Travel credit card: the option for frequent flyers
While most airlines today offer incentives of frequent flyers, there is another prevalent option to that, the travel credit card, basically designed to discount airline travels.
There is always a very genuine reason why travel credit cards become so sought-after for avid flyers and travelers. However, with the vast offerings of travel credit card by the banks, which one works better?
One feature of a travel credit card is the air mileage discount you get whenever you buy tickets using the card. It provides a two-fold opportunity. This means that with the use of travel credit cards, you can enjoy two ways of earning a mileage discount.
If you use the travel card to book a flight, you will earn not just the credit towards your trip yet also on hotel room or auto rental. You also have the opportunity to earn mileage credit when buying not flight-related purchases like shopping and meals.
Most credit cards actually also work as a travel credit card, providing points or miles for the purchases with the plastic. Generally, there are four different travel credit cards. You can opt for a card partnered with a specific airline or hotel chain. This is a good option if you travel consistently, using the same airline frequently.
You can also choose among the four common travel credit card brands like the Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard and Visa. Check your bank or other reputable banking firms because they might be issuing their own credit card with travel rewards program. You also have the option to use debit cards which works as travel credit cards.
In generally, it is not easy to determine which travel credit card is the best. So much varies on the personal and individual need. Most people who are yet new to travel card use begin with affinity or co-branded travel cards. They are those purposely linked to the frequent traveler offer of a particular airline.
For instance, the American Airlines has a joint venture with Citibank, which offers Aadvantage mile scheme. Through the American Airlines travel card, the user of the travel credit card earns one Aadvantage mile point for every dollar charged on the travel credit card.
The United Airlines goes for the similar offer and their program is called Mileage Plus First Card. The Delta Airlines also has their American Express Optima mileage frequent flyer travel card. The Northwest Airlines' travel card is WorldPerks Visa.
Nearly all affinity travel cards are Visa or MasterCard, with Delta as the most famous exception.
On the other hand, while these travel cards offer enticements, they also their bane side. They have a heavy annual fee, as high as $125. Among the factors that determine the annual fee include the APR or annual percentage rate and the level of card that you choose.
