Question
While I don't have the NEA card, I have been affiliated with MBNA for many years. Years ago you could find more than one branded affinity card in my wallet.
MBNA is the industry leader in branded affinity cards and their growth rate is just phenominal! I became a shareholder two years ago and the growth rate coupled with the dividend payout is above my minimum benchmark of 15 percent (the point where your investment doubles every five years).
If/when they develop a product that competes with Dividend Miles Platinum at 1.2 miles and annual companion certificate (or if it disappears with merger)I will be the first in line to switch to the MBNA product.
Answer
WELL the NEA Rewards card is MUCH higher than 1.2 miles per dollar. Adomestic trip costs you 15,000 miles vs. 25,000 miles for the Dividend Rewards card. Same with Europe at 35,000 miles versus 50,000 miles.
Also the NEA card costs you $30 vs. $120?
Also the NEA card has no blackouts.......US AIr has blackouts.
You can also redeem your miles with rental cars & hotels. Can you do that with US AIR. I'm not aware that you can.
IT'S ANOTHER NO BRAINER! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif
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Also, hotel stays and flights earned with the NEA card earn FF miles and frequent guest points! It's a double-whammy no brainer!
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Yeah, it's a no brainer if you like that sort of card. But you're locked into their system and you can't get out and you can't add points (fake miles) from other sources.
I prefer to have all my miles sources working together; credit cards, flights, long distance, car rental, etc.
It's like this: would you like to be paid in Wal*Mart gift certificates if you'd get a little higher salary?
Maybe, but probably not. Sure they have most everything, but then you're locked into shopping there. And if you get money from somewhere else you can't add it to your Wal*Mart gift certificate. (well, maybe you could, but you get the point!)
Mac
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Via con Dios!
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macbravery,
You make a good point. Being able to combine mileage earining from all these other sources only makes your frequent flyer membership more valuable and useable. I rarely fly but I am earning Delta miles through all the various extra ways, ie: dinning, Amex rewards, Hilton stays, car rental, carmiles, home buying, greenpoints shopping, etc. You're right, belonging to programs that combine into one account is very valuable.
However, let me point out my logic. When I learned of this NEA Mastercard, I decided to get it. Here's why:
Figure that with 25,000 a year on Credit card charges (approx. 2000/month) that gets gets you an additional 25,000 airline miles a year to your account. Lets say that all your other sources get you another 50,000 miles a year. that's 75,000 miles in your FF account each year. That is basically good for 3 round trips. However, they have to be redeemed through your airline, restricted seating and blackout dates, no mileage accrual for the flights, etc.
The way I am doing it works like this. Using the same numbers for comparison, my NEA MC would get me the same 25,000 miles. This is good for 2 round trips through their travel agency. (airlines choices, no blackouts, can upgrade to FC, they earn miles for the flights, etc). In addition, my FF miles from the other sources would remain the same at 50,000, plus the miles earned on my NEA reward flights. Those 50,000+ miles get me 2 more round trips with my airline, for a total of four free tickets compared to your three, all for exactly the same spending.
It seems your way is actually more confining since all of your tickets are through one program and are subject to all kinds of restrictions and blackout dates. In your analogy, it seems that your system is the Walmart certificates, since you must spend your miles at one airline (and partners) whereas with MBNA, I can shop all available flights and airlines with a much cheaper price to boot! (10,000 vs. 25,000)
Oh well, there is no right answer. I say whatever works best for you, go for it!
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Pointman,
You're right-spot-on with your comments. You can use both systems of Delta with NEA.
In addition to that, Delta & other airlines are increasingly restricting their available seats that go to FF members every year. It's a tremendous pain to have to redeem your miles a year in advance for popular destinations!
As a busy exec, I make my vacation plans in a matter of weeks/days. The NEA provides me the timely execution of an award redemption that NO AIRLINE REWARDS program can match.
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Thanks ssbl. I totally forgot about your point of the annual fees. The money you save every few years with the NEA annual fee is like getting another free ticket! It's just another plus.
Spartacus, if you want to earn free tickets with your CC purchases, this NEA MC is really the way to go. The only negative is that points expire five years from the day they are earned. However, if it takes someone more than five years to earn one reward, they should not be wasting their money on a rewards card fee anyway..I use my AMEX for most of my stuff because I value its flexibility, but I just may go full time with this NEA card..