When To Stick With Cash Back Cards

by Credit Card Wisdom on June 19, 2013

There are some well known travel writers who like to proclaim that points and miles are a big scam. Their evidence is based on the fact that many travelers cannot get the award flights that they want, at the mileage levels they were promised. And when they do, airlines impose enough surcharges and fees that the trip is hardly free.

As someone who has enjoyed over a hundred thousand dollars worth of award travel, I vehemently disagree that these programs are scams. But at the same time, I recognize that earning points and miles is not the best strategy for all reward cards users. For some credit card users, it can make more sense to earn cash back, or some type of loyalty points or miles with a fixed value. [click to continue…]

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Understanding The Terms Of Reward Travel

June 12, 2013

One of the challenges of earning travel rewards is navigating the complex world of airline terminology. Without understanding a few terms, it can be impossible to decode airline web sites as well as articles about how to book travel. To get you started, here is a brief glossary of some of the most misunderstood terms: [...]

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The Case For Business Class

June 5, 2013

When all other factors are equal, it is easy to choose business class over coach. But unless a third party is paying for our tickets, there are many things that travelers must consider before booking a business class ticket. For a long time, I was opposed to business class tickets. According to my reasoning, I [...]

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It Almost Never Pays To Transfer Miles

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Airlines and hotels all offer to transfer miles between account holders, but usually at a cost of several cents per mile or point. In fact, the cost of these transfers usually exceeds the value of the points or miles in the first place. But what many travelers don’t realize is that in most cases, these [...]

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Maximizing American Express Membership Rewards Points

May 22, 2013

Long before Chase offered its innovative Ultimate Rewards program, American Express cards featured its Membership Rewards program. And while these points are incredibly flexible, it is up to cardholders to extract the most possible value from their hard earned points. Here is how I do it: First, I avoid the “Pay With Points” option. This [...]

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Making The Points You Already Have More Valuable, Retroactively

May 15, 2013

Bank operated reward systems are not as complicated as the airline’s frequent flier programs, but they do have their nuances. It is a poorly understood reality that most of these programs have several different reward options, depending on which credit cards the customer holds. Some cardholders may only be able to redeem their points for [...]

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How I Book Awards

May 8, 2013

When people first start collecting miles, they often have a goal in mind for what they want to use them for. Once they reach that goal, they feel like they have accomplished something and are ready to book their award flight. In reality, they are perhaps only half way to their goal. In fact, the [...]

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Credit Cards From Online Travel Agencies

May 1, 2013

I have never been a big fan of online travel agencies. For my money, I would prefer to book my air directly with the airline, and my hotels directly from the hotel chain, and so forth. But there is no denying the convenience of using one of the major online travel agencies, especially when you [...]

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Planning a Big Trip

April 24, 2013

If I were to teach a college level class in credit card rewards and award travel planning, the final exam would be the planning of a big trip. By big, I mean more than just a long weekend to a domestic location. No, a big trip for me is two weeks or more on another [...]

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