What credit card do you use?

[TripletDaddy]

We were on a Marriott Visa card before... we earned lots of "free nights" too. Problem was that we weren't redeeming them as fast as were earning them. When Marriott threatened to expire some of the points, I called up... raised a huge stink and eventually convinced them to send me Marriott cash cards that I can use at any Marriott in the future. Those cards are still sitting in my desk... unused (I should check to see if the cards have an expiration date!).

I guess we don't travel as much as the rest of you do, and when we do - we typically stay with friends/family. When I hung up the phone with Marriott on that day, I was so annoyed that I decided then and there to never lock into a rewards brand again. I went to cash... and Costco seems to have the best deal going to that end.

cheers.

This is key. If you arent traveling as much, a hotel or airline card is less effective.

To fusnik's earlier point, the proliferation of cheap flights all over the world make an airline card the lowest on my priority list (although I have UAL and SWA tie-ins with siblings, so that helps me out quite a bit)

[beefytee]

We have a GM Card that we don't use much anymore. We liked the fact that we get 5% towards a car (I think they only do 3% now). But the limit has come down how much you can apply to a purchase. I don't think many are over $1500 now, which isn't that much. We we started, I think the limit was closer to $5000 on most cars.

So we got a Costco Amex now that we use.

[creekster]

I have a UAL CC and my wife has a Starwood CC. we use these for virutally everything we buy. we usually get 2 tickets to europ or hawaii every year and nights in these places. I would not suggest the UAL card to someone just starting, however, as they have added too many restrictions and conditions, but I am in so deep now it keeps me coming back. I like the Starwood card.

[Mormon Red Death]

We used American Airlines Advantage for many years, which was nice for first class travel to Europe and Hawaii on a few occasions. Last year we pushed our primary usage to a Southwest card. It doesn't have the cachet of a Amex Gold or even the AA Advantage, but it generates lots of free travel, mainly in the west. Most of our flights are to Utah, CO, AZ and SoCal, so it works better for us.

Southwest Card is worth 6 free tickets a year.

[fusnik]

LUV offers 6 free tickets per year? Transferrable to family/friends? What u have to do to qualify? I loate flying LUV, but 6 flights? Wowza!

[Mormon Red Death]

LUV offers 6 free tickets per year? Transferrable to family/friends? What u have to do to qualify? I loate flying LUV, but 6 flights? Wowza!

Basically it works like this. Every thousand dollars is 1point and you need 16 points for a free flight. If you travel on Southwest for business once a month like I do I get the flight credits (at least 2) and extra one for staying at partner hotel. Since my monthly travel is around 2k a month I also get an extra two not to mention I have every expense I can being charged to the card and thus I get about 8 points a month. That's 6 flights a year. These are fully transferrable to anyone.

[Coach McGuirk]

JeffLebowski, you really should consider making the switch to Starwood. They truly have the nicest properties around the globe (the ones that offer affinity programs). The St Regis and Luxury Collection are often changing hands between Starwood and Relais Chateau. And since hotels like Mandarin don't do affinity, Starwood is the next best thing.

Four Seasons and Ritz....yawn. Old people hotels, for the most part.

I like Kimpton Boutique stuff, although definitely less traditional.

I also prefer Starwood. Le Meridien is a nice line as well in their portfolio. I also have had great experience with how they treat their higher level SPG members at each hotel.

[ERCougar]

Agreed. If I am going to Cedar City, I don't waste my points since I can get a cheap room.

Just in case you've forgotten, that ship sailed with the last time you stood me up.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Just in case you've forgotten, that ship sailed with the last time you stood me up.

I did NOT stand you up, buddy.

Let's pick a 2010 date for that Pine Creek hike.

[TripletDaddy]

Just in case you've forgotten, that ship sailed with the last time you stood me up.

How interesting that JeffLebowski chose Cedar City as his example of an undesirable, pedestrian hotel destination.

You are taking it rather well despite it being such a scathing commentary. I would be furious, frankly.

[Parrot Head]

We used American Airlines Advantage for many years, which was nice for first class travel to Europe and Hawaii on a few occasions. Last year we pushed our primary usage to a Southwest card. It doesn't have the cachet of a Amex Gold or even the AA Advantage, but it generates lots of free travel, mainly in the west. Most of our flights are to Utah, CO, AZ and SoCal, so it works better for us.

It is also noted the SWA does not fly to within 150 miles of CLT.

[wuapinmon]

I use a Chase WorldMiles Mastercard. It's a mile per $1 card that lets me fly on any airline I want, use any hotel, any rental car....though there are some preferred ones.

Back when we were selling clothing on ebay (2004-2007), I was putting $4k-$6k a month on it, and the miles added up very quickly. Since we don't do that anymore, we've started putting everything on it, but given the lack of fat in our budget, sometimes that can be dangerous, and the balance climbs until I teach an overload and use the extra scratch to pay it down. I've got enough right now for a free ticket, first class, anywhere in the world, or a five-night any-Marriott (including JW) flex pass (any five nights [doesn't have to be consecutive], anywhere I want to stay).

If I were picking one now though, I'd do a big search and investigate which one is closest to ours needs. We used to have an Eddie Bauer MC, and my wife loved that. We rarely had to buy clothes for her with actual cash.

[Moliere]

Point of this thread is that there are a lot of rewards programs and the key is to find the one that fits you.

I have a Delta AMEX however I travel very little for business (used to travel more). We rack up a lot of miles though through normal everyday purchases. But the best thing is the companion ticket. We fly back to see family at least once a year and the companion ticket option saves us more than the annual fee of the credit card.

I used to have a Marriott card but I think I've stayed in one hotel that I personally paid for in the last two years so I decided to cancel it. It pays to have family and friends strung out throughout the good ol' USA since we seem to always have a place to stay when we travel.

[Tim]

Miles program? Rewards program? Is paying the AmEx fee worth it to get the skymiles if one flies 4 to 6 times a year and internationally at least every other year?

I use my SkyMiles Amex.

[pellegrino]

Miles program? Rewards program? Is paying the AmEx fee worth it to get the skymiles if one flies 4 to 6 times a year and internationally at least every other year?

I had a delta skymiles amex for years and we finally cancelled it about a year and a half ago. It would have been worth it if Delta hadn't changed their skymiles program. It used to be that just about every year we'd have enough for two tickets to Europe, be able to redeem them no problem and it worked out great. I'll not take time to explain Delta's program now, but it sucks unless you have gobs and gobs of miles.

I'd get a card that gives you cash back. You'll get enough back in cash to more than pay for airfare and you're not limited to Delta's schedule (or crappy service) and if you need it for something else you can use it for that.