In my conversation last week with the gang at Internet Brands, we got to discussing the best cards for readers these days to fly to far off lands free or as close to free as possible.
As I rattled off in my aging and decaying brain the offers from the other banks and co-branded credit cards, it became as clear as a bell that Chase has really taken over the market for airline cards with the Sapphire Preferred card, Ink Bold card and Ink Plus card. In a two month time span with good credit and the ability to meet the minimum monthly spend, you can amass a nice pile of Ultimate Rewards points and because of the transfer options available, transfer them to Korean, United, or British Airways for some nice long haul premium cabin flights.
With the ability to get one personal and one business card per month, month one you can generate 90K points with a Chase Sapphire card and Ink Bold card and follow up a month later with an Ink Plus card for another 50K if your scores are right. I’ll know next month if I can hold both the Chase Sapphire Preferred Visa and Mastercard simultaneously when I apply March 17th. I’ve read conflicting reports. The Chase airline cards have fallen from grace with me for now. I don’t need the Mileage Plus cards as long as the Ultimate Rewards program stays as structured. And I don’t have a Southwest Airlines airport anywhere near me.
It’s time to call on Citi, Barclays, American Express, and all the other card issuers if they are reading.
Chase is indeed running the show here and our travel challenges for long distance flights in either coach or premium cabins, must recommend Chase products for the foreseeable future.
Competition is a good thing here in America. I hope the co-branded cards and other card issuers will start to up their game to compete for the airline miles crowd.
The hotel programs are heading in the wrong direction with devaluations on all fronts. Let’s hope that they too notice the example set by Chase, asking for our business with good solid offers, will filter back into the hotel loyalty programs once again.
Deal of the Day
For today’s Deal of the Day American Airlines AAdvantage® has provided 2500 AAdvantage® miles for the best deals, fares, promotions, anything related to American Airlines, their oneworld partners or AAdvantage® partners. Add it to the comments section of this post or this afternoon’s Deal of the Day post by 11:59PM ET (with your first name, last initial, and home airport) to be eligible to win.
