Mileage cards
 

So I just applied for and got an airline mileage amex card, but then when the thing arrived i already had a $85 bill on there for a yearly fee. Are these things worth it? Anyone ever had one and thought they were grand or a waste of time or ? I don't like credit cards too much in general, but a free plane ticket a year or so seemed like a decent deal. what do y'all think?

I gladly will pay the $85 fee for the total amount of awards I get out of my cards.

2 business class round trip tickets to NYC > Tel Aviv, Israel = $4,500 value

1 round trip business class ticket to NYC > Manila, Philippines > New Delhi > London > NYC = $10,000

still have at least 3-4 worldwide round trip ticket business class awards, plus we get upgraded to business class all the time on LA > NYC and other flights.

It's really about what you want or expect from the awards program.

How often do you want to go where Delta flies (that's the only major carrier I know of with a deal with Amex - could be wrong though)? If you're only interested in domestic flights, there's no real wholes since their merger with Northwest. But if you want to go international, there will be a lot of places you just can't get to, even on partner airlines. The Carribbean, for instance, is dominated by Continental and American.

You should also see who those miles work, since they're probably not as simple as you may think.

I have an ordinary, old fashioned AmEx Gold Card -with an $85 fee- that gives points in what they call Membership Rewards. You can exchange the AmEx rewards points for points on several different airlines, although the only time I've done that was on Continental. I hate to fly, and only do it under duress or emergency, so airline miles/points aren't worth much to me. They also have several hotel partners,:thumbsup: which I use regularly. Ive stayed in Hilton family hotels, Westins, and Best Westerns with AmEx points. I've bought electronics (including a MacBook laptop) and purchased Amtrak tickets, and had restaurant gift cards, all with AmEx reward points. And they don't expire.:)

American Express also has great customer service. When I lost my card in Sofia, Bulgaria, I had a replacement the next day.:thumbsup:

I always pay as agreed, and they always hold up their end of the bargain. But from what I've heard, you don't want to get on the wrong side of them.

Lindy

we've got a usair visa card which we use for everything and pay off monthly. the miles keep racking up and we do plan on a trip to hawaii when aunt phil retires. oh, by the way, there is no yearly fee...

Good question because personally, I hate it when they do that and I think most people do as well. (sorry, but it's true...) I think the reason is because we like to buy but don't like to pay if you know what I mean. By that time I get to the register, I don't want to take ten minutes to fill out an application for ANOTHER credit card, it just extends the painful paying process.

I got the US Air card. But the "free" round trip I got for signing up had so many restrictions that I've never actually been able to use it.

I should just cancel the card. I use another card that gives me points. I cash in the points for actual money. I like that better.

I have no annual fee on ANY card and I always pay them off in full. Last time I cashed in my points, I got about $1500. Which is nice.