Question
If you fly frequently cross country, DON"T get this Chase Card.
25000 thousand miles to fly within the continental U.S. NOT BAD, you say. Well how about this-- the maximum ticket cost is $400. If your ticket to anywhere within the continental 48 costs $400.01, don't plan on using Chase Rewards. There is no option to pay the difference in cash AND no option to obtain a ticket over $400 by spendng more miles. You're just out of luck. Now you can spend 35,000 miles to fly to Hawaii, Alaska, the Carribbean, Mexico and Canada with a $600 ticket limit. (Yea, right.) But if you just want to see grandma in Podunk California and the best ticket you can get is $425, don't pack your bags. To add insult to this outrage, you have to purchase the ticket throught Chase's agent and a Chase representative told me that they don't have the discounted ticket prices available on-line.
This is as bad, or even worse, than the Capital One No Hassle rip-off card--which I also have.
Does anyone have a bank air travel rewards card that still is worth something or is it time to use only airline cards?
Answer
If you fly frequently cross country, DON"T get this Chase Card.
25000 thousand miles to fly within the continental U.S. NOT BAD, you say. Well how about this-- the maximum ticket cost is $400. If your ticket to anywhere within the continental 48 costs $400.01, don't plan on using Chase Rewards. There is no option to pay the difference in cash AND no option to obtain a ticket over $400 by spendng more miles. You're just out of luck. Now you can spend 35,000 miles to fly to Hawaii, Alaska, the Carribbean, Mexico and Canada with a $600 ticket limit. (Yea, right.) But if you just want to see grandma in Podunk California and the best ticket you can get is $425, don't pack your bags. To add insult to this outrage, you have to purchase the ticket throught Chase's agent and a Chase representative told me that they don't have the discounted ticket prices available on-line.
This is as bad, or even worse, than the Capital One No Hassle rip-off card--which I also have.
Does anyone have a bank air travel rewards card that still is worth something or is it time to use only airline cards?
Why not ask get Chase Rewards Plus card? It allows you to transfer miles into UAL and Continental at a rate of 6K points to 5K miles. and 20K points to 5K miles on BA. And this card gives you 5 points per $1 at Groceries, Gas and Drugstores.
Also Citibank TY network allows you to redem for airlines points except at times Citibank will require more the normal 25K points if the ticket cost to much. It seems to be at the discrection of the agent you talk to when redeming it seems as some people have gotten $800 tickets for 25K points while other have had to use 35K points for $700 ticket.
Answer
If you fly frequently cross country, DON"T get this Chase Card.
25000 thousand miles to fly within the continental U.S. NOT BAD, you say. Well how about this-- the maximum ticket cost is $400. If your ticket to anywhere within the continental 48 costs $400.01, don't plan on using Chase Rewards. There is no option to pay the difference in cash AND no option to obtain a ticket over $400 by spendng more miles. You're just out of luck. Now you can spend 35,000 miles to fly to Hawaii, Alaska, the Carribbean, Mexico and Canada with a $600 ticket limit. (Yea, right.) But if you just want to see grandma in Podunk California and the best ticket you can get is $425, don't pack your bags. To add insult to this outrage, you have to purchase the ticket throught Chase's agent and a Chase representative told me that they don't have the discounted ticket prices available on-line.
This is as bad, or even worse, than the Capital One No Hassle rip-off card--which I also have.
Does anyone have a bank air travel rewards card that still is worth something or is it time to use only airline cards?
Look at Citi ThankYou cards:
Citi / AT&T Rewards - 5 pts/$ first year on some spending categories; 1 pt/$ thereafter; plus some other perks
Citi Diamond Preferred - 5 pts/$ first year on some spending categories; 1 pt/$ thereafter
Citi Professional - 3pts/$ on some spending categories
Citi Premier Pass - up to 2 pts/$
Citi Premier Pass Elite - up to 4 pts/$; $75 per year fee
Citi Chairman Card - up to 6 pts/$; $400 per year fee
Answer
Your post is a bit misleading because it doesn't mention the 5pts/$ for AT&T Universal Rewards and Diamond Preferred are only for groceries/gas/drugstores. And despite some reports possibly to the contrary, I still believe that Universal Rewards remains a permanent 5pts/$ on those categories.
Whether that will continue is debatable as Citi is apparently making major changes to the original 5% back card (Dividend Platinum) that will supposedly affect existing cardholders as well as new ones.
Answer
Your post is a bit misleading because it doesn't mention the 5pts/$ for AT&T Universal Rewards and Diamond Preferred are only for groceries/gas/drugstores. And despite some reports possibly to the contrary, I still believe that Universal Rewards remains a permanent 5pts/$ on those categories.
Whether that will continue is debatable as Citi is apparently making major changes to the original 5% back card (Dividend Platinum) that will supposedly affect existing cardholders as well as new ones.
You are correct. I updated my previous comment.
Answer
Merrill+ is 25000miles per $500 cost of the ticket - meaning a $501 ticket costs you 50k miles, but a $499 ticket (even international, I believe) costs 25k. Similar restriction to the chase card, but slightly more flexable. This is only on their prefered carriers (BA, AA, CO, DL) but that covers enough for me (non-prefered carriers for 30k). I also like this because a trip to Europe on BA means I can often get BA World Traveler Plus (Economy+) tickets for the same 50k points it would cost me for standard Economy tickets on other cards (assuming it doesn't go over $1k), makes me not feel like I'm getting ripped off on 50k points flying out of BOS when ot costs the same out of LAX. You can also transfer miles to BA in 5k increments. Free Admirals Club or Crown Room membership when you spend $50k+/yr. Plus (the real reason I have this card) 0% foreign transaction fee, and 24/7 domestic call centers (not sure how long that will last).
Edit: Aparentally they do transfer bonus's as well - right now BA transfer is 5k M+=6k BA. That's almost as good as the SPG bonus (too bad its only to BA, and the promo ends Aug 31st).
I'd stick with a TY card though.
There's always Amex Starwood, but it has a $30 annual fee unlike all the other options that have been presented so far.
Answer
Also Citibank TY network allows you to redeem for airlines points except at times Citibank will require more the normal 25K points if the ticket cost to much. It seems to be at the discretion of the agent you talk to when redeeming it seems as some people have gotten $800 tickets for 25K points while other have had to use 35K points for $700 ticket.
I think what they can do is tied more the inventory bucket a ticket books into than the actual cost of an itinerary. So on AA they might be able to book a ticket to Europe if O, Q, S, or N is available, for example. So if you need to go to a place where the cheapest tickets are over $1000 you are going to be able to redeem for a higher $ ticket than a place like London.
So far with Citibank, I have redeemed:
25K for a $550 ticket June to Canada
50K for a $2150 ticket July to Europe (twice)
60K for a $1350 ticket to India
I have yet to be denied a request; the offer have always offered me at least one option for my dates at the base level. If I want a specific airline/time of day, then I may have to pay a lot more points. If I can accept their preferred option (which is not always the same as the cheapest online) then I get the base redemption cost.
In the morning, I will call again about another ticket. Will see if I can get a desirable itin on my dates for 60K (Asia). Lowest online fare is $1700.