re: Credit Card Rewards and Points Discussion

quote:

---

It’s great the first year you get one of the cards because you get the credit for that current calendar year and then com January get it again before paying the second annual fee.

---

Not true anymore. Based on cardmember year now to avoid that windfall. They're learning.

quote:

---

. If I booked through Singapore I'd pay bag fees right? Any way to avoid these, I don't have status with any airlines. Was planning on paying the fees with my CSR to give me the trip protection

---

Took UA flight booked on Singapore last month. Paid taxes and bag fees with CSR

quote:

---

AmEx is one of the best currencies out there being the only ANA and Aeroplan partner. Virgin Atlantic becomes a great deal too when they run promos like the recent 30% bonus making an RT to Japan on ANA F 93K MR.

---

Almost all of my travel is domestic and I am much more interested in cheapest price than best cpp value.. so for me, it has been hard to beat the UR points to rapid rewards transfer. MR and TYP seem to provide the most value for business class international travel but admittedly I am not very familiar with the programs and what kind of redemptions I could get using the points for domestic travel...

quote:

---

Just earn what you can and when you know your vacation dates and have an idea of where you wanna go just ask here and you will get the assistance you need.

---

Let's say roundtrip flight to San Jose, Costa Rica out of BTR or MSY from May 24-28 (dates not flexible). I'm sitting on a lot of UR, Mileage Plus, and TYP.. and willing to pick up an Amex to use MR if that is the cheapest option.

For Costa Rica, if you have a CP, SW is unbeatable. If you dont, then I'd compare SW prices to 30K RT on UA.

Avios is distance based on a segment basis. So the distance calculation is made every time the plane takes off.

What that means for you is if you fly US to London to India, Avios will charge you for US to London by its distance, then start the calculation again from London to India. It gets worse if its what I think it is, New Orleans to Houston is 1 flight and price, Houston to London is another, London to Delhi is another, for example.

So yes, I'm not too surprised its very high.

Does she have any other point currencies? If not, might as well book it economy the normal way. You can get that flight for less than $1,000. I got it for $800 x 2 a few years ago RT and had $400 in credit card statement credits to bring it to $600 a person.

This is craziness. These avios are going to be pretty much worthless. The only other currency she has is Qatar points but they've got a crazy partner chart too. Might have to look into her flying separately to a gateway city.

Air Iberia uses Avios and doesn't charge as ridiculous YQ for reward tickets.

quote:

---

txtiger79

---

BA's award chart in biz is horrible to begin with. Add to that segment pricing, it's pretty much a no go to India.

If she is ok with flying Econ, flights to India are usually very cheap. Sub 700s from ATL. Biz tix are in the $2.2 - $2.4k range.

If you have MR - its only 55K MR on the same flight through Aeroplan.

It is certainly one of the most direct ways to get to Rome. Other options are Lufthansa, SWISS. Not the biggest fan of any of those business class products because they are mostly all front facing 2-2-2 with little privacy. SWISS may be 1-2-1 depending on the plane but those seats aren't the best in the world either. Not the worst if you are travelling as a couple. All of them are fully lie flat though.

Its a good redemption either way especially if you are flying from IAH as IAH-IST is a pretty long flight. Then you gotta continue on to FCO. I'd do it.

quote:

---

Doesn't really matter for them though, once you doubled up the first time, you aren't gonna get that again. They are essentially new customers from that point forward.

---

I meant people who have kept the card past the first anniversary date.