Domestic
Credit Cards to Avoid When Booking Air Travel
Whether booking by phone or online, air travel tickets and upgrades require a flexible program
One of the biggest mistakes you can make if you want to earn Business or First Class upgrades, is building your frequent flyer mileage account with credit cards that offer their own mileage programs, such as those from MBNA or Capital One.
While these cards sound seductive—as they often don’t impose blackout dates, and miles are valid on multiple carriers—they leave out one big detail: The points earned usually are not valid for Business or First Class upgrades. Or, if the points can be used for premium air travel, it’s at a very poor redemption rate.
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Another mistake: Don’t carry the co-branded card marketed by your preferred airline. Why? Because it earns miles in only one program.
The key to making a credit card pay off is to get one (or more) that earns points in numerous airline programs, including that of your preferred carrier. One of the most flexible credit cards a traveler can carry is Amex’s Starwood Preferred Guest Card.
This article is adapted from the FlightBliss Special Report Seven Common Air Travel Mistakes to Avoid.
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