Credit card for travel points

[traveler22]

Here's the question for you well traveled.
I am thinking about getting a new credit card and would like to know everyones opinion on the best credit card for airfare points so I can get to St. John more. Are any flexible and easy to redeem,I know , I know, it's getting harder all the time..
I have a usairways card but that locks me into their flights and they are usually the highest in my area. What are all your tips and tricks?
Thanks, Scott

[California Girl]

I'm relatively new at the points game, but here's what I do. I have a Fidelity card with World Points. World Points can buy you anything... airline tickets on any airline is one of the benefits. Recently when I booked my airline tickets on Continental, Rick & I both joined their One Pass program, and after our trip to STJ, we will each have something like 9000 points with Continental. I paid for the Continental tickets with the Fidelity card and I get World Points for that! I also joined Best Western's club for my trip up to San Francisco, where I had reservations at a BW hotel. When I signed up, I had the option to get Best Western credits or Continental miles Guess which I chose? 250 more miles on Continental! I like this game

[pipanale]

I've heard good things about Capitol One's program. It's not aligned with any single airline.

I am locked in with AmEx and Delta to the point of feeling "trapped" by them and my kajillion miles that I have a very hard time using.

And...whatever you choose try to see how other hotel and rental car plans tie in. When I was at my last company, I stayed at Hilton hotels and rented from Hertz. They all used to pound miles into my Delta account.

Now, I'm in Marriott's camp. Frenchman's Reef...here I come

[AquaLassie]

After trying a few ccs w/travel rewards programs, we settled with Amex "Membership Rewards" cards, and we use Amex travel to book our flights. Basically, 1 point = $1; no blackouts, no specific air carrier, etc.

I am very happy with it. Amex points have gotten two of us to St. John 3 times in 3 years. It works for us!

Good luck!

[PA Girl]

We also use Amex/Membership rewards. You book your flight on their website and apply points to the cost. I found Amex's flight prices to be comparable to the other internet booking sites.

[Schnell]

I've heard good things about Capitol One's program. It's not aligned with any single airline.

I am locked in with AmEx and Delta to the point of feeling "trapped" by them and my kajillion miles that I have a very hard time using.

And...whatever you choose try to see how other hotel and rental car plans tie in. When I was at my last company, I stayed at Hilton hotels and rented from Hertz. They all used to pound miles into my Delta account.

Now, I'm in Marriott's camp. Frenchman's Reef...here I come

The Marriotts one is a good one. We use it exclusively as their points can convert to pretty much anything....hotels, air or even a new ipod. And if you sign up for their visa signature card (annual fee of $60-I think) you earn more points per dollar as well as a free one night stay in one of their hotels anywhere. That alone pays for the annual fee.

[RickG]

I've been using World Points for years and find it barely usable. Capital One and Amex seem to be the best and convert to $ rather than points. I run all of the purchases for my company through my rewards card, so its worth a good bit each year.

Cheers, RickG

[mit43]

We use the US Air card and have enough points to fly to STT free at least once a year. They are the cheapest out of our local airports.

However, it doesn't really matter what the normal ticket price is since the points required for a flight are the same no matter what airport we fly out of on US Air. In other words, it may be cheaper to fly out of a larger airport if we are paying cash, but if we use the award points it doesn't matter which airport we fly out of since it is the same amount of points required.