With so many options out there when it comes to an airline based credit card, it’s no wonder why some people get confused when it comes down to applying for one.  While most of them work the same way, there are some things that you should look for because some options may peak your interest.

Are you loyal?  The first question you want to ask yourself is if you’re loyal to a particular airline.  Are you going to fly this airline only?  or are you willing to fly the airline with the best deal?  This matters because there are travel based cards out there that will allow you to get discounts on any flight while an airline based company card will only allow you to get a discount on their particular flights.

Why does it matter with loyalty?

From my studies, I’ve noticed that if you’re loyal, you’re going to get more perks like complimentary upgrades to first class, you’ll get free tickets easier than say a regular travel card and the list goes on.  As I mentioned at the beginning, this is going to matter on what company you get a credit card through.  Just about every airline company out there has a credit card.

Do you care about car rentals or hotels?  You’ll find with some cards that they will not only give you discounts on flights but they also will give you discounts on hotels and car rental companies.  A lot of the times you’ll find that they partner up with particular brands to give you a discount.  Sometimes you’ll be able to get a discount and sometimes you’ll be able to get double the points or however your card point system works.

Watch the fees – Many travellers believe that you need to pay an annual fee to get the best card but this couldn’t be further from the truth.  A lot of the travel based cards on the market have some of the best options don’t have any fees at all.  Don’t just apply for a card simply based on this fact.  Make sure you consider fees as well when you apply for a card.

Watch the expiration dates – Some companies have expiration dates on their airline miles while others don’t.  I would advise that you look for a card that doesn’t have an expiration date because you may find yourself using the points in a few years.  The cards that generally do have expiration dates expire within a year or so.

These are the main options to consider when looking for the perfect airline rewards based credit card.  Make sure that you look everything and consider a lot of the cards on the market.  Remember if you’re loyal to an airline, look at their card first and compare it to the rest.  Once you get your card, you’ll be amazed at how you can build up the rewards and free flights!