While some hotel credit cards offer top tier rewards, many fail to offer all but the savviest of reward program users competitive value. A key problem with hotel credit cards stems from the fact that it often takes a combination of substantial spending and frequent visits to earn reward stays. This issue is extenuated by the fact that once enough rewards are earned, one might need to pass on good hotel bargains just to use the rewards earned with a hotel credit card.

Two Hotel Credit Cards Worth Considering

The Starwood Preferred Guest credit card from American Express is a perennial favorite among frequent travelers. This card starts new members out with a generous sign-up bonus that, depending on the hotel selected, can be worth up to 6 free nights at some of their less expensive properties. However, as one moves up the food chain from Sheraton to Westin or St. Regis hotels, the Starwood points needed for an award stay increase substantially. Consequently, the Starwood hotel card is a good choice for heavy travelers who are familiar with the Starwood rewards system, but not so great an option for consumers who want easy to access rewards. Continue Reading »

While airline credit cards have historically been one of the most popular types of reward credit cards, finding the best airline credit card is not an easy task. Sizable 25,000 to 40,000 mile bonuses and free flights are offered on most cards to lure in new consumers. However, the benefits of these incentives can be short lived given the fact that most airline credit cards charge annual fees. This is not an issue for heavy travelers and high spenders, but should be a concern for casual travelers that tend to fly infrequently or on different airlines.

Recent improvements to certain cards that include features like free checked bags and priority boarding make some cards profitable for casual flyers, but before commiting to an airline credit card, it is important to ask oneself the following questions:

1.)  How often do I fly the same airline? If the answer to this question is regularly, then choosing a credit card offered by the particular airline flied regularly will provide good value. Consumers who live near airline hubs will benefit the most. For example, consumers who live in Atlanta will often find themselves flying Delta. In this instance, getting the Delta Skymiles credit card would help save on baggage fees and boost frequent flyer balances. The same is true for those who live near hubs for other major airlines like United, Continental, and Southwest. All of these airline credit cards offer substantive sign-up bonuses and value adding features like checked bag fee waivers or priority boarding. Continue Reading »

Before a recent trip to the Caribbean, I opted to swap out my Capital One No Hassle Cash Rewards card for the Capital One Venture card. There was a good promotion – 25,000 free miles ($250) after $1,000 of spend – and I needed a good card with no international transaction fees. Less than a day into the trip, my wife misplaced one of our cards. We were quite certain it was not lost, but we wanted to take precautions just in case.

I wavered a bit before calling Capital One customer service. I’d had a poor experience with them in the past, but this was on a lower end card. The primary concern, however, was that we’d lose access to both of our cards if we called the lost/stolen card department. We decided to take a chance.

The Capital One Venture Card Customer Service Experience

The U.S. based Capital One representative I spoke with offered up some bad news initially: both my wife and I shared the same card number, so if we closed one account, we’d lose both and be forced to pay a 3% foreign transaction fee on every purchase we made – a reality that likely would have cost us at least $100, not to mention $60 in rewards. Fortunately, after explaining that we were quite sure the card was misplaced, not lost, he reviewed recent charges with us and, after determining they were all legitimate, offered us the option of keeping the card open. We did. Continue Reading »

When Chase revamped the Continental OnePass Plus and United MileagePlus Explorer cards and added a priority boarding feature, I speculated that other airline credit cards would quickly follow suit. Less than a week later, the American Express Gold Delta SkyMiles credit card was updated with a Priority Boarding feature. This should really come as no surprise as Chase and American Express have been locked in a battle for supremacy in the rewards card sphere for the past year, with Chase on the offensive and American Express trying to defend their turf.

The Benefits of Priority Boarding

Priority boarding is a bit more difficult to value than other perks these cards offer such as free checked bags and bonus miles. Nevertheless, this is an extremely valuable feature that can vastly enhance the flying experience. Essentially, as the verbiage priority boarding implies, this feature allows card-holder’s to board in advance of most other travelers. This means no fighting for overhead space, no standing in the plane’s aisle nervously watching storage spaces disappear, and more time to sit and relax before takeoff in lieu of standing in line outside the gate holding luggage. Continue Reading »

United frequent fliers concerned about how the Continental merger will impact the United credit card can breathe a sigh of relief. Chase revamped, renamed, and relaunched a vastly improved version of United’s Visa – the MileagePlus Explorer Card – and loaded it with benefits few other airline credit cards possess.

Noteworthy United MileagePlus Explorer Perks

The new United MileagePlus Explorer card is exponentially better than its predecessor. Unlike the old card, the MileagePlus Explorer offers a waiver on bag check fees for all cardmembers and one companion, a benefit worth up to $100 per round trip flight. This perk alone more than offsets the cost of membership for any couple who flies United once a year.

A difficult to quantify, but nevertheless valuable feature that is unique to the new United credit card is priority boarding. Regardless of frequent flier status, cardmembers and companions can board immediately after first-class and elite travelers. This convenience allows cardmembers early access to overhead space, eliminating the stress and frustration that many face while struggling to find a place to store luggage. Continue Reading »

Frequent travelers can save money by using credit cards with airline rewards programs that allow you to earn free or discounted flights. But if you aren’t careful, your airline credit card can end up costing you more than you get back. Here are 4 tips for choosing an airline credit card.

Only get a card from a specific airline if you fly on it multiple times a year

Many airlines offer their own credit cards with travel rewards specific to their airline. This means you can only use your rewards to fly on their airline. This can be great if you are a road warrior or you live near an airline’s hub. Ultimately, however, the only time it makes sense to get an airline-specific rewards credit card is if you fly that particular airline at least once, if not twice every year.

Watch out for high interest rates and annual fees

Many airline reward credit cards have high interest rates which are used to help them fund the airline miles they give away through the rewards program. If you are unable to pay off your credit card balance in full every month, the amount you pay in interest will probably be more than the rewards you earn from the airline. Continue Reading »

In total, Capital One offers five No Hassle Miles airline rewards credit cards. Two of the no hassle miles cards are targeted to regular consumers.  A third card is for “Proffessionals”.  The remaining two are for businesses.

First, we’ll begin with the consumer offers.  Essentially, the primary difference between these cards is the credit quality of the consumer.  Consumers with excellent credit can get a lower APR than those whose credit Capital One deems to be good.  However, the no hassle rewards offer is the same for both cards.  First, the cards offer 1.25 miles for every dollar spent, which allows you to earn miles 25% faster than with most standard airline rewards credit cards.  Second, the card allows you to use your miles on most airlines with no blackout dates and no seat restrictions.  Finally, both no hassle cards have no expiration dates on the miles you earn.  This is an important plus, as many frequent flyers have seen thousands of miles evaporate via the short term life of miles with many airlines. 

Businesses, like consumers, have more than one No Hassle Miles option.  There are, however, two distinctions.  The first is in the miles.  With the  Capital One® Business Platinum with No Hassle Miles(SM), one mile is earned for every dollar spent.  With the Capital One® Visa® Business Platinum with Double No Hassle Miles(SM), two miles are earned with every dollar spent.  Besides the mileage differences, the interest rate terms vary between cards, with the standard card offering a substantially lower APR.  However, businesses that pay their balances in full every month can benefit substantially with double miles on every purchase.

Sources:  www.united.com, www.americanairlines.com, www.capitalone.com, www.americanexpress.com