Chulalongkorn From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 58 posts, RR: 0 Posted (6 years 10 months 1 week 17 hours ago) and read 1928 times:
Chase's United Mileage Plus program or American Express Business Platinum Membership Rewards. Which is better for travel. We have both, and have used both programs for some travel perks, but was looking for advice on how to maximize this. Is one better than the other? Should we switch to just one? SFO - BKK is the route we fly.
Thanks!
"feast like a sultan I do... treasures of flesh never few" - MJK
Delta732FF From United States of America, joined May 2005, 228 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (6 years 10 months 1 week 11 hours ago) and read 1914 times:
Depends on which airline you like to fly more. If you like DL better than UA then just go with the amex and vise versa with the chase card. Since the route you fly is SFO-BKK id go with UA, but thats just me.
FireFly From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 91 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (6 years 10 months 1 week 10 hours ago) and read 1910 times:
I have 3 -
AA with Citibank
UA with First USA (Now Chase)
Aer Lingus with MBNA
AA is the card I use the most, and I have racked up close to 200,000 miles on it in almost 4 years now.
EI, I just rec'd a letter from MBNA saying they have mutually ended their relationship and all miles will CANCEL the end of Sept. I am still looking into this, but looks like I may soon be reserving a flight to Ireland.
UA with First USA was a good choice - Chase I don't know about. I haven't noticed any changes, other than to the website where I make payments.
My biggest concern is tracking the miles. I am not the most organized person, and feel that miles have not been credited, when they should be. For instance, using a 3 rd party (like rental car) who offers a set number of miles for your business. Sometimes I use one of these offers, then forget to check the receipt of the miles in my account.
I have considered an Amex card, and should probably do it, as I spend a lot at Costco, but I think their cards are points based rather than miles...I have a bias towards miles based because (again keeping track) some things are worth more than a point, some things one point, some less than a point. There is a lot of trust involved to know if you are getting credited. Or else, a lot of time has to be spent tracking.
I like the UA card - I have yet to use the miles for a ticket, because I only want to use for a first class int'l and am still saving up. While I can imagine something happening to the Lingus - MBNA relationship, I can't imagine the same thing happening to UA or AA - I know for a fact these are huge money makers for both the airline and credit card issuer. Lingus was likely just too small to have a following for such a card.
So, go with the card that will cost the least to own (or use) per year (I think the Amex is free - UA is something like $50 a year?). Look into the AA and also, look at which will offer the most miles for signing with them.
After that, look at the one that has the most partners where extra miles are offered for business - If UA gives double miles for Avis rentals, and you rent lots of cars, that might be the best card for you.
Lastly, go to a website called FlyerTalk.com - That is the site where everyone who knows everything about F.F. cards, points, programs discusses the pros and cons in a similar forum to Airliners.com - enjoy free flying!!
"Bury me at sea, boys; where no murdered ghosts can haunt me" MacGowan
Chulalongkorn From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 58 posts, RR: 0 Reply 3, posted (6 years 10 months 1 week 4 hours ago) and read 1898 times:
Thanks FireFly.
I think the UA card is great due to the Star Alliance hook up. Amex has it's pluses too, converting points into miles of some great airline ff programs, but that's sort of the same thing with UA's Mileage Plus.
Cheers!
"feast like a sultan I do... treasures of flesh never few" - MJK
Burnsie28 From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 7411 posts, RR: 9 Reply 4, posted (6 years 10 months 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 1872 times:
I used to have the UA card, then Chase took over everything, and it went downhill, they couldnt find records of my cards etc. So I dropped it, I have been very happy with my WorldPerks Visa from US Bank, some of the best customer service I have ever had.
"Some People Just Know How To Fly"- Best slogan ever, RIP NW 1926-2009
777fan From United States of America, joined Jan 2006, 2402 posts, RR: 3 Reply 5, posted (6 years 10 months 4 days 2 hours ago) and read 1863 times:
Holy crap, go with the Chase (UA) Card! The new Choices program is brilliant and the annual fee (actually $65) is still cheaper than the DL Amex, IIRC. Various promotions waiving the annual fee for the first year and a 17,500 mile bonus sweeten the pot.
What Chase doesn't advertise too much is the option to upgrade to a Chase/UA Mileage Plus Platinum Visa. Yes, it costs $165 a year but automatically deposits 5,000 elite miles into your account each year, gives you a free companion ticket each year, and gives you mileage bonuses per purchase:
- United tickets and travel: 3 miles/$1
- Gas, groceries, food: 2 miles/$1
- Everything else: 1 mile/$1
FireFly From United States of America, joined Jun 2006, 91 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 1823 times:
Quoting 777fan (Reply 5): What Chase doesn't advertise too much is the option to upgrade to a Chase/UA Mileage Plus Platinum Visa. Yes, it costs $165 a year but automatically deposits 5,000 elite miles into your account each year, gives you a free companion ticket each year, and gives you mileage bonuses per purchase:
777, thanks for that info - I'll change my card over.
"Bury me at sea, boys; where no murdered ghosts can haunt me" MacGowan
Zone1 From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 1033 posts, RR: 7 Reply 7, posted (6 years 9 months 3 weeks 5 days 8 hours ago) and read 1821 times:
Quoting 777fan (Reply 5): Holy crap, go with the Chase (UA) Card! The new Choices program is brilliant and the annual fee (actually $65) is still cheaper than the DL Amex, IIRC.
Hold on there! American Express has a program that works like the Choices program and it is only $49/year. Plus they have more double points opportunities than United ever does. You get double points at grocery and drug stores. They often have double point opportunties for all purchases running monthly if you sign up for them on Amex's website. It's called the Delta SkyPoints credit card.
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From United States of America, joined Aug 2005, 58 posts, 
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