Frequent flyer credit cards are, in my own opinion, the flashiest of all rewards programs. It sends the message: ‘I’m so dang cool my credit card company flies me places for nothing! Ha! And all your company gave you was a spice grinder and new blender! I scoff at you, peasant!’
Alright, well, maybe not exactly that, but you know what I mean. Frequent flyer cards are the rulers of reward offers, the sultans of specialty cards, the Cadillacs of the credit cards. If you know something better than being handed a vacation for spending with a credit card, please e-mail me and tell me because it seems like a pretty sweet deal from where I’m sitting.
They work very much like other reward offering cards. There is a ratio of dollars spent to frequent flyer miles acquired, which is different for nearly every card. The miles can be redeemed with an airline and also, depending on the card, a hotel chain, a rental car agency, or a cruise line. Frequent flyer cards also vary in partners, so if you are particular about who you fly with or where you stay, research before you apply.
Some examples of the various frequent flyer cards out there...