Question
I have a Miles One Visa card with a $19 annual fee. The fee is good, but Capital One increased their mileage requirement for 48-state domestic tickets from 25,000 to 35,000!
We also have an American Airlines card that we love, but we need the flexibility of an "any airline" type of credit card. We live in a rural area and it's hard to fly on AA all the time. Anyone have any suggestions for an "any airline" credit card?
The annual fee is not THAT important, as long as it's reasonable. It must be a MC/Visa (AmEx is not accepted by our principle credit card customers!). Interest rate doesn't really matter either, because we pay the card in full each month.
Thanks,
ozres
Answer
Hello. I had the Bank of America card with US Airways and I wished I had kept it Customer service was great. US airways goes to a lot of rural areas. I am going to go back with US Airways on EVERYTiHNG after I buy my house. Read my post under Visa/Mastercard about Citibank Aadvantage Mastercard.
Answer
Look into the MBNA Amtrak Rewards card.
-David
Answer
Check this program available with MBNA cards (probably not all cards):
http://www.mbnaplusrewards.com/plus/mbna/index.html
Answer
I too like the Amtrak card because you can transfer miles on a 1:1 ratio into Continental and a couple other airline FF programs. I know you don't want an AmEx; however, their Starwood card is the best that I've been able to find.
I'm not crazy about those cards that permit travel on any airline because their is always a dollar restriction involved. I had an MBNA Travel Rewards card and was forced to use the lowest price airline even if the flight times were not that convenient. There were also a few times when I had to kick in money because the fares exceeded their maximum.
Answer
Even though there's a dollar restriction involved, there are pluses and minuses to the Miles One style of award programs that sometimes make them better than the airlines own FF awards.
The award ticket is a revenue ticket and earns miles.
The award ticket is a revenue ticket and can be upgraded (depending on airline/fare class rules, etc.)
The award ticket is a revenue ticket and not subject to the airlines own capacity controls.
The minus side is what you already mentioned: the price caps on the award ticket and the travel agency might want to steer you to an airline/flight you don't want to use, plus the schedule is a bit high these days.
All in all, it's still a good program, depending on where and when you can use it. I think they still have reduced 'zone' awards making it cheaper to fly, for example, from NYC to Florida.
-David
Answer
Originally posted by LIH Prem:
The award ticket is a revenue ticket and earns miles.
That is a very good point! I probably have a bad taste in my mouth becuase MBNA increased their domestic mileage award from 15K (wow!) to 25K in order to be in alignment with other programs. Then they took the maximum allowance of $500 and lowered it to $400. They did a similar thing with their hotel rewards.
I did like the fact; however, that FF miles could be earned on tickets and hotel stays.
Answer
Thanks everyone! I'm checking out the MBNA Rewards program. It looks like it might fit my needs.
Answer
Although I am not a big fan of this type of card, I have had a First USA Value Miles card for years. See http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum112/HTML/000066.html . The "old" Ritz Carlton awards were a particulary good value. They have recently devalued their program by increasing redemption rates, but it might be worth a look to see if it fits for you. I beleieve the annual fee is $35.00. I don't know if you can see the terms online if you are not a cardholder, so here they are:
9,000
One free night stay at a hotel during the weekend. Participating Hotels: Wyndham® Hotels and Wyndham® Resorts, Residence Inns®, Courtyard by Marriott® and Fairfield Inns®. Or, one two-day car rental at Alamo Rent-A-Car or National Car Rental.
10,000
$100 discount toward package tour or cruise. Or, a $100 gift certificate from Eddie Bauer®, Spiegel® Catalog or Sharper Image®.
12,000
One free night stay at Hyatt Hotels & Resorts® at participating locations.
20,000
One complimentary night stay at a participating Ritz-Carlton® Hotel and breakfast for two the next morning. Or, a $250 gift certificate from Eddie Bauer®, Spiegel® Catalog or Sharper Image®.
24,000
Round-trip travel within the continental United States (U.S. 48 states)or Canada.
35,000
Round-trip travel from the continental United States to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean.
40,000
Round-trip travel from the continental United States to Hawaii or Alaska.
60,000
Round-trip travel from the continental United States to Europe
[This message has been edited by cactuspete (edited 05-15-2002).]
Answer
A correction. Unless there are different Capital One Visa cards, the rate for a domestic 48 ticket is going from 25K to 30K, not 35K, on July 31, 2002. Despite the 21 day advance requirement for reservations, the dollar limits on tickets, no stopovers and a required Saturday night stay, I still think it is a good deal for getting upgradeable fares for domestic travel at least and, in some cases, for European destinations. As was mentioned, it's a revenue, not an award ticket so you get miles and that's a major plus along with no blackouts and no capacity controls. The regional tickets (e.g., MCO to Portland/Bangor, ME for me)at 18K (to be 20K after 7/31/02)are a real bargain for me. It just depends on how you need to use the miles.
Answer
By clicking on "Miles One" and then "Redemption Chart" at www.capitalone.com (http://www.capitalone.com) the chart says "25k miles for a zone award" and "35k miles for a ticket within the lower 48, up to $500 value". Perhaps it's different for those of us already in the program?
I think you can do better these days, for example, with the Starwood Amex or the MBNA Amtrak Rewards card, or even the 'scorecard' program from my credit union: www.techcu.com (http://www.techcu.com)
Personally, I find myself running everything through the Starwood card these days.
However, with or without the points program, Capital One is still a good place to do business, especially if you're looking for a no-fee low interest cards.
-David
Answer
I'd consider keeping your Milesone Capital One card if you currently have one.
You can redeem points under the OLD chart until 8/1/02. If you choose to keep your card, your interest rate will fall from 9.9% to 7.9% and you'll still be earning miles.
Of course, if $19/year and 7.9% isn't good enough for your needs, consider http://www.pulaskibank.com/ ... 5.5% fixed and a $35 annual fee.
Few people have heard of the Pulaski card, but I'm keeping my Milesone card. I've accumulated quite a few miles. And, since I don't travel often, I don't mind having to redeem a few extra miles for the convenience of having a low annual fee and a great interest rate.
Answer
Are they really dropping the rate to 7.9%?
The no hassle card is at 8.9% and doesn't offer the miles one option.
-David
Answer
I just got the NoHassle Card and my rate was 7.9%, with 0% fee-free balance transfers and purchases until next February. I am impressed with the company thus far. Of course, most of my purchases will still go through my Hilton AMEX and Hilton Visa.
Answer
I guess they did drop the rate on the Cap One/Miles One card. My latest statement now shows 7.9%.
-David
Answer
It turns our that Capital One has multiple award charts. Like many in July my award chart was raised from 25k to 30k for a domestic US award, and my interest rate was droped to 7.9%.
Today I received my quarterly statment, and my wife received hers. She has her own card, but when I look at her statement, her chart shows that it still only takes 25K for a Domestic ticket.
And the web site says it now takes 35K for new card members.
When I called Capital One I was told they do have multiple awards charts. But they could not tell me why my award chart was increased to the 30K chart.
Answer
I have no idea which redemption chart I'm using then. The online chart is terrible, but I do like the 7.9% interest rate.
As was posted previously, MBNA seems to have a better card, though with a higher interest rate (11.9%).
http://www.mbnaworldcard.com/
You can choose your airline, but you might have to pay up the difference between what they deem to be the lowest available airfare. You can also pay up from the maximum ticket value.
Q: What are the reward levels for air, car, and hotel?
A: Airline coach-class reward levels:
25,000 points = one round-trip ticket to anywhere within the continental 48 states (maximum ticket value $400).
35,000 points = one round-trip ticket to Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Bermuda, Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, Alaska, or Hawaii (maximum ticket value $600).
50,000 points = one round-trip ticket to European destinations
(maximum ticket value $800).
75,000 points = one round-trip ticket to South America, Asia, or Australia
(maximum ticket value $1,200).
Airline first-class reward levels:
100,000/$1,500
135,000/$2,000
200,000/$3,000
265,000/$4,000
335,000/$5,000
Car reward levels:
2,500 points = one-day car rental within the U.S. (maximum value $60)
15,000 points = seven-day car rental within the U.S. (maximum value $300)
Hotel reward levels:
5,000 points = one-night stay within the U.S.
(room rate up to $80 per night).
10,000 points = one-night stay within the U.S.
(room rate of $81-$160 per night).
15,000 points = one-night stay within the U.S.
(room rate of $161-$240 per night).
[This message has been edited by LIH Prem (edited 10-09-2002).]
[This message has been edited by LIH Prem (edited 10-09-2002).]
Answer
dup
[This message has been edited by LIH Prem (edited 10-09-2002).]
Answer
A major shortcoming of these travel-agent-type credit card awards is that they are revenue tickets.
For 40k airline miles, I can get a domestic business-class (or 2-class first-class) ticket from Boston to San Francisco with a stop in Seattle or in the desert on the way home. Those tickets would cost something like $4000, and are simply not available from programs like Capital One's.
Also, international premium class tickets and upgrades -- easy with airline miles, too costly with the dollar-driven credit card programs.
In these cases, it may make more sense to just get 1% of your purchase price back in a rebate rather than accumulate points toward a deeply-discounted (often non-upgradeable) revenue ticket.
Answer
In my experience, since they are revenue tickets, they are fully upgradable, plus you earn miles, status miles, and elite bonuses on the tickets. Some airlines (Delta?) restrict the ability to upgrade on their cheapest fares .. on those airlines, tickets booked in non-upgradable fare classes will not be upgradable.
Are the tickets restricted? Youbetcha. In fact, they require advance booking and a Saturday night stay, and will only reimburse you up to a certain amount. As noted by the poster, stopovers and open jaws may not be allowed either. Check the rules of the program to be sure.
Can you pick the airline? Yes, but you may have to pay the difference if they can come up with a cheaper equivalent fare on a major airline.
Are there blackout dates or capacity controls on these tickets? Absolutely not. Have enough points for an award? Simply call and book it .. if there are revenue seats available, you get the ticket. The best thing to do is to research the lowest available airfare/routing first online, and then research the flights you want so you are armed with information when you call to book the award ticket.
Is it a good deal? What do you think?
Remember, no one program is the "best" for everybody. That's why, as Randy says, we don't all belong to a single program. So, sure, in some cases, it might be better to go with a rebate card or different program .. it all depends on your situation.
-David
Edited to attribute quote to Randy P.
[This message has been edited by LIH Prem (edited 10-10-2002).]
Answer
If you have a card issued by Citibank you might try to convert it to a "Citimiles" card. I've had one for years, $25 annual fee and it earns 1 mile for every $15 spent. This sounds like a terrible deal until you realize that a mile really is a mile. No limits, they buy you a ticket generally on the airline of your choice: 21 day advance, Saturday night stay, Maximum 30 trip, must originate in USA. It is particularly handy for out-of-the-way short haul destinations (read expensive)
There was some talk of not issuing any more of these cards and just grandfathering the exising ones, but it's worth a try.