Question
Hi,
I am considering getting a frequent flyer credit card and for the past few days have been reading different topics on the forum and articles on other web sites. Nevertheless I seem to be unable to choose a credit card. I am a NWA Silver Elite and thought about the Platinum card they offer. However it seems like the $55 dollar yearly fee is unjustified even after the 15000 miles bonus they currently offer at sign-up. The card just does not have interesting features… now if they had Continental’s free lounge passes that would be another story. Since I fly mostly internationally the 4000 mile rebate on domestic tickets just does not make it for me.
I am also thinking about the CITI Premier Pass Elite. However the TY point system seems really confusing. When do I get airline miles? Do I have to buy the ticket from them or not? Then how are those converted into TY points and do they ever become point that can be used to purchase anything (like gift cards for example).
Those are the two cards that I am currently looking at. Are there some other cards that are worth investigating? Are there cards that offer free airport lounge access (something of the sort of priority pass – there is a Chinese card I read about but I am not certain I can even apply for that from the US… and the Chairman is gone…).
Thank you in advance for the quick response,
A.T.
P.S. I do just fine while studying advanced mathematical economics but credit cards seem to get the best of me… I simply cannot seem to figure a lot of the stuff out… and I am a finance major after all…
Answer
I had the PremierPass card, upgraded to Chairman. But the TY point system still works the same. You don't convert TY to airline miles per se, but people have been cashing out flight award tickets and the flight awards they go on, give them airline miles for the distance they travelled.
Yes, when you are trying to get flight points, you need to book the tickets with your premierpass/chairman card. You get 1:1 flight points matched with your purchase points. You spend $10,000, and you fly 10,000 miles, you get 20,000 TY points. You spend $1,000 and fly 10,000 miles, you get 2,000 TY points.
try www.thankyounetwork.com There are lots of awards you can redeem with your TY points. Yes, there are gift cards too.
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So what if you never buy a ticket with the card? :confused:
Answer
Yes, when you are trying to get flight points, you need to book the tickets with your premierpass/chairman card. You get 1:1 flight points matched with your purchase points. You spend $10,000, and you fly 10,000 miles, you get 20,000 TY points. You spend $1,000 and fly 10,000 miles, you get 2,000 TY points.
So there is no way I can book a ticket though my travel agent and it would still count toward flight points? If I have paid the ticket with the credit card (the PremierPass Elite) and then send them the itinerary (+copies of boarding passes)?
Oh, and one more thing... do the flight points accumulated on the Premier Pass Elite collect over time. If I have 1k in purchases but 10k flight points I get 2k TY points but what happens to the other 9k flight points? Are they left to be matched by future purchase points? Do I have to match them in the same period – for example – do I have to match all 9k left in one period or I can do 9 times 1k for 2k TY point every pay cycle?
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So what if you never buy a ticket with the card? :confused:
You will never get any flight points, but you will still get TY points for all other purchases, which can be redeemed for travel.
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So there is no way I can book a ticket though my travel agent and it would still count toward flight points? If I have paid the ticket with the credit card (the PremierPass Elite) and then send them the itinerary (+copies of boarding passes)?
Most tickets booked thru agents should post flight points w/o problem. If it doesn't post just send them your boarding passes.
Oh, and one more thing... do the flight points accumulated on the Premier Pass Elite collect over time. If I have 1k in purchases but 10k flight points I get 2k TY points but what happens to the other 9k flight points? Are they left to be matched by future purchase points? Do I have to match them in the same period – for example – do I have to match all 9k left in one period or I can do 9 times 1k for 2k TY point every pay cycle?
Flight points will transfer to your TY account once they are matched by equal amount of purchase points. You don't have to match them all at once. You can do 1k at a time for 9 months or 9k at once. It's up to you and your spending habits.
Answer
for miles>
starwood credit card
amex and diners club charge cards, depending on which airlines you want
for lounge access>
amex plat - NW/DL/CO lounge access if you are on matching ticket/metal - 1 free guest
chairman - priority pass with 2 free guests
Answer
So there is no way I can book a ticket though my travel agent and it would still count toward flight points?
To earn Flight Points there is no requirement to "book" the airline ticket through any particular method, only to "pay" for it with the card. Generally, travel agencies will submit the charge to the carrier and it will appear on your credit card statement as a charge from the airline with the routing details shown. This is the information Citi needs to calculate the distance and award the Flight Points.
Answer
for miles>
starwood credit card
amex and diners club charge cards, depending on which airlines you want
for lounge access>
amex plat - NW/DL/CO lounge access if you are on matching ticket/metal - 1 free guest
chairman - priority pass with 2 free guests
Thanks for all the information… I think I will get the PremierPass Elite after all… it seems like a better value than the NWA Platinum. After all with the latter I can only get 1 mile per dollar spent. It seems like I can get at least 2 points with the PremierPass… that and the fact that getting international award tickets on NWA is close to impossible.
I really want a card with Lounge access as well – the Chairman would have been great but as far as I know they are going to issue a new far more expensive credit card in its place and I really don’t feel like paying more than $400 per year. The AMEX card is not bad but it is harder to use outside the US (less merchants accept it) and the lounge access abroad is very limited. I don’t even want to discuss the laughable lounge access of the Diners Charge Card… they have lounges at 2 airports in the US... and 20-25 small airports abroad. Considering what the lounges at those places are I would do better to stay at the terminal.
The platinum card of these guys seems like the only option: http://www.icbc.com.cn/e_icbcmodule/thirdindex.jsp?column=Bank%2BCard%3EIntroduction%3 EPeony%2BInternational%2BCard
Hopefully if I get an internship in China this summer I can get one…
Thanks again guys!
Answer
<<only get 1 mile per dollar spent. It seems like I can get at least 2 points with the PremierPass>>
Correct, but you will need far more Thank You points for the same type of award, unless you are interested in domestic economy class tickets.
You may wish to review this recent discussion about adjustments to TY redemption levels...
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=613477
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<<only get 1 mile per dollar spent. It seems like I can get at least 2 points with the PremierPass>>
Correct, but you will need far more Thank You points for the same type of award, unless you are interested in domestic economy class tickets.
You may wish to review this recent discussion about adjustments to TY redemption levels...
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=613477
So how much would international economy usually go for - 50k, 60k?
P.S. Sorry - totally missed the link. I am gonna read through that.
P.S. 2: That sucks... I finally decide to get a travel card and in a month the Chairman is cancelled and the PP Elite looses some of its privileges...
Answer
Europe, Asia, South America 60,000; Middle East and Africa 80,000; Australia and South Pacific 100,000.
To read the details go here...
https://www.thankyounetwork.com/faq.jspx
...and expand "Travel Rewards"
Answer
Europe, Asia, South America 60,000; Middle East and Africa 80,000; Australia and South Pacific 100,000.
To read the details go here...
https://www.thankyounetwork.com/faq.jspx
...and expand "Travel Rewards"
Thanks for all the info Mia.
I think I will get the PP Elite in the end. The value of NWA points might be a bit better but I still only get 1 point per dollar spent. It is such a shame there isn't a single Priority Pass credit card available at the moment though... I don't care if I fly coach (I am 6'6 so I always try to get exit row seats) as long as I have something to do in those dreadful 3-4 hours at the airport.
Answer
I have gone thru this arguement over and over again, so here is my suggestion:
If you are a loyal flyer and like a certain airline, get the airline branded card or if the SPG AMEX transfer miles to that acct, then do that...but you cannot become elite by spoending -- only on AA once you hit 1 million miles....
If you are like me and not a loyal flyer - just want low fares - then get the TY Network .. . PP Elite or Chairman...and this gets you free lounge access
Read thru the Chairman Threads....I just got a FREE ticket to BZN for my dad for 25000pts during PEAK season Dec 28-Jan 3 .... NO TAXES, FEES, or SURCHARGES ...now that is a FREE ticket...
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So which airline program will let you become elite just by spending 1 million on their credit card program?
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So which airline program will let you become elite just by spending 1 million on their credit card program?
AAdvantage
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So which airline program will let you become elite just by spending 1 million on their credit card program?
Lifetime Gold on AA -- 1 million miles total whether you fly or not
Lifetime PLAT on AA -- 2 million miles
Only program that lets you become elite without flying for it....
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I have gone thru this arguement over and over again, so here is my suggestion:
If you are a loyal flyer and like a certain airline, get the airline branded card or if the SPG AMEX transfer miles to that acct, then do that...but you cannot become elite by spoending -- only on AA once you hit 1 million miles....
If you are like me and not a loyal flyer - just want low fares - then get the TY Network .. . PP Elite or Chairman...and this gets you free lounge access
Read thru the Chairman Threads....I just got a FREE ticket to BZN for my dad for 25000pts during PEAK season Dec 28-Jan 3 .... NO TAXES, FEES, or SURCHARGES ...now that is a FREE ticket...
I would love to get the Chairman. However Citi is no longer accepting applications for it. They are going to come up with something better and way more expensive from what I understand.
Oh, and I am a NWA elite because I fly them all the time. By getting the card I am trying to increase my banked miles, not get to another level of elite status.
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I think would be better to make a poll in this thread because too many posts with no exact answer.
So what card is the best??? :)
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I think would be better to make a poll in this thread because too many posts with no exact answer.
So what card is the best??? :)
Well,
I went for the PP Elite. I know they just cut some of the benefits by revamping the program but the NWA card seems even worse. 15k bonus or not, 1pt. per dollar is not enough (especially considering the hard redemption for international flights).
Thanks to everybody for the advice!
P.S. I am really going to try and get the ICBC Platinum if I go to China for the summer... that card seems to be worth it.
Answer
Thanks for a lot of feedback.
I am thinking for the PP Elite.
I have a few question if anyone can answer.
Thanks in advance.
1) Is there anyone getting away from the annual fee?
2) for the point that I earned, can you redeem for specific airline, like AA?
3) If I use thankyou point to redeem the airline ticket, can I get mileage through the airline?
4) If I choose the unrestrict airline award, can I go to airline counter for refund?
Thanks
yuchung5
Answer
1) Is there anyone getting away from the annual fee?
2) for the point that I earned, can you redeem for specific airline, like AA?
3) If I use thankyou point to redeem the airline ticket, can I get mileage through the airline?
4) If I choose the unrestrict airline award, can I go to airline counter for refund?
Well, apparently you can get the fee waived by being a Citigold member. With using the Expedia search engine (variable redemption rate) you can use the points earned on any airline. If you want to use the fixed rate over the phone you have to pretty much suck it up and go with the airline they tell you (apparently usually AA).
You can get mileage from the airline as well (why I decided to apply for the card in the first place - I need my NWA status to get international bulkhead... I am 6'6 tall after all.
No idea what you are asking with the fourth question... so I have no answer...
Answer
Well, apparently you can get the fee waived by being a Citigold member. With using the Expedia search engine (variable redemption rate) you can use the points earned on any airline. If you want to use the fixed rate over the phone you have to pretty much suck it up and go with the airline they tell you (apparently usually AA).
You can get mileage from the airline as well (why I decided to apply for the card in the first place - I need my NWA status to get international bulkhead... I am 6'6 tall after all.
No idea what you are asking with the fourth question... so I have no answer...
Thanks for the answer.
The 4th question is about the redeem for the unrestricted award.
http://www.citibank.com/us/cards/cardserv/premierpass/travel-sample.htm
Ex. I got the unrestricted business ticket to Hawaii for 150k point.
Maybe at the time, the market value is $2k.
After I get the ticket, can I go to airline counter for refund?
Thanks
yuchung5
Answer
Thanks for the answer.
The 4th question is about the redeem for the unrestricted award.
http://www.citibank.com/us/cards/cardserv/premierpass/travel-sample.htm
Ex. I got the unrestricted business ticket to Hawaii for 150k point.
Maybe at the time, the market value is $2k.
After I get the ticket, can I go to airline counter for refund?
Thanks
yuchung5
Well,
my gut tells me you shouldnot be able to do that... but if the ticket is refundable maybe there is a way to do it... although you probably have to be paid back in the way you paid... so TY points :D