We just received an offer for a Blue Sky AMEX that gives you 30,000 bonus points (400$) towards airline tickets, hotels, etc.

The wife and I are planning on starting to take the kids overseas in the next couple of years and I'd like to open a card to get some points to defray some of the costs.

What are the best cards out there right now to accumulate points for airline tickets?

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Posted by Lsut81

Member since Jun 2005

80087 posts

Posted on 7/22/13 at 3:53 pm to Boss

Got an offer from Visa/United Mileage Plus offering 30k miles if you spend 1k in the first 3 months and then 10k miles each year.

No fee for first year then $75 after that. I'm not a big traveler, so I don't know how that stacks up.

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Posted by titmouse

a tree branch above your car

Member since May 2006

6353 posts

Posted on 7/22/13 at 4:08 pm to Boss

In august, starwood rewards AMEX should offer 40,000 spg points for opening a card. That would equate to 45,000 airline miles, but if you use it for sheraton hotels the points are much more valuable. You can also apply at the same time for the business card, yielding a total of 80,000 spg points which can be converted to 95,000 miles.

80,000 points pretty much would allow to book 6-8 nights at even the best hotels oversees ($300-400 per night)

first year fee waived, after that its 300 bucks or so.

This post was edited on 7/22/13 at 4:10 pm

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Posted by wheelr

Member since Jul 2012

5147 posts

Posted on 7/22/13 at 5:11 pm to Lsut81

quote:
No fee for first year then $75 after that. I'm not a big traveler, so I don't know how that stacks up.

Yearly fee isn't bad considering first checked bags are free with the card. 2 round trips = $100 value.

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Posted by Teddy Ruxpin

Member since Oct 2006

39551 posts

Posted on 7/22/13 at 5:17 pm to Boss

quote:
What are the best cards out there right now to accumulate points for airline tickets?

I recommend, whatever you do, stick to one program and abuse the shite out of it before moving to another, be it Amex's MR program or Chase's UR program.

I'm abusing Chase's right now, so that's where my knowledge is at.

1. Apply for:
Chase Sapphire Preferred - 40k bonus
Chase Freedom - 10k bonus
Chase Ink Plus - 50k bonus

Get: 100,000 UR points + spend points = approx. 110,000 points. Program has 1:1 point transfer to travel partners.

2. Have your wife do the same in her name, doubling this number.

If you choose Amex instead, do the same thing. Learn how many cards you can apply to in a given time frame. Having a lot of CCs isn't bad for your credit, having a lot of applications is what dings the score, but it recovers after 6 months. Don't do this if buying a house soon. Be smart, don't spread your points all over the place or rack up interest charges.

3. ????

4. Profit.