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Which awards credit card??????

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  • Which awards credit card??????

    I'm thinking about doing a temporary switch to a different awards card. I like to use my awards for travel. Currently I have more Southwest points than I will need for the next year or two and really don't see the benefit of adding anymore at this time.

    I'm contemplating a Marriott card - got an offer for 50,000 bonus points + 1 night stay and 15 credits towards Elite Membership. We do stay at Marriott properties about 4-6 times per year for overnights or long weekends.

    Also thinking about just going back to Discover - accuring the cash back and paying for a all or part of a Disney cruise in the future.

    Anyone have thought about rewards card they are happy with or unhappy with?

  • #2
    I've had the Marriott rewards card for about 10 years and hardly ever paid to stay in a Marriott since I would rack up tons of points. They give you a bonus bucks certificate for $100 every year. I usually sell it but it does come in handy if you have to pay for a stay. It's restricted though but seems to be valuable if you happen to be doing a stay within before the expiration date.

    MR also has lots of promotions but it's almost a full time job keeping up with them. That's where Flyertalk.com comes in handy.
    I cancelled my card for a few years. Planning on getting it again when they send me a 50K offer.

    These days I like Amex Worldpoints better because I can use cash and points and am not restricted to just Marriotts.

    I currently have an American Advantage card. Got 100K miles as a signup bonus I'm already cashing in those miles for 2 tickets in Sept.

    I also have the RCI Elite rewards card. I'm not really crazy about it and will probably replace it. It's restricted to redeeming Wyndhams and their budget motels. I wish you could redeem it for timeshare stays. You'd think they'd do something like this with it. Half the time I end up cashing it in for gas cards.

    Before you sign up for a rewards credit card, I think it's worth an hour or two of your time to hang out on flyertalk and look for sign up links. They keep up with the best offers and you'll get the best available points promotion at the time. I got a 30K mailing from AA but on Flyertalk there was a link to a 70K offer and you had to call an 1-800 number. I ended up with two credit cards. One for 30K and one for 70K. Free for first year on both. I'll just cancel the second card next year.

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    • #3
      I have the Marriott black card and like it. Lots of promos, but I figure I just do what I can and use what I need and I try not to go crazy with it. Their customer service reps are always very nice and helpful. I like that their website is very easy to use and redeeming the points is very low hassle. Also they just added travel insurance as a benefit when you buy airfare on the card--I have to look at the exact details.

      I also have a Capital One travel card, which I don't like as much b/c redeeming the points is a pain. This is the step-up card, which gives you more points for each purchase, but then makes it harder to redeem. There are "thresholds" for redeeming, so that if you have XX,XXX points, you can redeem them for a travel purchase of up to $150. Not on a $151 purchase, though! And of course using them for an $80 redemption is a waste of points. A total, total pain in the neck. They do have good customer service, though.

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      • #4
        I like having Amex membership rewards gold plus. I also have a United and Delta and a US Air some place just so we can keep our FF points updated. Out of all the Amex is my favorite and Delta gets me free 1 luggage PP up to 9 guests
        Timeshareforums Shirts and Mugs on sale now! http://www.cafepress.com/ts4ms

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        • #5
          Costco AMEX. I end up getting a free membership at year end.

          JetBlue Amex. FWIW JetBlue or B6 on FT is my card of choice. I rack up as many points as possible. For the moment JetBlue flies out of all the major NY Airports and takes me to all of my current destinations. 1st bag of luggage is always free.

          Applied for the Marriott signature card. Had the silver for a few years. I have slowly been accumulating points. Use the Visa since some merchants don't always take the AMEX.

          Your mileage may vary. But this works for me.
          Flying at MACH4 +

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          • #6
            I have a Gold AMEX that allows me to transfer points to AA and DL. DL occasionally bonus miles with a transfer and I wait for that.

            Others have recommended Capital One Venture as the best for Airline Miles but I just have a regular one for Overseas Trips since they do not charge a FOREX fee like most others.

            I plan on getting a AMEX Platinum when my Memberships expire to the DL Sky Club and AA Admirals Club since the card offers free entry to the Clubs. It does has a fee of $450/year but since that is almost twice what I pay for memberships, I will actually save money.

            Cheers

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            • #7
              I like the Starwood SPG Amex. You can transfer to several airlines. If you transfer 20,000 points, you get 5000 bonus miles. Also, the amount of points needed to stay in a hotel are reasonable, especially when used outside the US.
              Pat H

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              • #8
                Originally posted by wackymother
                I also have a Capital One travel card, which I don't like as much b/c redeeming the points is a pain. This is the step-up card, which gives you more points for each purchase, but then makes it harder to redeem. There are "thresholds" for redeeming, so that if you have XX,XXX points, you can redeem them for a travel purchase of up to $150. Not on a $151 purchase, though! And of course using them for an $80 redemption is a waste of points. A total, total pain in the neck. They do have good customer service, though.
                The Capital One Venture card doesn't have threshholds for redemption - you can redeem any amount, any time up to 90 days after the travel-related purchase.

                Last year I upgraded my regular CapOne (which I agree, was a pain) to the Venture, and I like it 100x better.

                It earns 2 miles for every dollar spent, and I sometimes redeem for maintenance fees.

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                • #9
                  I have a free Hilton Honors Amex. Never compared other cards, but since we charge everything and anything we can, we have accrued lots of points and if you spend $20K on the card, they give you gold status. It's certainly nice when you get your upgrade and your admission to the concierge lounge. We loved staying on the concierge floor in Paris.

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