An air miles credit card is a popular type of rewards credit card that has many benefits. Foremost among these is the ability to earn air miles for everything you spend on the card, which can then be redeemed against a whole range of travel and flying-related offers. As with any other type of credit card, when you are applying for an airmiles credit card, it is important that you think carefully about which card to apply for to make sure you get one that is right for you and that offers you the best deal possible. Read on to find out more about some of the things you need to think about when considering an air miles credit card.
Air Miles Benefits
Obviously, one important thing to consider with an air miles credit card is the air miles benefits that are open to you. This includes the number of air miles you get for each pound you spend on your card; this will vary according to the specific card you have but you can normally expect to earn either 1 or 2 miles per pound spend on the card. You might find that cards offering more air miles per pound come with different terms and conditions attached, so it’s definitely worth looking into this when making your decision.
You should also see what’s on offer to redeem your air miles against once you have built up a decent amount. Typically, you can expect to find a range of options, including: the ability to combine cash and airmiles when buying flights; seat upgrade options; alternative trips, such as to the spa or on the Eurostar; companion reward flights if you spend a certain amount on your card in a year; entire flights to a range of destinations.
How to Manage your Card
Something else to think about is the options available for managing your air miles credit card. Increasingly, you will find that you are able to manage your card online, which is convenient for a lot of people as it means you can view your balance and make payments at a time convenient to you. Online management systems are also secure and help to keep all of your information in a single, password-protected account, meaning it’s easy for you to check your information but only a person with the password will be able to do so.
When choosing an air miles credit card, it is definitely worth checking out what sort of customer support is available so you can be certain you will be well-supported and that if you have any issues with your card, there will always be someone that you can talk to.
Credit Limits and Bill Payments
Something else to think about with an air miles credit card, just as you would with any other type of credit card, is the credit limit. When you take out the card you will be given a credit limit that tells you how much you can spend on the card each month. This will naturally affect the amount of air miles you can earn over the course of a year so it is definitely worth giving this some thought when you take out the card to make sure you’re getting the best deal possible.
You should also give some consideration to the issue of bill payments, as one of your biggest responsibilities as a credit card holder is to make your bill payments on time. It’s important that you are certain you’ll be able to do this before you apply for an air miles rewards credit card or else you might find you are unsuccessful in your application.
The APR
Whenever you are choosing a credit card, whether it is an air miles card or another type of card entirely, one thing you should always look at is the APR (annual percentage rate). This is what tells you how much interest you will be expected to pay on your purchases so it is definitely worth making sure you get the most competitive rate going. If you are certain you will be able to pay off your balance in full every month, this will matter less but getting a competitive APR will still be to your advantage.
Credit Card Charges
Finally, when you are looking at an air miles credit card you should also see if there are any charges or fees associated with the card. You will find that some have fees and some don’t. Generally, those cards with monthly or yearly fees are likely to offer you enhanced air miles benefits, so you should weigh up whether you think a ‘free’ credit card or one with a monthly fee would benefit you more in the long run.