Saturday, August 21, 2010

How To Make Travel A Part Of Your Life Again With Airline Miles Credit Cards

By Shannon Hilson

With the economy the way it's been lately, a lot of us have had to tighten our belts a little in order to help make ends meet. Our budgets are more about the bare necessities, as opposed to all the luxuries we may have been used to at one time, and one of the first things a lot of us have cut out of our lives as a result is travel. Airline tickets, hotel stays, and car rentals can really become expensive and so more and more of us are visiting family less and taking fewer vacations in favor of saving for a rainy day or keeping up to date on our bills.

But are you aware that it doesn't have to be that way? By trading in your regular credit card for an airline miles credit card, you can offset your travel costs significantly enough to be able to make your vacations a regular part of your life again.

Simply use your frequent flyer credit card the same way you would your old card and your credit company will match the amount of dollars you spend with an equivalent number of free airline miles... perhaps even more when it comes to certain purchases. Accrue credits that you can put toward hotel stays, car rentals, or even cruises as well. Before you know it, you've got enough free points to amount to big discounts on airfare or even free trips! How can you beat that?

Finding an airline mileage credit program that will fit easily into your life will not be a difficult process at all. The travel and credit industries are massive, so there are many more options out there for today's modern consumer than you could possibly even imagine. It is all just a simple matter of doing the necessary homework and shopping around for the right deal. Taking a little inventory when it comes to the way you use your credit, the type of purchases you make the most regularly, and your own personal travel preferences is always a good place to start and will ultimately pay off big.

Do you have a favorite airline you like to travel with whenever possible? Look into the programs that specific airline offers for incredible deals that will really suit your preference. Do you instead need to be able to switch airlines at will and schedule flights without having to worry about blackout dates or other limitations? A bank-sponsored airline reward miles credit card would be the way to go. Do you use your credit to purchase mostly groceries, gasoline, or other similar items? Many frequent flier cards will grant you double miles for purchases like this. All you need to do is search for them.

Once you find the right travel credit card for you, use it wisely. Pay your full balance as soon as possible, use your card regularly, keep an eye on your balance, and make sure your account always remains in good standing. Keep track of which types of purchases earn you more airline miles to optimize the whole process further and you'll be sitting pretty in no time. That's really all you need to do - simply manage your finances with credit, then sit back and enjoy the rewards. It's about time someone made your life a little easier, don't you think?

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