How To Get Free Travel From Using Your Credit Card
By Gregg Hall
Responsible use of your credit card allows flexibility and leverage as it helps people manage their money. By using the principle of interest rates in credit, it allows large and expensive purchases like buying furniture and appliances.
Payment for these large purchases can be extended over a specific period to make it more flexible for the credit user. The credit card company on the other hand is able to earn income charging interest rates for credit used over a specific period of time.
Credit card companies use as promotional or marketing strategies the giving of rewards to their card customers by giving points for every time they use their credit cards when making transactions. These reward points can be in a form of free gifts, appliances, electronic gadgets, cash rewards or travel miles.
The number of points per card transaction may depend on the amount purchased. For travel point rewards for example, a 1 dollar purchase transaction sometimes equals 1 travel reward mile. The number of travel miles will usually depend on the travel destinations, the credit card company's rewards program and the airline companies they have tied up with in their air miles points program.
Travel rewards from using credit cards in making purchases are quantified in air miles. Heavy credit card users are able to benefit from these programs the most as the huge accumulated points that they may make may already equal the points equivalent to one plane ticket. The more purchases a person does on his credit card, the more points his credit card rewards him and the person has the options to convert these to travel air miles.
To determine if the accumulated air miles rewards points a person has is enough to avail of a plane ticket, lets say flying domestic within the US, they can do this by checking with their credit card companies how much air miles they need to accumulate in order to avail of a plane ticket to their desired destination.
The number of accumulated air miles points on their card doesn't necessarily equal the actual miles required to make the trip. In order to determine the actual equivalent of miles their accumulated miles rewards points from their credit card purchases, they'll need to check with their credit card hotline numbers or from their credit card's consumer websites to receive more detailed information in determining how much actual miles their accumulated air miles reward points has made, how to claim them and how to work out the travel arrangements with the airline company the credit card company has tied up with regards to the travel rewards promotions.
How To Select The Air Miles Credit Card You Need
By Joseph Kenny
Being a traveler that often uses the airlines as your means of getting around, you want to be able to have a good air miles credit card. Knowing how to select the right credit card means that you can get some excellent savings through it - and some free flights, too. Here are some tips to help you decide which air miles credit card may be right for you.
The first thing that must be considered is what airlines are available to you at the airports you will probably use the most. Be sure to consider both ends of your destinations. If you go with an airlines credit card then this means that you will get the best deals for that card only on that particular airline. That will work well for you if that airline flies out of the destinations you use the most - including the nearest airport to you. Otherwise you will want to go with a bank to get your air miles credit card.
Next, consider the introductory offer on the credit card and see what its features are. Generally you will have anywhere between 3 months up to 15 months for an introductory offer. This will usually give you 0% APR interest on any new purchases, and may or may not give you the same on balance transfers. Many air miles credit cards will charge a fee for balance transfers - if they allow it at all.
Consider the various rewards that the card offers you. See not only how many air miles it gives you up front, but also look at just how many air miles are needed for your first free flight. Also check to see if your air miles have an expiration date. Many of these will expire after a year or so, but on some cards your air miles do not ever expire.
Your purchases could also provide you with some rewards. These vary from one card to another but generally will give you one air mile for each dollar you spend on purchases. Some will give you as much as 2 air miles per dollar spent. The best air miles credit cards allow you to redeem your points for other things, too, like hotels, car rentals, brand name merchandise, and more.
Be sure to look at the interest rate on the air miles credit card, too. This is the rate you will be paying when the introductory offer expires. You want to get as low a rate as possible - unless you always have the habit of paying your air miles credit card and other card bills on time. Note that some of these credit cards may have an annual fee after the first year, and other fees may apply as well. Be sure that you are aware of any other charges that may apply, and also if there is a maximum of points that can be earned in a year’s time.
Joe Kenny writes for the Credit Card Guide, offering views on 0% credit cards in the UK, visit them today for some great 0% balance transfers and start clearing credit card debt today.
