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Started By
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What is the best credit card in regards to flight points?
Posted on 7/18/15 at 3:36 pm
Posted on 7/18/15 at 3:36 pm
I'm planning a trip to Hawaii in the next year (june), and I'm wanting to lower the costs of the flights by using credit card points.... any ideas of which card has the most to offer. (Looking at united, delta, or American Airlines as a possible airline)
4
Posted on 7/18/15 at 3:37 pm to Pmurda3
Where you flying from?
Posted on 7/18/15 at 3:44 pm to Dodd
It should be louisiana (most likely new orleans)
Posted on 7/18/15 at 4:12 pm to Pmurda3
I'm interested in this as well. Maybe we can knock two birds out with one stone? Flying from New Orleans out of Southwest. Or Baton Rouge or New Orleans if American Airlines.
I'm an A-List Preferred Customer (currently with 207,000 points) with Southwest (almost Companion Status for this year). About to change companies and my travel will take me to:
Abilene, Texas
Wichita Falls, Texas
San Angelo, Texas
All 3 cities are served by American Airlines and/or American Eagle.
I can get to Abilene from Odessa or Dallas via Southwest. Looks to be about a 2 hour drive either way. Or I can grab a flight on American Airlines to here.
I can get to Wichita Falls from Dallas via Southwest. Only about 1 hour and 15 minutes away. Or I can grab a flight on American Airlines to here.
And lastly, I can get to San Angelo, Texas from Odessa via Southwest. About 2 hours away. Or I can grab a flight on American Airlines to here.
Would you suck it up, drive a little distance and just stick with Southwest? Or look to change based upon an aggressive credit card offer for hotels and/or American Airlines?
FWIW, I am a Hilton Diamond Member. Currently have about 500K points with them. Would like to make a gradual switch to Starwood.
I'm an A-List Preferred Customer (currently with 207,000 points) with Southwest (almost Companion Status for this year). About to change companies and my travel will take me to:
Abilene, Texas
Wichita Falls, Texas
San Angelo, Texas
All 3 cities are served by American Airlines and/or American Eagle.
I can get to Abilene from Odessa or Dallas via Southwest. Looks to be about a 2 hour drive either way. Or I can grab a flight on American Airlines to here.
I can get to Wichita Falls from Dallas via Southwest. Only about 1 hour and 15 minutes away. Or I can grab a flight on American Airlines to here.
And lastly, I can get to San Angelo, Texas from Odessa via Southwest. About 2 hours away. Or I can grab a flight on American Airlines to here.
Would you suck it up, drive a little distance and just stick with Southwest? Or look to change based upon an aggressive credit card offer for hotels and/or American Airlines?
FWIW, I am a Hilton Diamond Member. Currently have about 500K points with them. Would like to make a gradual switch to Starwood.
This post was edited on 7/18/15 at 4:16 pm
Posted on 7/18/15 at 4:27 pm to Will Cover
The issue with you Will Cover is very personal and sways on convenience.
On Southwest, you can use your points at any time, yet you'll have to drive.
With American, their award space lately has been downright dreadful in many areas, even if their award chart is rather good. While the plane will land where you want it, the odds you'll get the flights you need at the lowest award level may not be good. Before making a decision, I'd check the availability on your routes throughout the calendar, but note it is always subject to change. Often, American will get you one way for 12,500, but the return will be 30,000. This may still be good value for your points, as the airports you speak about may be expensive routes to purchase directly.
With the amount you fly with SW, if driving doesn't bother you, you can probably stick with them out of sheer convenience of redemption if your goal is to make it to those specific towns on points. Of course, the cost of driving is cost of redeeming points, so consider that.
I'd switch to American if a) you start using American as your airline of choice, b) plan to use those points for a more flexible use, ie, you may have free time, but would like to visit a number of destinations and you just take whats available on their chart and not specifically to get you back to Odessa, San Angelo or Wichita Falls. Its up to you what you want out of your points.
I may have missed a important detail, so hopefully that can be cleared up in subsequent posts.
On Southwest, you can use your points at any time, yet you'll have to drive.
With American, their award space lately has been downright dreadful in many areas, even if their award chart is rather good. While the plane will land where you want it, the odds you'll get the flights you need at the lowest award level may not be good. Before making a decision, I'd check the availability on your routes throughout the calendar, but note it is always subject to change. Often, American will get you one way for 12,500, but the return will be 30,000. This may still be good value for your points, as the airports you speak about may be expensive routes to purchase directly.
With the amount you fly with SW, if driving doesn't bother you, you can probably stick with them out of sheer convenience of redemption if your goal is to make it to those specific towns on points. Of course, the cost of driving is cost of redeeming points, so consider that.
I'd switch to American if a) you start using American as your airline of choice, b) plan to use those points for a more flexible use, ie, you may have free time, but would like to visit a number of destinations and you just take whats available on their chart and not specifically to get you back to Odessa, San Angelo or Wichita Falls. Its up to you what you want out of your points.
I may have missed a important detail, so hopefully that can be cleared up in subsequent posts.
This post was edited on 7/18/15 at 4:33 pm
Posted on 7/18/15 at 4:38 pm to Pmurda3
There are a variety of options for Hawaii.
You could get Chase points, transfer to Korean Air and book flights to Hawaii on Delta. You could Chase points (transferred to United or SW) or SW or United points from their CC to book the positioning flight if required.
You could use Chase points and United points to get to Hawaii on Star Alliance and/or use Southwest for positioning.
American points can be used on US Airways/American, Alaska or Hawaiian airlines. You could also use Alaska the whole way I suppose via Seattle from MSY.
The amount of points required/earn rate etc and work vary between all those options and I haven't looked extensively into that redemption to give you the "Best" way to go. A combination of all may be needed, but this is a start. Googling the points currency and "to get to Hawaii" will reveal a ton of blogs on the subject.
You could get Chase points, transfer to Korean Air and book flights to Hawaii on Delta. You could Chase points (transferred to United or SW) or SW or United points from their CC to book the positioning flight if required.
You could use Chase points and United points to get to Hawaii on Star Alliance and/or use Southwest for positioning.
American points can be used on US Airways/American, Alaska or Hawaiian airlines. You could also use Alaska the whole way I suppose via Seattle from MSY.
The amount of points required/earn rate etc and work vary between all those options and I haven't looked extensively into that redemption to give you the "Best" way to go. A combination of all may be needed, but this is a start. Googling the points currency and "to get to Hawaii" will reveal a ton of blogs on the subject.
This post was edited on 7/18/15 at 4:44 pm
Posted on 7/18/15 at 6:13 pm to Teddy Ruxpin
Putting in work 
Posted on 7/18/15 at 6:23 pm to Pmurda3
Honestly, this will be very easy to do. You have many options.
2 round trip tickets are 90k on Delta. You can get those points in less than 2 months.
2 round trip tickets are 90k on Delta. You can get those points in less than 2 months.
This post was edited on 7/18/15 at 6:26 pm
Posted on 7/18/15 at 7:21 pm to LSUAfro
quote:
Putting in work
I have 10 days or so until the TX bar exam. I almost can't help it but word vomit regardless of the form of communication.
Why I put myself through this again voluntarily I'll never know.
Posted on 7/18/15 at 8:36 pm to Teddy Ruxpin
quote:
I have 10 days or so until the TX bar exam. I almost can't help it but word vomit regardless of the form of communication.
Why I put myself through this again voluntarily I'll never know.
Posted on 7/18/15 at 10:17 pm to Joshjrn
The bright side is, if I ever make commercials I get to wear cowboy hats and boots.
Posted on 7/18/15 at 10:23 pm to Teddy Ruxpin
Oh god, please don't do that 
Posted on 7/19/15 at 12:59 am to I Love Bama
quote:
2 round trip tickets are 90k on Delta. You can get those points in less than 2 months.
2 RT will cost you 70k on AA. Get the card with 50,000 points (another if OP is traveling with a wife/gf) and they start with 100,000 miles and get free checked bags and priority boarding. Or if can get the Executive, that one is offering 75,000 sign up.
OP
The issue with AA is you may not see availability for a bit. Sometimes it will be 1-2 months out before you see it, but I have flown in and out of Hawaii to NOLA a whole bunch of times and the most I ever pay RT is 45k, but usually pay 35k.
Early June isn't bad as high season starts late June so there should be availability for you when you're ready to do it. Or you can get my favorite card (until they raise the annual fee) and get the SPG Amex and that way you can transfer the miles to Delta or AA or a few others once you see they have availability. frick United as they are 2:1 with the SPG compared to 1:1 for most other airlines.
This post was edited on 7/19/15 at 1:01 am
Posted on 7/19/15 at 4:59 am to Teddy Ruxpin
quote:
Teddy Ruxpin
Posted on 7/19/15 at 8:23 am to Sho Nuff
Fyi high season starts in May , it's 22.5k or 45k per person during high season, off season which starts in September is 17.5k or 35k per person round trip.
I am planning a wedding /honeymoon for September 2016 in Hawaii, will be flying out of Dallas more than likely though. Since March my fiancé and I have both accumulated 130k miles mainly from AA credit card sign up bonuses.
I am planning a wedding /honeymoon for September 2016 in Hawaii, will be flying out of Dallas more than likely though. Since March my fiancé and I have both accumulated 130k miles mainly from AA credit card sign up bonuses.
Posted on 7/19/15 at 9:03 am to Sho Nuff
Pretty sure the AA card is only a 30k signup bonus at the moment
Posted on 7/19/15 at 10:26 am to Civildawg
What are some things that can be paid for monthly and used to rack up points? Obviously groceries/store bought items. Can other monthly recurring bills be linked to cc's and build up miles?
Posted on 7/19/15 at 10:42 am to Coon
quote:
What are some things that can be paid for monthly and used to rack up points?
All of your utilities, car insurance, groceries, gas, etc...
I pay everything I can with my CC and pay it off every month.
Posted on 7/19/15 at 1:08 pm to Civildawg
quote:
Pretty sure the AA card is only a 30k signup bonus at the moment
The Executive card is at 75k miles for the signup bonus but it does carry a $450 annual fee and a hefty initial spend. However, it also comes with Admirals Club access.
Posted on 7/19/15 at 3:36 pm to VABuckeye
And a $100 Global Entry credit if you're into short lines and stuff, either domestically or coming from abroad. (You know that, other may not).
This post was edited on 7/19/15 at 3:37 pm
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