Concerns with Credit Card Bonuses

In today’s credit market, credit card companies are working overtime to try and recruit new users. Sign-up bonuses today typically exceed $100 in statement credit or large chunks of airline miles. It used to be 10,000-15,000 miles was the norm, then it was increased to 25,000 miles. Now it appears credit card companies are handing out 50,000 miles or more with occasional offers for 75,000 or even 100,000 miles. Every card is different though in how the points are earned, so be sure to read the terms. Sometimes part of the sign-up bonus is given based on balance transfers, which are accompanied by fees. You have the weigh the cost of the balance transfer versus the return on the miles. Remember too that travel related credit card programs typically incur an annual fee, although it’s sometimes waived through the first year. With all these miles being handed out, how long will all those miles be relevant for redemption towards airline seats?

In other words, it’s typical that a round-trip flight would cost 25,000 within the continental U.S. on the larger airlines. Some would debate the real value of those miles as it’s typically more valuable to use them for premium seats on International travel, but for the sake of discussion, we’ll use the domestic example. So my real concern is that if the airlines/credit card companies are willing to recruit new customers by shelling out all these miles, how much longer will it be until they start increasing the redemption levels? Maybe I’m worried about nothing right now though because of our near term future.

Unfortunately, for the past year I haven’t been able to take advantage of all these incredible offers. We are looking to sell our home this year and purchase a larger home elsewhere, so we’re doing everything possible to maintain our high credit scores. In addition, now that the family is larger after the birth of our second son, redemption of miles is not in our immediate future.

Priority Club Rewards Bonus Points/Frequent Flyer Miles Promotion

Earn up to 30,000 Priority Club Reward Points or 10,000 Frequent Flyer Miles/10 Credits with Priority Club Rewards current promotion. Earn 3,000 bonus points or 1,000 bonus miles or 1 credit for each third night stay at a Intercontinental branded hotel. Promotion is valid through April 30, 2011. There are a couple things to note.

1) The bonus is valid for multiple airlines of your choosing (see list below from the terms and conditions).
2) In your Priority Club account, if you want to earn miles you need to select which airline you want to earn in place of Priority Club rewards.

We are still trying to obtain bonus points through the Crack the Case promotion, and need to earn Priority Club rewards in place of miles. Therefore, it will be interesting to see if we earn these bonus miles on top of our Crack the Case promotion.

Register here.

Terms and Conditions

Must be a Priority Club® Rewards member and must register member number in advance to participate in this promotion.

1,000 bonus miles or 1 credit will be awarded on every third qualifying night at InterContinental®, Crowne Plaza®, Hotel Indigo®, Holiday Inn®, Holiday Inn Express®, Express by Holiday Inn™, Staybridge Suites® and Candlewood Suites® hotels worldwide between February 1 and April 30, 2011. Maximum bonus award is 10,000 bonus miles or 10 credits. See below for participating airlines. Most business and leisure rates are qualifying. You must be a miles collector with a preferred alliance in order to collect miles. Only one room per member per night will be awarded the applicable bonus miles. No retroactive miles will be awarded for nights prior to registration. Subject to standard Priority Club Rewards Membership Terms and Conditions.

Frequency/partner credits may be issued in currencies other than miles. All airline program terms and conditions apply. For details on airline miles earning structure, click here.

Participating Airlines/Partners:

Americas
AirTran
United Airlines
American Airlines
Alaska Airlines
US Airways
Delta
Aeromexico
Lanchile
Varig Brasil
Continental Airlines
Air Canada Aeroplan
AIR MILES Reward Program

Europe, Middle East and Africa Airlines
Air Berlin
Air France/KLM
Alitalia
British Airways
Emirates
Finnair
Etihad
Gulf Air
Iberia
Lufthansa
Saudi Arabian
South African
TAP Portugal

Asia Pacific Airlines
Air China
Asia Miles
China Airlines
China Eastern
Hainan Airlines
Eva Air
China Southern
Air New Zealand
ANA All Nippon Airways
Japan Airlines
Jet Airways
Korean Air
Malaysia Airlines
Qantas Airways Limited
Singapore Airlines
Thai Airways International
Virgin Blue Velocity

Earn Quadruple Delta SkyMiles with Wyndham Rewards

Stay four times at a Wyndham group hotel, and earn up to 4 times the Delta SkyMiles through April 30, 2011. After your second stay, earn double miles, third stay earn triple miles, and fourth stay quadruple miles.

Terms & Conditions
*To qualify for the “4X Miles” promotion and earn up to quadruple bonus airline miles, the member must (i) choose to earn Delta SkyMiles® in their member profile, (ii) register at wyndhamrewards.com/delta or 1-866-996-7937, (iii) book a reservation for and stay at a hotel participating in the Wyndham Rewards program at a qualifying rate between February 3 and April 30, 2011, and (iv) complete their hotel stays by May 7, 2011. Members will receive double miles for the second qualified stay, triple Miles for the third qualified stay, and quadruple Miles for the fourth qualified stay. Member stays with check-out dates after May 7, 2011 will not be counted towards the promotion. Rates offered by most on-line travel agencies and certain other rates do not qualify. One stay includes all consecutive nights at the same hotel regardless of check-ins or check-outs. Members will receive the standard two (2) miles per US dollar spent on qualifying room rates at participating Ramada®, Days Inn®, Super 8®, Wingate® by Wyndham, Baymont Inn & Suites®, Microtel Inns & Suites®, Howard Johnson®, Travelodge® (US hotels only) and Knights Inn®. Miles are earned on the qualifying room rate only, not on taxes, food and beverage or other incidental expenses. For stays at participating Hawthorn Suites® by Wyndham (U.S. hotels only) and Wyndham Hotels and Resorts® properties, members will receive the standard 500 SkyMiles per stay on qualifying room rates. Members should allow six to eight weeks after completion of registration and stay for the bonus miles to be credited to their account. See www.wyndhamrewards.com for full terms and conditions and for participating hotel brands and locations.

Register for the promotion here.