Friday, July 3, 2009

A Simple Guide to Airline Credit Cards

There are many different types of Airline Credit Cards available and which one you choose really should depend on what your personal circumstances are. It's a good idea to do some research before choosing so that you can ensure that you get the best benefits available.

You should also consider that choosing the card is really dependent on which airline you are most likely to use. An airline that only travels to Hawaii is of little use to you, even if the benefits are amazing, if you intend to travel to New York for most of the year. The good news is that there are plenty of cards on the market.

Read on to discover the main difference between an Airline Credit Card and a Bank Credit Card, The different types of Fees and what the main disadvantages are of owning an Airline Credit Card.

Basically when choosing a credit card you have a choice of two types. You can use a card that is specific to one airline or choose a bank card. Using a card that is specific to a certain airline may be the best choice if you plan to travel using a specific route for the majority of the time.

This may be useful for business travel. On the other hand, if you plan to travel to a variety of different places then a bank credit card gives you much more flexibility. The air miles that you collect will be eligible for use on all the major airlines and so you are more likely to get the benefits of traveling.

Another factor to consider when signing up for these types of credit cards is the fees that are attached to them. Typically most cards are standard, platinum or gold and the fees levied or membership charges will be higher for each of them. Therefore it is vital that you research this beforehand. Always consider the hidden costs before signing up.

Owning an Airline Credit Card clearly has its benefits but anyone who uses one need to also be aware of some of the potential disadvantages. Airline credit cards generally tend to have a higher interest rate than the average bank credit card and so you need to be careful with the repayments.

Always pay the balance off at the end of each month to avoid building up an unmanageable amount of debt. Also, be mindful of what you are spending in order to get the air mile points. Some people are known to just spend for the sake of getting the points and this can defeat the point of owning the card in the first place.

If you have an Airline credit card then you will discover there are many benefits. They are accepted everywhere and as you use them you can accumulate air miles points that you can later use to receive discounts on flights.

So if you are a frequent flyer, this type of card is definitely something that you should consider. This is why they are so popular. So if you are planning to get the passport out any time soon and think that you will be spending a lot of time in airports, you need to consider applying for an Airline credit card. The benefits are definitely worthwhile.

Credit Cards and Air Miles

Air mile credit cards give you points or miles with every purchase you make, which you can redeem for traveling related expenses. In most cases, you can use your points or miles to get a free airline ticket to travel to a destination of your choice. Frequent flyers can use those very miles or points to redeem your reward faster.

There are a lot of companies out there that offer air mile cards. You can choose to get one online, through a bank, or even a credit card company. Each one is unique, and offers it's own unique set of features. Before you select your card, you should always look at different companies and compare them as well. Normally, you will get a point or mile for every dollar you spend. You'll also want to look at blackout dates as well, as many companies have decided to drop them and their expiration dates completely.

You will also want to find out what type of purchases you make with your card give you reward miles. Some purchases that you make may not be included in your reward incentives, which is why you'll want to find out what purchases are and aren't included. The bigger purchase items, such as televisions and furniture may have more miles included, which is why you'll want to inquire.

Another area of importance is the interest rate. You should look deeper into the air mile credit card that you are interested in and find out how much the interest rates are and if there are any annual fees to using the card. Although your rewards may sound great, you don't want to pay too much in fees or an annual rate just to reap the benefits.

Even though they have been around for many years, air mile credit cards are very popular for those like to travel. These cards can also help you with rental cars and hotel expenses as well, as long as you use the points you have accumulated by using your card. The get the most out of an air mile credit card, you should use your card on a frequent basis. You can really rack up the points if you purchase everything with your credit card - instead of using cash.

Air mile credit cards are great to have, as long as you don't end up paying an arm and a leg in fees, and the annual rate isn't that high. If you check into what each manufacturer offers, you can normally get a great deal. Also, make sure that find out what other rewards are included with the air mile credit card you get as well - as this can help you to make your decision when you finally decide to get the card.