Travel (Air) Cards

[CramEiko]

Hi all,

What I'm looking for now is "The Best" air travel card/s out on the market today in maybe 4 possible catigories.... 

I have a fondness for American Airlines (AA) since I live in the area of Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) - a major hub for AA

1: Domestic Flights

2: International Flights

3: Business Domestic Flights

4: Business International Flights

Thanks!

[coldfusion]

What do you find lacking with your existing Citibank AA card, either in total or specific to each of the categories you list?

(makes gentle reminder about detailed discussion of business cards in this section of the forum)

[CreditCuriosity]

Subjective.  A can of worns you have opened.  Some will say pure cash back while other will give travel cards or airline specific cards.  Really what you find best.  Want a big sign-on bonus or don't care about that etc?

[CramEiko]

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@CreditCuriosity wrote:

Subjective.  A can of worns you have opened.  Some will say pure cash back while other will give travel cards or airline specific cards.  Really what you find best.  Want a big sign-on bonus or don't care about that etc?

---

So true...... but I'd like to narrow it down to Airline Miles. Doesn't have to be specific to a Brand (AA, Delta...) But like Chase or American Express have cards that deal with air travel. Are they a better value to air travel even if I choose to use only fly AA?

I know cash back may or may not be better in some cases. I was thinking about the 4 categories only though. i didn't realize that my AA card (recently axed) helped with that atrocious $30 first bag fee. And now I want it back. Ha Ha.....  **I had been saving my AA miles to fly International as they give the best value there.. Thankfully all the AA miles I got are saved in my AA account separate from Citi or Barclay AA cards.

[CramEiko]

@coldfusion wrote:

What do you find lacking with your existing Citibank AA card, either in total or specific to each of the categories you list?

(makes gentle reminder about detailed discussion of business cards in this section of the forum)

---

I don't want to get into any specifics whether it's business or non-business. I was more interested in the "rewards". Perhaps just Bank Card ideas so that I could do my own due diligence to find the value. Maybe I'm missing out on a credit card I overlooked?

**edited to add quote**

[coldfusion]

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@CramEiko wrote:

@coldfusion wrote:

What do you find lacking with your existing Citibank AA card, either in total or specific to each of the categories you list?

(makes gentle reminder about detailed discussion of business cards in this section of the forum)

---

I don't want to get into any specifics whether it's business or non-business. I was more interested in the "rewards". Perhaps just Bank Card ideas so that I could do my own due diligence to find the value. Maybe I'm missing out on a credit card I overlooked?

**edited to add quote**

---

The thing with AA is that AFAIK there currently isn't a direct path to convert from UR/TYP/MR points to AA miles like for example MR to Delta or UR to United.  You'd have to go through an intermediate step like convert UR to Marriott points then convert the Marriott points to AA miles, and it isn't unusual to take a net loss in value with the conversion.   You could start as an option by looking at AA's travel partners and both their earning and conversion rates to see if one of their co-branded cards, like a Chase Marriott card, would work for you from usage, earning, and conversion perspectives. 

[BronzeTrader]

I would not say this openes up a can of worms.  But this is like an open ended question.  You need to decide your framework.

In general, for airline, most the seasoned people play partner miles/point game.  You choices are endless,  UR, MR, TY etc.  It takes more time and savviness.  But it is fun too.

On the cash front, AmEx Personal Platinum card earns 5x on airfares.  Also a lot of travel portals.

As for AA, other than all those AA cards from Citi and Barclay, you can use the WF BILT card.  It earns 3x on dining and travel.  It is about the only card that can transfer directly to American.

[wasCB14]

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@CramEiko wrote:

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@CreditCuriosity wrote:

Subjective.  A can of worns you have opened.  Some will say pure cash back while other will give travel cards or airline specific cards.  Really what you find best.  Want a big sign-on bonus or don't care about that etc?

---

So true...... but I'd like to narrow it down to Airline Miles. Doesn't have to be specific to a Brand (AA, Delta...) But like Chase or American Express have cards that deal with air travel. Are they a better value to air travel even if I choose to use only fly AA?

I know cash back may or may not be better in some cases. I was thinking about the 4 categories only though. i didn't realize that my AA card (recently axed) helped with that atrocious $30 first bag fee. And now I want it back. Ha Ha.....  **I had been saving my AA miles to fly International as they give the best value there.. Thankfully all the AA miles I got are saved in my AA account separate from Citi or Barclay AA cards.

---

Yeah, "bag fee inflation" has made a lot of the ~$100 AF cards keepers even for infrequent flyers.

After many negative changes to Citi's AA and TY cards, I don't see a compelling case for them to be the core of one's lineup. If you lack sufficient status for a free checked bag, it sounds like you don't fly a lot anyway.

Maybe just get/keep a ~$100 AF AA card for the free checked bag, and do a little SUB chasing now and then?

[BronzeTrader]

If you really into AA, JetBlue cards are the backdoor cards for AA free bags etc.  The JetBlue+ card earns 2x on dining and grocery.  Also discount on flight.  You can work your way into AA free bag etc.  JetBlue cards are better cards than AA cards.