses you might see with airline cards are:
Remember, sign-up bonuses vary by the offer, and the offers do change, so make sure you read the fine print on yours to understand exactly what benefits you can get.
If you’re thinking that $3,000 or $5,000 sounds like a lot of spend in just three months, check out the math breakdown below.
In most cases, the sign-up bonus miles are enough to cover at least one flight, so we’re talking about $300 to $1,500 in value — or even more with luxury or international airline cards.
Once the sign-up bonus is earned, the rewards don’t stop coming. Airline cards usually award you at least 1 mile for every dollar you spend. Some airline cards include higher rewards on categorical spending or purchases made directly with the airline.
For example, you might earn 2 miles on purchases in the travel and dining categories, which means $300 spent with a car rental company would net you 600 miles. Likewise, a $50 meal would equate to 100 miles.
Some airline cards award 3 miles or more when you use your card to make purchases directly with them. Thus, a $500 fare turns into 1,500 (or more) miles.
Understanding exactly how the miles add up is key to making the most of your airline credit card.
The best airline credit cards give you plenty of options when it comes to redeeming your miles. While the primary value is going to be in redeeming miles for airfare, look for cards that come with multiple options so you aren’t locked into one choice.
Some common redemption options include:
The best airline credit cards come with perks beyond the sign-up bonus and mile points. Here are some of the common perks to look for in airline credit cards.
While banks do have to disclose all their fees and details about the offer, they don’t have to make all that information easy to find. Here are a few insider facts and tips that you might miss when you review a credit card offer.
An airline credit card can be a great tool for anyone who flies regularly with the same brand. Do your homework, choose a card co-branded by an airline you like, trust and use at least once or twice a year, and you’re likely to come out ahead in the long run.
A balance transfer credit card is one that comes with a low introductory annual percentage rate or 0% APR, which you may qualify for depending
Credit cards that have a 0% introductory annual percentage rate (APR) offer are powerful financial management tools — if you know how to use them.
The average American has $6,194 in credit card debt, according to Experian. If you, like many Americans, are paying the standard purchase rate on your debt —
Apply today and discover what your business can become.