What is the credit card that offers the best air-mile deal for point
awards and travel redemption, that does not tie you to using a
specific airline.  I want no anual fee or a low anual fee but the
credit card interest rate does not matter because I pay it off each
month.

I had a MBNA Travel Rewards Visa which was available to teachers.  One
credit dollar spent, accumulated 1 air-mile, which could be redeamed
through their travel service for flights on any airline to any US
destination.  There were no blackout dates because the tickets were
actually purchased.  The country was divided down the middle into two
zones, the half you lived in and the other half.  If you traveled to
any destination in your zone you spent 10,000 air mile point and the
card travel
agency would pay up to $300 for the ticket.  If you traveled from your
zone to any destination in the other zone you spent 15,000 air mile
points
and the company would pay up to $500 for the ticket.  All tickets were
21 day advance.
After the first of this year, all this changed and like all of the
other cards, you would have to spend 25,000 air mile points to go
anywhere.  Now that they have wrecked the air mile program, they have
the nerve to raise their anual fee.
What is the best air-mile credit card deal out there, both in milage
given and especially in milage spent for redemption.  Thanks

Hi Schmooz-

I've gathered what information is available online for air mile credit
cards without filling out an application.

I've presented five cards for you.  Because of varying configurations
of benefits and fees, it's impossible for me to say which would be
"best" for you.  However, these most closely meet the criteria you set
out.

MilesOne Capital One http://www.milesone.com/#bann0222
Annual fee of $19 
9.9% APR
credit line up to $20,000

Earn one dollar for every dollar spent
Choose any airline—travel on any major U.S.-based domestic or
international airline
No blackout periods—fly any day of the year, even on holidays
No seat restrictions—
Flying free with fewer miles—fly free within the same zone with only
25,000 miles (see Redemption Chart) or anywhere in the contiguous U.S.
with 35,000 miles
Flexibility to fly where and when you want
Cash Back—redeem your miles for 1% cash back with as few as 20,000
mile

---------------
Travelocity.com World Master Card
http://www.travelocitycard.com/
First year free. Thereafter, $50 annually.

earn 4,000 points after you make your first purchase or balance
transfer
Earn 1 POINT for every dollar spent in net purchases.
Earn 3 POINTS for every dollar of billed Finance Charges
No restrictions, no expiration, no blackouts, no limitations
--------

Orbitz Card
http://www.orbitz.com/rewards
$39 annual fee for a standard MasterCard and a $49 annual fee for
Platinum.

Platinum cardholders will receive two Rewards points for every dollar
spent on airline tickets purchased on Orbitz using the Orbitz Platinum
MasterCard and one Rewards point for every dollar spent everywhere
else. In addition, with every 7,500 points earned, cardholders may
receive $100 off airfares purchased on Orbitz using the new co-branded
MasterCard. Travelers also have the option to redeem 20,000 points for
a free round-trip, coach-class ticket worth up to $400 in value to
travel anywhere in the continental U.S. with a 21-day advance purchase
and a Saturday night stay.  The APR is prime +13.24% for standard
MasterCards and prime +11.24% for Platinum MasterCards.
------
Value Miles Platinum VisaŽ Card
http://www.firstusa.com/
$29 fee
500 bonus miles when you enroll
Fly on major airlines with no blackout dates
Earn 1 mile for every 1 dollar in purchases
A 0% fixed APR for the first 6 billing cycles following the opening of
your account.
After that, 13.99% fixed.
Earn 1 mile for every 1 dollar in purchases
Earn hotel stays, car rentals and gift certificates, too
Redeem miles online at www.ValueMilesOnline.com  
Earn a roundtrip domestic ticket with 24,000 miles 
------
Fleet Titanium MilesEdge Credit Card
http://cards.fleet.com/apply/learnmore_milesedge.asp
$27 Annual fee.
A 2.99% introductory APR on balance transfers for up to six months*,
A low variable rate, currently 14.99%, on balance transfers thereafter
and on purchases*,
Earn one MilesEdge Mile for every dollar in qualifying purchases — No
cap on the number of Miles you can earn**
Redeem Miles for flexible air travel on any U.S.-based carrier,
hotel/spa/golf packages and travel-related merchandise
No blackout dates or seating restrictions
2,000 bonus Miles — upon first balance transfer
------------
 Diners Club 
http://www.dinersclubnorthamerica.com/
$85 fee
The Diners Club card was awarded with the travel industry's Freddie
Award for best airline reward credit card program in 1997, 1998, and
1999. You earn two points (equivalent to one mile) for every dollar
you charge. No expiration date. Points can be traded in for
merchandise, vacations, hotel stays, car rentals, and tickets on every
major U.S. airline. You can also earn up to 12,000 free miles during
your first year of membership that can be used at any major airline.


Search Strategy:credit cards air miles  compare; diners club;
travelocity card;
orbitz card 

I hope this helps with your decision.

Nellie Bly

---

Request for Answer Clarification by schmooz-ga on 15 Oct 2002 08:22 PDT

I had already found these before I posted the question as they were
pretty easy to find.  What I was looking for was some sort of credit
card that required fewer points for travel redemption.  Most all the
standard cards (the ones you found too) required 25,000 points to
travel within the US, whether you traveled a relatively short distance
or over the country.

---

Clarification of Answer by nellie_bly-ga on 22 Oct 2002 08:11 PDT

Dear Schmooz--

I'm sorry that the "best deal" you requested a search for did not turn
out to be what you hoped it might be.  The cards I listed for you are,
however, the best available that match your criteria.  I looked at
more than 50 different cards before listing those I did. None of them
came any closer to being your "dream" card than those.

The Orbitz card and the Diners Club do offer some travel for less than
25,000 points.

I'm afraid that the kind of deal you once had is no longer available.

Nellie Bly

I also had the same issue with MBNA. I have been with them for 8 years
and had over 145k points which I was told could be redeemed anytime
anywhere when I signed in.

I found out that if you travel to Europe you get better deals. You
could buy economy tickets. If you travel to any other international
places like Asia/Pacific, you cant use the points unless you buy
busniess or first class. And the points only covers upto 2k dollars.

I suggest yougo with airline credit cards where you get point stowards
your mileage account. This can be redeemed anytime anywhere provided
you plan in advance.