Miles vs. Points

As a traveler, are you earning points or miles? First – get started by registering for a frequent flyer card. Easy and free, you are assigned an account number and each time you fly, make sure you turn in your frequent flyer number and you earn miles on your flight destinations.

The main difference between the airline miles and points is that with an airline-specific card, you earn miles for use on one airline only.  Earned miles can be used on any airline; but all miles must be earned on the card and points cannot be added to a frequent-flier account.

Airline credit cards can be just the thing for families, businesses, and even students. However, before you can begin racking up those vacation miles, you’ll need to decide which card works best for you. The very first question to ask is airline-specific or broad air miles?

Keep in mind that with airline-specific cards; you’re looking at one mile earned per every dollar spent, plus bonus miles for purchases made at airline partners. Usually, this partner list will include hotels, rental cars, and other services typically needed for a trip anyway.

The air miles can be used on any airline; the number of possible destinations increases as well. What’s more, the airline specific credit cards also tend to have lower interest rates and fees. In many cases, there’s a reasonably low APR and no charge to sign up. On the flip side however, generic cards often come with restrictions and complex terms. When comparing cards, look at the blackout dates, international flights, and minimum points needed. All of these factors could impact how your card is used and when you can take that vacation.

While there are many cards, which feature miles- or points-for-purchases, the choice facing consumers boils down to cards in the following categories:

• Airline- and Hotel-Affiliated Credit Cards
• Charge Cards (e.g. AmEx/Diners)
• Bank-Issued Credit Cards with a Travel Awards Program
• Debit Cards

Miles are not transferable to other carriers, so once you begin a rewards program, you’ll need to stick to it. However, in some cases, they are donatable. There are a few programs that allow or encourage donating frequent flyer miles to charities or organizations. This is especially beneficial to the receiving organization that accrues the “spare change” of other’s rewards programs.  Also, airlines allow miles to be purchased.

Check out the website, Points.com, which a clearinghouse of sorts, and here you are able to register to exchange points or use miles to make purchases, earning points at the same time. And another site is points2shop. When you make purchases through this site, you earn points. The points have value in making purchases or redeeming the points.

Recently the movie, Up in the Air, starring George Clooney, illustrated the addiction to earning miles and the rewards that go along with them.  For a frequent flyer, the more you travel, the more miles and the more perks and benefits you will receive. Cards with a mileage-earning component give users a way to "double dip" (earn miles both for the flight, the hotel or the car rental, AND for the dollar value of the charged purchase), as well as earn miles for credit card purchases which would not otherwise fall under the mileage umbrella. Never take on unnecessary purchases just to gain points or miles. In order to enjoy the benefits of airline credit cards, the best thing you can do is to spend as you would and pay your statement(s) on time.

The main carriers with frequent flyer programs flying out of the TriCities Regional Airport are Delta (Connection) and US Airways. Visit either Usairways.com or Delta.com for their benefits and affiliates partners in their frequent flyer programs for point purchasing. Publications like OAG Frequent Flyer, InsideFlyer and WebFlyer regularly publish feedback from readers regarding their experiences with various Frequent Flyer Programs (FFPs), and periodically rate FFPs on dimensions including customer service. So, for the latest, visit frequentflyer.com, and get started planning that vacation!

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