Credit card with rewards?

[guitarguy23]

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I know this topic is brought up occasionally, but I haven't seen any new info about this. With residency interviews approaching I just wanted to ask general thoughts on good credit card rewards programs for flying etc since we are getting one. Thanks!

 

[napo1eon]

i got the chase sapphire preferred last year specifically for interview purposes.

http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/credit-cards/chase-sapphire-preferred-review/

i recommend it! can't really comment on if it would be better than a dedicated airline card if you tend to fly on a specific carrier though.

 

[DrZeke]

i got the chase sapphire preferred last year specifically for interview purposes.

http://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/credit-cards/chase-sapphire-preferred-review/

i recommend it! can't really comment on if it would be better than a dedicated airline card if you tend to fly on a specific carrier though.

I use Amex blue sky preferred. If you fly southwest I think their rewards card is great.

 

[ophthokinetic]

If you live in a city that's a hub for an airline, I'd recommend to get that airline's credit card. You'll get early boarding and a free bag, usually. If you interview heavily enough, you may make status on the airline, which is nice. Usually, the airline cards start you out with enough points for a free flight. So that's huge!

Why do you want to board early? Sometimes you'll have super tight connections and you want to make sure your carry-on bag makes it on the plane. Free bag check is also nice - those fees add up really fast over time!

When I interviewed for ophtho, I think I got both the Delta card an the AA card. Canceled one before the annual fee was due next year, kept the other long-term.

 

[DrZeke]

If you live in a city that's a hub for an airline, I'd recommend to get that airline's credit card. You'll get early boarding and a free bag, usually. If you interview heavily enough, you may make status on the airline, which is nice. Usually, the airline cards start you out with enough points for a free flight. So that's huge!

Why do you want to board early? Sometimes you'll have super tight connections and you want to make sure your carry-on bag makes it on the plane. Free bag check is also nice - those fees add up really fast over time!

When I interviewed for ophtho, I think I got both the Delta card an the AA card. Canceled one before the annual fee was due next year, kept the other long-term.

VA ID = priority boarding

TSA pre also an option

 

[backrow]

VA ID = priority boarding

TSA pre also an option

I have never seen an airline offer priority boarding for government employees. Military....sure, but not govt employee.

 

[napo1eon]

I've never tried my VA ID at the gate, but flashing it at security often seems to get you into an employee only line, which can expedite the process up to the x-ray/naked scanner machines (i.e. they won't treat you like a TSA pre-check passenger, which is what I was hoping for).

 

[backrow]

I've never tried my VA ID at the gate, but flashing it at security often seems to get you into an employee only line, which can expedite the process up to the x-ray/naked scanner machines (i.e. they won't treat you like a TSA pre-check passenger, which is what I was hoping for).

Probably because they think you are military since the ID cards are nearly identical these days. In reality they have changed the rules recently so within the last year or so unless you are pre-check it's rare to get any special treatment. You may get more mileage at different airports though. Sometimes the ones near a large military presence are actually less apt to do something than the ones that don't have military going through them constantly.

 

[guitarguy23]

I may take you guys up on the VA badge, I totally forgot about those random perks it gets you. I'll try it out on my first travel and let you guys know what happens.

 

[DrZeke]

I have never seen an airline offer priority boarding for government employees. Military....sure, but not govt employee.

Done it several times

 

[backrow]

Done it several times

I'm seriously wondering what airline?

I have never in many years of travel heard an announcement of "government employees" included in the priority boarding announcement.

Military, families with small children, executive platinum/whatever mileage club level, first class etc etc. I truly want to know bc I'm flying the wrong airlines apparently. Or are you boarding under the "military"?

 

[DrZeke]

I'm seriously wondering what airline?

I have never in many years of travel heard an announcement of "government employees" included in the priority boarding announcement.

Military, families with small children, executive platinum/whatever mileage club level, first class etc etc. I truly want to know bc I'm flying the wrong airlines apparently. Or are you boarding under the "military"?

No you don't board priority. You bypass the security line.

 

[ophthokinetic]

Well, after DrZeke told me it might work, I asked the person at the Delta desk before boarding my flight. I think I confused her enough that it worked. She let me board with Zone 1...which is a total win when you're on a full flight and the last zones may not have overhead room, causing you to check your bag and have to waste a bunch of time at the airport waiting for it. Anyways, what the hell, it's worth a try to show the VA badge everywhere! I've gotten hotel and car rental discounts from it, too.

 

[backrow]

No you don't board priority. You bypass the security line.

Ah, I'm tracking now. I was scratching my head.

 

[backrow]

Well, after DrZeke told me it might work, I asked the person at the Delta desk before boarding my flight. I think I confused her enough that it worked. She let me board with Zone 1...which is a total win when you're on a full flight and the last zones may not have overhead room, causing you to check your bag and have to waste a bunch of time at the airport waiting for it. Anyways, what the hell, it's worth a try to show the VA badge everywhere! I've gotten hotel and car rental discounts from it, too.

There are govt deals all sorts of places, but make sure you read the fine print. With hotel govt rates it sometimes says "must be on govt business."

I'm an active duty military person and I never use the govt rate when I'm on vacation or just traveling on my own. If the govt is funding me then I use it. Hotels usually limit the number of govt rate rooms available and once they are used for a particular time then they won't take anymore (makes sense as the rate is usually substantially less as it is based on government per diem rates). If you are using up one of those rooms while on non-govt business then you are potentially making someone on actual business from using that hotel.

I also don't go to the gate desk when they ask for any military to check in at the desk. They are usually looking to upgrade someone and that 18/19/20 year old kid who just spent six months or a year kicking down doors deserves it a lot more than me who only left the base on missions in the air.

As to the original poster I agree with the airline credit card of you have a major hub. You'll build points with purchases and flights.

 

[docta9]

Capital One: 1.5% cash back
many cards: 1% cash back
airline affiliated cards sometimes have a nice introductory bonus but charge a yearly fee. Miles seem nice but wait until you try to redeem them.

Also consider not using credit cards at small businesses and mom-and-pop places because those mom and pops are the ones forced by the credit card company to pay your cash rewards. It's extortion. ("pay those rewards if you want to be allowed to accept credit cards")

Nexus or Global Entry for TSA Pre Check expedited security checks.