To continue our series on earning points through high-value credit card offers, let’s review:
- Part One: In June, FCF highlighted 21 credit cards that allow you to earn points that can be transferred into miles on airlines offering the most lucrative premium travel opportunities.
- Part Two: In July, FCF highlighted elite status earning credit cards.
This month, we’ll dive into Part Three, as FCF highlights the pitfalls of using co-branded American Airlines credit cards. Long story short—you’re going to miss out on some desirable destinations with this card.
1. Have plans to travel to Australia or New Zealand? Not with miles in comfort, as American never has any upgrades to these destinations, and very seldom offers any free mileage award space. Even its partner Qantas rarely has any free premium award space.
But United, a Chase point transfer partner, intermittently has many upgrade opportunities (go here for Sydney example, here for Auckland and Sydney, and here for Melbourne and Sydney).
2. Thinking about Asia in First Class? American, and even its partner Japan Airlines, very seldom offer free First Class award space.
But All Nippon, an Amex Rewards point transfer partner (and accessible via United miles too, and therefore Chase points, although at a much high cost), has up to two seats with mileage award availability, and yes, this is for free First Class, for details go here. Or, what about First Class on Singapore Airlines, an Amex Rewards and Chase point transfer partner? With an American Airlines credit card, don’t even think about any of these awesome options.
3. Would love to fly Emirates and experience this showers in the sky? Not able to do that, either, with an American co-branded credit card, because AA is not a partner with Emirates. But you can transfer Amex Reward points to Emirates.
4. Want to save big on American short-haul premium class flights? Then book a short-haul flight with British Airways miles, a transfer-point partner with Amex Rewards and Chase, because then you can score Business Class to the Caribbean, Central America, and Mexico on American flights for the same price as coach.
5. Want to earn points faster? Sorry, but American co-branded cards won’t multiply your earnings like other cards will. Get 5X points for airline tickets and hotels or 3X points for phone or dining, for example.
6. Wish you could get transfer bonuses? Unlike most other programs, Amex Membership Rewards offers great bonuses with British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, up to 40%.