Best deal for earning airline miles?

saverchic · November 2013

Our family is temporarily moving to the Seattle area for a great job opportunity that is very MM-friendly, and most of our family is in Chicago and/or Illinois. For various reasons, we will need to travel to visit/help family a lot in the coming years (which will not be very MM-friendly!), and we're looking for the best "deal" for earning free flights. We've typically flown on United because its hub is at O'Hare, but we're willing to change if we'll be able to accumulate free flights faster. Does anyone know of any good resources for finding out which miles program would be the best option? We're also looking into credit cards that might allow us to have a lower baggage fee. Thanks in advance for any advice/help you may have.

maple2 · November 2013

I don't know the answers to any of your questions. I do know that there are credit cards targeted to people who fly a lot. I don't know if they lower baggage fees, but they give more rewards points for travel related expenses and allow you to purchase flights with points. I know Chase used to offer a card like this, but I bet there are other companies that do too.

brij2006 · November 2013

I will 2nd to look into a credit card that gives you airline perks like the free baggage, priority boarding, etc. Just be sure that it doesn't charge an annual fee to use it.

Smonet · November 2013

We live in Minneapolis and have a Delta Sky Miles Amex. You earn a mile for every dollar plus bonuses. We earned 50,000 miles for opening the card. These miles dump into our Delta Sky Miles account and we can use them to buy tickets easily. The first year is free, each year after is $100.00, but the card holder and all traveling companions get their bags checked for free, or at least their first bag. So, the annual fee really pays for itself if we take 2 trips (2 bags x $25.00 each way).

However, I don't think Delta is a direct flight between Seattle and Chicago. I'm sure the other airlines have cards similar.

hoffse · November 2013

Does Southwest fly from Seattle to Chicago? I'm in the Nashville/Birmingham/Atlanta area (I fly out of all three) so I'm not sure about what is available in your area, but I've heard that the Southwest credit card is pretty good for flights. My MOH was able to fly from Boston to Birmingham a couple times during the year before my wedding to visit, and she always flew for free because of points.

I thought about getting this card for domestic flights, but H and I tend to fly domestically for business which is reimbursed anyway. When flying for personal trips, we tend to go international, and the international flights deals offered through the Southwest card aren't as good. But if I were flying domestically a lot on my own dime, I would certainly look into it.

From what I know about airmiles (and I will admit, I don't know much about this because we don't fly frequently enough for it to be worthwhile for us), the best trick is to be brand-loyal. Find a carrier you plan to use often, and then do a rewards program for that carrier. Then your points accrue more efficiently.

Also consider a good cash-back card. Typically redeeming points for miles is less efficient than just redeeming points for cash... and then you can use the cash to buy the flights normally.

saverchic · November 2013

Thanks for all of your ideas! Southwest does fly to Midway, but that's about an hour away from where our family is (northern suburbs). I like the idea of not having to deal with baggage fees, and I'm going to be traveling by myself with two toddlers, so I think we'll be okay as far as getting seats together goes. Definitely something to ponder! Thanks again for your advice.

Best deal for earning airline miles?

Re: Best deal for earning airline miles?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards