What's the better airline to get frequent flyer miles from?

[Kristie]

My hubby and I are going to be eliminating the rest of our credit card debt and getting one single credit card for emergencies...

we're thinking of getting a card that includes frequent flyer miles so we can accrue those miles and keep them for trips after his retirement from the airlines - as we all know (or most of us) that once you retire, most of your travel benefits disappear (let me know if i'm wrong on that!)...

right now, we're thinking of United but don't really know if that would be more worthwhile than going for america west (we live in phx)...

any ideas on how the other airlines are doing and what frequent flyer miles are more worthwhile to pile up?

Thanks!

[skibum515]

My family has a credit card through the NEA (nat'l educatiors assoc.) that gives us frequent flyer miles good on any airline. I've heard though, that Capital One does the same thing. when you get enough miles (currently 20,000) you can get a ticket on any airline. I think they have blackout dates though while the NEA doesn't. I'm not positive on that though, mebbe something to check out [img]/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[MrSalty]

[quote:33a1feb498]as we all know (or most of us) that once you retire, most of your travel benefits disappear (let me know if i'm wrong on that!)... Thanks![/quote:33a1feb498]

Don't they last forever?? My father just retired last October and other than losing a level of priority (S3A to B) the flight bennies seem to be the same for him and my mother.

Under "Pass Allotments" on TravelNet it shows UNL3 (unlimited) under the SA3B column, and 18/18 under the TO2 (transoceanic) column. Perhaps you have to pay yield fare after a certain point, but even then $115 round trip to Honolulu isn't that bad. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[Kristie]

yeah, i think your right.. we get to keep the S3's priority's but the S2's are what i like to use since they give you a little boost and a closer chance of getting on the planes....

right now - at least from where i'm at, using an S3 or S4 is pretty much out of the question because of the full flights to most destinations...

but that's just me - i have preferences now! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[MrSalty]

I've always wondered about the S2's... Each time I travel they ask me what priority I want to use, S3 or S2. I always say S3 because I thought S2's would cost you $125 or so if you used them without authorization.

Didn't Delta hand out S2's as a reward to good employees? If I have had the option of using S2's this whole time and haven't been... :x That would have made the difference of a couple of occasions.

[Kristie]

nope.. I think S1R's are for the "good employee" pat on the back... they're a higher priority than an S2...

For us Delta employees/spouses - we get 6 S2 priorities a year... all free and clear.. the only thing we have to pay for are the TO priorities (transoceanic) because you have to pay for the govt taxes going into/out of each country...

I definately like the S2's over S3 & S4's anyday.. even though they give unlimited amounts - the only way i ever use them is if i KNOW the flight is free and clear and chock full of seats available - especially considering revenue standby's!!

Still haven't found a credit card that's good for frequent flyer miles though - any additional thoughts? anyone... bueller.. bueller...

[Kathleen]

Hi, all! First time poster here.

With respect to frequent flier miles, Frontier Airlines just started offering a Master Card through Juniper Bank. Tickets on Frontier are only 15,000 for w/in the U.S. and 25,000 to Mexico. No other International locations yet, but seems like they're growing at a pretty healthy clip. You can check it out at www.flyfrontier.com.

Be sure and review the balance transfer charges, though (for any of the cards). I didn't, and transferred a balance to get the miles, and was hit with a charge a wasn't expecting. Ouch. Made me mad, too, because it was totally my fault for being careless.

Kathleen