In this blog post I will explain the benefits of using airline miles and credit card points programs to save on Travel.
Traveling can be an exciting experience, but it can also be expensive. Luckily, there are several ways to save money on travel, one of which is by using airline miles and credit card points. In this blog post, I share my favorite credit card programs available for travel rewards.
- American Airlines AAdvantage Program. American Airlines offers the AAdvantage program, which allows you to earn miles when you fly with American Airlines or their partners. You can also earn miles by using the American Airlines credit card. Here are some of the benefits of the AAdvantage program:
- Earn miles on every flight you take with American Airlines or their partners
- Redeem miles for flights, car rentals, hotels, and more
- No blackout dates for award flights
- Elite status benefits, such as priority boarding and free checked bags
- $99 domestic companion certificate after spending $20,000 on the card in a membership year
- United MileagePlus Program: United Airlines offers the MileagePlus program, which allows you to earn miles when you fly with United Airlines or their partners. You can also earn miles by using the United credit card. Here are some of the benefits of the MileagePlus program:
- Earn miles on every flight you take with United Airlines or their partners
- Redeem miles for flights, car rentals, hotels, and more
- No blackout dates for award flights
- Elite status benefits, such as priority boarding and free checked bags
- Premier Qualifying Miles (PQM) earned on United flights can help you reach elite status faster
3. Chase Sapphire Preferred: Here is a list of credit card benefits of the Chase Sapphire Preferred:
- 100,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
- Earn 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants worldwide
- Earn 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases
- Points are worth 25% more when you redeem for travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Transfer points to leading frequent travel programs at a 1:1 ratio
- Get 1:1 point transfer to many frequent travel programs like Southwest Airlines, United, Marriott, Hyatt, and more
- No foreign transaction fees
- Primary rental car insurance coverage
- Trip cancellation/interruption insurance
- Travel accident insurance
- Extended warranty protection
- Purchase protection
- Annual fee: $95 annual fee.
Note that the benefits may be subject to change, and other terms and conditions may apply. It is always best to review the latest terms and conditions provided by the credit card issuer before applying for a card.
4. American Express Hilton Aspire: The American Express Hilton Aspire is a premium travel rewards credit card that allows you to earn points on all your purchases. You can redeem these points for stays at Hilton hotels and resorts, as well as flights, car rentals, and more. Here are some of the benefits of the American Express Hilton Aspire:
- Welcome bonus: Earn 150,000 Hilton Honors points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
- Hilton Honors Diamond status: Cardholders automatically receive Hilton Honors Diamond status, which includes benefits like room upgrades, free breakfast, and late checkout.
- Weekend night rewards: Receive one weekend night reward each year after renewal, which can be used at nearly any Hilton property worldwide.
- Annual resort credit: Receive up to $250 in statement credits each year for eligible purchases at participating Hilton resorts.
- Airline fee credit: Receive up to $250 in statement credits each year for incidental fees charged by one qualifying airline of your choice.
- Priority Pass Select membership: Receive complimentary access to over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide for you and up to two guests.
- ShopRunner membership: Receive a complimentary ShopRunner membership, which includes free two-day shipping and returns at over 100 online retailers.
- Global Entry or TSA PreCheck fee credit: Receive a statement credit of up to $100 every four years for the application fee for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck.
- No foreign transaction fees: Cardholders can use their card abroad without incurring any foreign transaction fees.
- Purchase protection: The card comes with purchase protection, which can help protect eligible purchases against accidental damage or theft.
- Car rental loss and damage insurance: Receive secondary coverage for rental cars when you use your card to pay for the rental.
- Baggage insurance plan: Receive coverage for lost, stolen, or damaged baggage when you use your card to purchase your ticket.
- Extended warranty: Receive up to one extra year of coverage on eligible purchases with a manufacturer’s warranty of five years or less.
- As you can see, the American Express Hilton Aspire credit card offers a wide range of benefits that can make it an excellent choice for frequent travelers who frequently stay at Hilton properties. With benefits like Hilton Honors Diamond status, weekend night rewards, and annual resort credits, the card can quickly pay for itself. Additionally, the card’s other perks, such as Priority Pass Select membership and purchase protection, can be valuable in a variety of situations.
- Overall, the American Express Hilton Aspire credit card is an excellent choice for travelers who frequent Hilton properties and want to enjoy premium benefits and perks. While the annual fee is high, the card’s benefits can make it a worthwhile investment.
- Annual fee: $450
5. Capital Venture Card: Here are some of the benefits of the Capital One Venture credit card:
- Earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day.
- Miles don’t expire for the life of the account and there’s no limit to how many you can earn.
- Enjoy flexible redemption options, including travel, statement credits, gift cards, and more.
- Get a one-time bonus of 60,000 miles (equivalent to $600 in travel) when you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first 3 months of opening the account.
- No foreign transaction fees, making it a great card to use when traveling abroad.
- Receive up to $100 in statement credits for Global Entry or TSA Pre✓® application fees.
- Auto rental collision damage waiver coverage and travel accident insurance are included.
- 24/7 personalized concierge service available to assist with travel planning, dining reservations, and more.
- Zero liability protection means you won’t be held responsible for unauthorized purchases on your card.
- Access to exclusive cardholder experiences and benefits, such as pre-sale tickets to popular events and experiences.
- Annual fee: $95
6. United Airlines Quest Card: Here are some of the benefits of the United Airlines Quest Card:
- Earn up to 80,000 bonus miles: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, earn an additional 20,000 bonus miles after you spend $10,000 in total purchases within 6 months of account opening.
- 3 miles per $1 spent on United purchases: Earn 3 miles per $1 spent on United purchases including tickets, seat upgrades, in-flight purchases, and more.
- 2 miles per $1 spent on dining and streaming services: Earn 2 miles per $1 spent on dining at restaurants, and on select streaming services.
- 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases: Earn 1 mile per $1 spent on all other purchases with your card.
- Up to $125 credit for United purchases: Get up to $125 in statement credits each anniversary year for eligible United purchases, including seat upgrades, baggage fees, in-flight food and beverages, and more.
- Free checked bag: Enjoy your first checked bag for free on United flights (up to $140 value per round-trip) when you use your card to purchase your ticket.
- Priority boarding: Get priority boarding on United flights so you can settle in sooner and enjoy your flight.
- 25% back on in-flight purchases: Receive 25% back on purchases of food, beverages, and Wi-Fi onboard United-operated flights when you pay with your card.
- No foreign transaction fees: Make purchases abroad without any foreign transaction fees.
- $0 intro annual fee: There is no annual fee for the first year. After that, the annual fee is $250.
Please note that these benefits may be subject to change, so be sure to check the official United Airlines Quest Card website for the most up-to-date information.
These are just my favorite airline mileage programs and my favorite credit cards. There are, of course several other options on the market. But my general stance on credit cards is to only use the ones that provide travel points or cash back and make sure that the balance is paid in full each month to avoid the very high interest rate charged.
Thank You For Reading!
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