Which airline credit card should I choose

Question

I have just started traveling a lot for my job and thought it would be a good idea to also get an airline credit card. This would be my first credit card, so choosing which one is very important to me.

I fly on Delta and Continental primarily, so I am looking to either get a Delta American Express Card or Continental MasterCard. Any thoughts?

Answer 1

Delta in my opinion is a great airline...I personally say get the Delta American Express Card

Answer 2

I have a NWA card along with a world perks accoutn (100908261974) I used it for my job that now I have elite status so i get upgrades for free because the elite status is printed on my ticket. I would chose NWA if possible or Delta.

Answer 3

Well first, I might consider a hotel chain card as opposed to an Airline card.  I've found over the past few years its been getting harder and harder to redeem airline miles for seats, as capacity has been reduced.  That said, lets compare  

Looking at it from a value standpoint...

The Amex has a $150 annual fee and you earn on average 1.25 miles per $.  So to get the 25,000 miles for one free flight, you will need to run $20,000 through the card.  Valuing a free flight at $500, that means you will get $350 value for the first $20,000 you run thru.  (I leave one shot perks out of the equation, as well as stuff like BOGO tickets)

The MC probably has a lower fee, I can't tell from the site, AND you don't need to pay in full each month like Amex.  Rewards are a little better too, as you get 2.0 points per mile on charges for CO flights.    You also get 2 club passes per YEAR and two travel certs without any additional purchase.  A nice perk.  It would also take only around $16,000 to earn a cap controlled flight, but around $38,000 in purchases to earn an anytime flight (which I suspect is what you will need more than most.  

Using the Hilton card as an example, you rack up 2 points per dollar spent (no annual fee).  Not a lot of perks tho, but $10,000 in purchases will get you a free room at many hiltons.  Where Hilton shines is you get 3 points per charge at hilton hotels, which means once you hit elite you can really rack up the points.  

Summary:

If you find yourself staying with the same hotel chain a lot due to corporate or personal preferences, I find a card for that hotel provides better bang for the buck.  If your sleeping arrangements are 'whatever is closest', I think the continental MC is the best choice, depending on the fee.