Many credit card companies now provide customers with the "air mile"
credits when purchases are made
with the credit card. For each dollar spent, an "air mile" is credited to
the customer's account. When a given threshold is reached, the
customer automatically becomes eligible for a free airline ticket.
By simply using the credit card (rather than paying cash) for day-today
expenses, consumers can quickly accumulate travel points. It is really
quite amazing to see how quickly one can qualify for a free airline ticket
when all purchases and pre-authorized debits are made using the credit card.
To avoid, interest charges, however, it is important that the credit card
balance is paid off in full each month. Don't forget to use your
credit card for all major purchases. Down payments on cards,
insurance premiums, etc. all qualify.
When selecting a credit card that offers "air miles", it is important to
be aware of any credit card fees as well as
any constraints on using the airline tickets (e.g. black-out periods).
In some cases, the traveler must pay the applicable taxes, but the base
price of the ticket remains free. In the annual credit fee for the credit
card is excessive, the cost won't justify the free air travel. It is
important to examine your individual purchasing patterns to determine which
credit
card benefits you most.
