Question
Thanks for your patience.
Here is my scenario.
I charge at least 25k a year on a Visa.
I pay my balance off every month.
I would like airline miles, unless there is another program that is better.
I live in the Seattle, WA area.
I currently have a BOA/Alaska Air Gold Visa with a $45 a year fee and a $1 to 1 airline mile point ratio.
I may, occasionally, fly another airline, but I mainly fly Alaska.
I don't think many of the charges I make would work on an AMEX.
What would you recommend?
Answer
The status quo?
Answer
The status quo?
The BOA/Alaska card is the best bet?
Answer
If you fly Alaska the most then what you have is probably the best. You might think of getting a Hilton American Express card as a second card. It carries no annual fee yet you can gain HHonors points.
Answer
If you can put all or most of those charges on an American Express card, the Starwood Card would be my choice. 1 point/$1 spent. Points transfer 1:1 to a large number of airlines, including Alaska, in 5,000 point increments. A 20,000 point transfer gets you a bonus 5,000 miles, for 25,000 miles total. The card comes with a 4,000 point opening bonus, is free for a year, and can probably be had for free for subsequent years. (The small $30/year fee usually can be waived.)
Full info, including a link to the bonus offer, can be found on the Free Cards page of the Credit Card section of my website, Free Frequent Flyer Miles (http://www.freefrequentflyermiles.com/index.htm).