Getting The Most Out Of Your Airline Credit Cards With No Blackout Dates
Fierce competition among airline miles credit card providers, better lending policies, superb reward plans and huge sign on bonuses can all be worked to the consumer's benefit. These could all be reasons why the sign up rates for these cards are at an all-time high. Before you sign up for the next great offer that comes your way you need to evaluate what added benefits you can get from your next airline miles credit card. Your next card should promote no black dates and really mean it. It should also give you the opportunity to take advantage of introductory 0% APRs if your credit qualifies you for it.
With the holidays approaching many frequent flyers are looking to cash in their miles in exchange for tickets to spend time in a place they love with the people they love. Unfortunately for many the reality of no blackout dates could be more than they bargained for. Yes it true that lenders really mean no blackout dates but the reality is that major airlines reserve their holiday seats (Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year) for paying customers which in effect oust travellers who plan to pay for tickets through reward programs.
The bottom line is that if you plan to travel around the holiday with the help of your accumulated rewards you should be prepared for the unexpected. While there seems to be little that you can do to change this there are still some ways you can make the most of your card that promises no blackout dates. Here are just a few things you can do.
Get a card that is not tied to any specific airline. If you are not particularly loyal to any airline you can go with an all-round rewards card that will allow you to pay upfront for your ticket and issue your rewards as a rebate. This way you are guaranteed to have access to your rewards even during the busiest periods.
If you do have an airline miles credit card that is tied in with your loyalty to one airline you should go with one that offers alternatives to booking you on the flight that you want. For instance some airline programs will pay for a car rental or cover the cost of a hotel reservation to make up for their shortcomings. Even if your program does not advertise or offer these alternatives there is no harm in asking.
Since you might not have the liberty to use your miles when you want, especially if you are a part of an airline loyalty program there should be no caps on points and no expiry dates. This point is particularly good for non-frequent fliers who will be at greater risks of losing their points if there are expiry dates on the program.
Look for cards where there are no annual fees. If you're not able to use your rewards in one particular year it will not be a problem since you would not have to pay for rewards that you don't use.
Alternatives to booked flights. Does your program provide you with alternative ways to redeem your miles? It should. Be it free or discounted goods at retailers that you frequent, car rentals, hotel reservations or other modes of redemption your program must provide alternatives to booking a flight.
The frustration of blackout dates when trying to redeem the rewards that you have accumulated can be frustrating for many travellers. Ask questions before you sign up and once you do make sure that your program provide a lot of ways for you to get the best out of your airline miles credit card.
 |
| Intro APR: 0.00% | Intro Period: 6 months on purchases | Regular APR: 10.99-16.99% (Variable) | Annual Fee: $0.00 |
|---|
|
 | - Earn up to $120 in travel rewards--1,000 Bonus miles every month you make a purchase for the first year
- 1 Mile on every $1 you spend - Plus flexible redemption options like travel credits, merchandise, gift cards or cash
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 6 months, then the variable standard purchase APR of 10.99% - 16.99%*
- No restrictions on travel--fly on any airline, book any hotel or car, with no blackout dates
- Travel benefits include secondary collision damage insurance when you rent a car with your Miles by Discover card
- Discover is ranked #1 in customer loyalty--15 years in a row! (2011 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index report)
- Great rewards with no annual fee, no rewards redemption fee, and no additional card fee
- *Click apply to view rates, fees, rewards, limitations and other important information
|
|
| Intro APR: 0.00% | Intro Period: 12 months on purchases | Regular APR: 17.24-22.24% (Variable) | Annual Fee: $0.00 |
|---|
|
| - No annual fee
- Travel rewards with no blackout dates or travel restrictions. Redeem with any airline, any car rental, any hotel- anytime
- Pay your bill all at once, or over time. It's up to you.
- Blue Savings Program®: big deals on big brands, all the time
- Rated "Best Airline Credit Card" by Card Ratings Consumer's Choice Awards in 2010
- Get approved in 60-seconds
|
|
| Intro APR: N/A | Intro Period: N/A | Regular APR: 15.24-19.24% (Variable) | Annual Fee: $0.00 1st year, then $65.00 |
|---|
|
| - Starpoints® Bonus: 10K with your first purchase and another 15K when you spend $5k within 6 months - enough for up to 6 free nights at a category 1 or 2 hotel
- Free nights, free flights: Redeem Starpoints with over 350 airlines through SPG Flights and more than 1,000 hotels and resorts worldwide. No blackout dates
- 2011 SmarterTravel® Award for "Best Travel Rewards Card"
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $65
|
|
| Intro APR: N/A | Intro Period: N/A | Regular APR: 15.24-19.24% (Variable) | Annual Fee: $0.00 1st year, then $65.00 |
|---|
|
| - Earn up to 25,000 Starpoints®: Receive 10K after your first purchase, and another 15K when you spend $5,000 in 6 months-enough for up to 6 free nights at a Category 1 or 2 hotel
- Redeem Starpoints at over 1,000 hotels and resorts in nearly 100 countries, and for flights on more than 350 airlines through SPG Flights. No blackout dates.
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $65
|
|
| Intro APR: N/A | Intro Period: N/A | Regular APR: 14.99% (Fixed) | Annual Fee: $495.00 |
|---|
|
| - Made with carbon, not just another piece of plastic; Membership is limited
- 24-hour concierge service at your disposal
- Unlimited VIP airport lounge visits
- Exclusive rewards program; 1% cash back or airfare on any airline - no blackouts or restrictions
- Accepted globally; zero liability protection against unauthorized purchases
|
|
| Intro APR: 0.00% | Intro Period: Until 02/2013 on purchases | Regular APR: 11.90-19.90% (Variable) | Annual Fee: $0.00 |
|---|
|
| - 1.25 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day
- Earn 10,000 bonus miles, equal to $100 in travel
- Redeem miles for airline tickets, hotel rooms, car rentals and more
- No limit on the miles you can earn and miles won't expire
- Fly free on any airline, any time with no blackout dates
- 0% intro APR on purchases until February 2013
- No foreign transaction fees
- No annual fee
|
|
| Intro APR: N/A | Intro Period: N/A | Regular APR: 13.90-20.90% (Variable) | Annual Fee: $0.00 1st year, then $59.00 |
|---|
|
| - Money® Magazine's "Most Rewarding Card if you crave free airline flights"
- 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day
- Earn 10,000 bonus miles, equal to $100 in travel
- Redeem your miles for any travel expense
- No limit on the miles you can earn and miles won't expire
- Fly free on any airline, any time with no blackout dates
- No foreign transaction fees
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $59 after that
|
|
| Intro APR: 0.00% | Intro Period: Until 09/2012 on purchases | Regular APR: 14.90-19.90% (Variable) | Annual Fee: $0.00 |
|---|
|
| - Get a 50% bonus on the miles you earn every year
- Earn 1 mile per dollar on every purchase, every day
- Save with 0% intro APR until September 2012
- Enjoy no annual fee
- Get online Quarterly and Year-End Summaries
- There's no limit to the amount of miles you can earn and miles don't expire
- Fly on any airline, anytime, with no blackout dates or seat restrictions
|
|
| Intro APR: N/A | Intro Period: N/A | Regular APR: 13.90% (Variable) | Annual Fee: $0.00 1st year, then $59.00 |
|---|
|
| - Earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, every day
- Get 10,000 bonus miles - just spend $1,000 within the first 3 months
- Receive 5,000 bonus miles by signing up for one or more employee cards
- Enjoy exclusive, award-winning customer service
- $0 intro annual fee for the first year; $59 after that
- There's no limit to the amount of miles you can earn and miles don't expire
- Redeem miles for travel, cash back, gift cards, merchandise, and more
- Fly on any airline, anytime, with no blackout dates or seat restrictions
|
|
| Intro APR: 0.00% | Intro Period: 6 months on purchases | Regular APR: 10.99-16.99% (Variable) | Annual Fee: $60.00 |
|---|
|
| - Earn up to $250 in travel rewards--1,000 Bonus miles every month you make a purchase for the first 25 months
- Double Miles on every $1 you spend
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 6 months, then the variable standard purchase APR of 10.99% - 16.99%*
- No restrictions on travel--fly on any airline, book any hotel or car, with no blackout dates
- Flexible redemption options like travel credits, merchandise, gift cards or cash
- Travel Insurance benefits, including primary car rental, lost or damaged luggage, travel delay, and trip cancellation when you book with your Escape by Discover card
- Discover is ranked #1 in customer loyalty--15 years in a row! (2011 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty Engagement Index report)
- *Click apply to view rates, fees, rewards, limitations and other important information
|
|
| Intro APR: N/A | Intro Period: N/A | Regular APR: 9.25% (Variable) | Annual Fee: $0.00 |
|---|
|
| - Excellent Credit Required - Applicants that do not have excellent credit will not be approved
- Low 9.25% variable standard purchase APR and platinum benefits
- No balance transfer fee for balances transferred in response to this online offer
- Travel Rewards - cardholders who enroll in the program receive one point per net dollar spent
- Choose any U.S. based airline or ticket class. No blackout dates or seating restrictions
- Other travel related options are hotels, cruises, vacation packages, car rental, and restaurants
- No Annual Fee
|
*Check with the online credit card application for further details about the terms and conditions for each card. Airline Miles Credit Cards has done everything possible to ensure that the information provided is up to date. Any changes made to these programs will be presented in the terms and conditions on the credit card issuer's website.
