Is An Airline Card for You?

Airline credit cards are perfect for you if you use your credit card often and are able to pay it off quickly.

When considering an airlines credit card, here are some things to keep in mind:

• Do not carry a balance. The interest rates tend to be high, so keeping a balance could cost you more than you are saving if you do not pay attention to your monthly bills.
• Which carrier do you plan to use? Some cards only allow you to use your miles with certain carriers. If you have a particular airline you prefer to use, double check to make sure they accept your free miles.
• Make sure you will rack up enough points. Airline credit cards are perfect for those who are constantly using their card to make purchases. If you only use your credit card for emergencies, the annual fees are not worth the few points you will receive.
• Check your minimum payment requirements. If you can't pay off the whole balance one month, be sure to make your monthly payments on time. Late fees add up quickly and can cost you.

Comparing Airline Credit Cards

With so many airlines credit cards available, it may seem difficult to know which credit card is for you. Take your time to compare the different rates, fees, and incentives before picking the card to take with you to the mall.

APR

APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate. It is the interest rate applied to any balance you carry on your credit card.

• Intro APR: Many companies will offer a low intro APR of 0% to 8% to entice you to sign up. However, this intro APR is only for a limited amount of time and not reflective of what the regular rate is.
• Intro APR Period: The Intro APR Period can last from three to eighteen months. Make sure you are aware of when the APR Period ends as well as what the regular APR is.
• Regular APR: Once the Intro APR Period is over, your credit card company will charge you the regular APR. This rate can range from 7% to 18%.

Annual Fee

Many companies charge you a yearly fee for being a cardholder. Some companies charge you monthly, while others take it all out at once.

Balance Transfers

Most companies allow you to transfer your balance from your older credit cards to your new one. This is a good way to merge your cards so you do not find yourself worrying about paying off multiple credits. Check to see what the balance transfer fees are before initiating the transfer.

Credit Needed

Before a credit card company will approve you for a card, they will look at your credit history. You will fall into one of four credit categories:

• Excellent credit
• Good credit
• Fair /Above Average credit
• Bad credit

Most airline credit cards require a good to excellent credit rating. Capital One® No Hassle MilesSM Platinum Card is one of the few companies that will accept an above average credit rating.

Other Items to Compare

Besides rates, you want to compare the incentives and restrictions each credit card offers. A card with no annual fees and a low percentage may have numerous restrictions making it difficult to use your points when you want to. Things to look for and compare include:

• Black Out Dates: Restrictions on when you can fly
• Incentives: Some cards allow you to use the card for concerts or hotels
• Discounts: Many airline specific cards offer discounts when you fly with them
• Bonus Miles: Cards often offer bonus miles when you first join or make certain purchases
• Business Cards: Check to see if the company offers business cards for frequent flyers

Remember to take your time to compare airlines credit cards. Be careful not to apply and begin using a card with a high interest rate if you are not able to pay off the balance monthly. Use your card responsibly and enjoy working towards your free airline tickets!

Airlines Credit Card

When researching for an airlines credit card, you have over 35 cards to choose from. Each card has different advantages, and fee structures. Some have restrictions on what airlines you can fly on, while others offer more advantages than just free airline tickets. Here are some examples of different airlines credit cards:

• Capital One® No Hassle MilesSM Rewards: Fly any airline
• Chase Travel Plus Platinum Visa® Card: Choose from over 250 airlines, hotels, and cruises
• Miles by Discover® Card: No restrictions
• Blue Sky from American Express: No restrictions
• Delta Airlines - Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card: Delta Airlines only
• Capital One® No Hassle MilesSM Visa Signature® : Any airline
• American Express® Preferred Rewards Gold Card: Offers exclusive tickets to concerts and sporting events

This is only a sample of the cards available. Creditcards.com offers a great resource for finding your perfect airlines credit card.