By ASAP Credit Card - Copyright © 2008
Using
an airline credit card to earn travel rewards? Smart move! But before you start
planning your next big trip, you need to know the limitations of your card.
Unlike other reward programs, airline and frequent flyer miles have many restrictions
you need to look into before cashing-in on rewards. Here are some factors you
should consider when choosing an airline mile credit card:
Limits on Seat Availability
Airlines that
offer frequent flyer programs limit the number of seats on each flight for point
redemption. You will need a sizeable 'lead time' when using your frequent flyer
miles. Lead time is the time between booking your travel arrangements and the
approval or confirmation of the arrangements. International or exotic locations
require a longer lead time than a trip to Boston or Pittsburgh. Regardless of
the destination, its always a good idea to plan as early as possible.
You
won't be limited by seat limitations if you use a generic airline credit card
like the The Miles
Card from Discover® Card, Chase
Flexible Rewards Visa®, or the Citi®
PremierPass® Card. Points earned may be redeemed for flights on any major
US airline.When you redeem your points, your tickets will be purchased through
a travel agency just as you would if you were to buy a seat direct.
Expiration
Dates or Cancellations
Although many offers boast
that miles never expire, accounts can be canceled due to inactivity. If there
is no account activity over three consecutive years, your account is subject to
termination and you will lose all of the miles you have earned. For now, some
carriers are sticking with the three-year rule, but the trend is to lower the
time limit. For example:
- Beginning
January 31, 2007, if you have a frequent flyer card with U.S. Airways you must
earn or redeem miles within a consecutive 18-month period in order to keep your
account active and prevent the forfeiture of your miles.
- Delta
Sky Miles in accounts that have not been touched over the last two years will
expire on December 31, 2006. This is retroactive and will come as a surprise to
anyone who has not updated their mailing address or e-mail with Delta.
So
be sure to read the 'use it or lose it' policy. You'll want to make sure you can
accumulate enough points over a specific period of time before you choose one
of these offers.

Blackout Dates
Many
programs DO NOT incorporate blackout dates. But other airlines will prevent you
from redeeming your miles on specific dates. These normally include peak travel
periods such as Holidays. If you plan on using your frequent flyer miles for next
years big Thanksgiving get together in Houston, you might want to find a card
with no blackout dates.
Annual Limits
Watch
out for caps or limits on the number of points you can earn annually. Some companies
enforce an annual cap, while others allow you to rack up unlimited rewards. Annual
earning limits on airline rewards range from 25,000 to 150,000 points.
Membership
Dues & Annual Fees
The annual fees on airline
specific miles cards can be quite high, up to $120 for a platinum card. After
the initial 0% introductory membership fee, you may be charged $50 - $90 annually
thereafter. Always look for credit cards that offer No Annual Fee.
*
See a complete list of Airline Mile Credit Cards
>
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