WalletHub, Financial Company
@WalletHub
Yes, airline miles are worth it. Whether you earn airline miles through an airline’s frequent flyer program or from a credit card with miles, you’re earning something of value in return for money you would be spending anyway. The miles you earn can then be redeemed for free flights and flight upgrades, saving you money on future purchases.
Reasons Why Airline Miles Are Worth It
- Airline mile are worth an average of 1 cent per mile. The value varies based on the airline or credit card rewards program as well as how the miles are redeemed.
- Frequent flyer programs affiliated with major airlines are free to join. Once you sign up, you just have to enter your membership number each time you book a flight to get your miles.
- Airline credit cards and general travel rewards credit cards help you earn miles much faster. You can earn miles on tons of different purchases, and many cards also have signup bonuses.
- You can redeem miles for free flights and flight upgrades. That’s true whether you’re earning miles from a frequent flyer program or a rewards credit card. Credit card miles can also be redeemed for other travel-related purchases, like hotel stays and car rentals, in most cases.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of an Airline Miles Credit Card
The best airline and travel credit cards often have annual fees, so you’ll have to weigh the value of the miles you’d earn against the cost of the card to determine if the airline miles are worth it. You can also choose a credit card with a $0 annual fee, but you may not earn as many miles.
If you’re usually loyal to one airline, it makes sense to get a credit card for that specific airline. However, if you instead bounce around and book flights on whichever airline has the best and cheapest route, you should get a general travel rewards credit card that’s not affiliated with just one airline.
2023's Best Airline Credit Cards
Compared CardsPeople also ask
What is the best airline rewards program?
United MileagePlus is the best airline rewards program, according to WalletHub’s latest Frequent Flyer Report. And it doesn’t matter whether you travel a lot, a little or somewhere in between because MileagePlus is the top choice across the board. This is largely due to the fact that MileagePlus miles don’t expire because of account inactivity, in addition to the program’s tens of transfer partners and its lack of blackout dates for flights booked with miles.
But...
read full answerAre airline credit cards worth it?
Yes, airline credit cards are worth it if you travel frequently with a certain airline. You’ll often get extra rewards for buying your tickets from a specific airline and may receive special perks like early boarding or free checked bags. You can also get general travel cards that aren’t partnered with any specific airline. Those cards often provide more versatility and better overall value than airline-branded cards. Let’s look at some examples of both types.
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read full answerWhat are the easiest airline credit cards to get approved for?
One of the easiest airline credit cards to get is the Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card, which accepts people with bad credit. This card has a $0 annual fee and offers 1 - 3% cash back. More specifically, you will earn 3% cash back in a category of your choice, 2% back at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 spent quarterly in the 3% and 2% categories combined), and 1% back on all other purchases.
Another easy-to-get credit card with good travel rewards is the Capital One Quicksilver Secured Cash Rewards Credit Card because you can get approved even if your credit is bad. The Capital One Quicksilver Secured rewards cardholders with 5% cash back on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, as well as 1.5% cash back on all other purchases and comes with a $0 annual fee.
Easiest Airline Credit Cards...
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