PatrickSch

We have been FF AA flyers for over 20 years now but are always having trouble finding convenient flights with the miles. Some of my family insist Capital One is better but I am confused. Can anyone help with the pros and cons of each card. Thanks.

RoamsAround

The AA (Citibank AAdvantage Credit Card) gives you one FF mile for every dollar charged to the account. You then use those miles to get either free "reward" tickets or upgrades on AA Flights - you can also redeem miles for certain hotel stays and other travel amenities. The number of "miles" you need for a "free" ticket varies from 25,000 to upwards of 100,000.

The Capital One Credit Card gives you "points" which can be redeemed for tickets on any airline, or stays at any hotel. You normally get one point for every dollar charged to the card. The number of "points" you need to obtain a "free" airline ticket or hotel stay depends on the actual cost of that ticket (or room cost). For instance, if the airfare from point A to point B is say, $400 you'll need 40,000 points to get that ticket.

Go to the Citibank or Capital One websites for a complete explanation and you'll see the difference.

RoamsAround

I meant to add, we've been AA FF members for 20+ years earning both "flying miles" and miles earned from use of the Citibank AAdvantage CC. We routinely use our miles for upgrades and/or free airline tickets and rarely have difficulty finding flights when or where we want to go.

hpeabody

I have a Cap One Venture Card. I would not use it for airline tickets, as described above, not a good value at all IMO unless you have lots of points and not $$$ and need the convenience. I find the best value with the Cap One Venture Card is for hotel nights, dining and even tours and transfers. Example: I recently used Cap One points for a night in an over water bungalo in Tahiti, about 43,000 points that in $$$ would be about $430.00.

http://www.capitaloneventure.com/#/Welcome


I do understand how frustrating it is with just about all the airlines FF programs to get a flight that suits you, not easy easy any more.

qwovadis

I have both capitalone.com Venture best deal double miles on everything no foreign fees, also open/closed a Citi AAdvantage
card actually 2 got 80000 miles good for 2 Europe flights
for 2012 for my wife and myself,so do both.But use Cap
1 for all day to day to get SKADS of double miles.
They were matching miles my wife and I got 100000 each last
spring with them might wait to see if they do that again.
That will be the time to sign up. After the initial bonus
Citi underwhelming 1 point per dollar 3% foreign fee so
we just closed ours.See my old post on Capital One Venture
best card currently for me for double miles on all purchases.

Good luck!

mamamia2

We have both. Cap 1 (like qwovadis we also took advantage of their fantastic offer last spring, got 100,000 miles) is definitely a better, certainly more convenient deal, since it's basically money that you can use to purchase ANY airline tickets (or hotel rooms or car rentals)... We also have a similar plan with Amex, their SkyBlue card (which is free, btw). The problem with AAdvantage is that you're in their mercy, and you must use their, or their partners' flights, and only if they have empty seats that are assigned for reward holders, which may not be much of an issue for domestic flights, maybe --- but try it for international?... good luck....

PatrickSch

Thanks everyone for these ideas. I will have to do more homework and see what is best for us.

Orlando_Vic

If all you want is a coach seat on a domestic flight, the Cap One card will do that. If you want to fly in the front of the plane on an international flight, AAdvantage can help you better. You just need to devote some time to study and you can learn how to get the seats you want. Flyertalk is a great resource for starters.

With AAdvantage, I have obtained premium class seats to/from Australia for my wife and I <u>twice</u>. (Australia is one of the most difficult FF destinations.)

_____________________________________________
Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie

mamamia2

I agree with Orlando. From my experience, flying international, AAdvantage is much more accommodating when using award miles for business class, for instance. Though for Coach is a whole different story....

Orlando_Vic

Here is a great resource and very pertinent to this topic: http://boardingarea.com/blogs/viewfr...t-card-advice/

_____________________________________________
Vic's travels: http://my.flightmemory.com/vogilvie