Have some travel we want to do over the next few years and free flights would be great
starting in August we're now paying 2 kid's tuition on a CC to get cash back (should have got a travel card months ago) and we're about to put all of our taxes on a CC for the same reason. Ideally, would like to open a card to rack up travel points and it looks like most cards offer a large pop in points on the front end so that seems good for our situation.
Prelim research seems to make it out that airline specific cards aren't as highly rated, but I assume thats because you're limited to just that airline?

What says the board and what yall use?

I use Chase Sapphire Reserve. Outside of the Airline associated CCs I think Sapphire, AmEx Platinum, and Cap One Venture X.

Sapphire points redeem at 1:1 with partner airlines so that is a bonus and thwy have multiple partners.

Edited: high annual fee but hotels are 10X and flights 5X points. Dining 3X unless with Chase Dining partners then 10X points, rental cars 5x or 10x I forget.

What airport do you use the most?

The Lost said:

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What airport do you use the most?

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Really an even split of both Hobby and Bush

Chase points go 1:1 to either united or southwest

CLB2008 said:

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The Lost said:

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What airport do you use the most?

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Really an even split of both Hobby and Bush

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I have a Chase Sapphire Reserve and SWA Visa. Best of both worlds.

Right now is a good time to go for southwest companion pass - recommend that you look up details, but can be done by getting CC bonuses from Southwest/Chase.

The downside is they don't have a huge international reach, or partners.

https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/credit-cards/earn-southwest-companion-pass

Amex platinum isn't worth the cost

CLB2008 said:

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The Lost said:

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What airport do you use the most?

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Really an even split of both Hobby and Bush

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Chase Sapphire Preferred is going to be your best bet here. Like someone else said, Chase points transfer to United (IAH hub) and Southwest (Hobby hub). Basically any card that has ties to United or Southwest is going to be good for you: Chase Sapphire, United Mileage plus, Southwest rapid rewards etc.

https://rossmclendon.com/TravelWithCreditCardPoints/

A friend of mine put this together a few months back and its a good overview of traveling for free on CC points.

LatinAggie1997 said:

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Sapphire points redeem at 1:1 with partner airlines so that is a bonus and thwy have multiple partners.

Edited: high annual fee but hotels are 10X and flights 5X points. Dining 3X unless with Chase Dining partners then 10X points, rental cars 5x or 10x I forget.

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Also, if a flight you want is not available for FF miles, the travel with the Reserve is a 33% discount when using points. So if the flight is a $600 flight, it will cost you $400 (or 40,000) in points. Same goes for hotels, and even rental cars I think. The Preferred is similar, but only a 20% discount. So a $600 flight would cost $480 (or 48,000) in points. He'll have to compare the other differences to determine if the additional $150 fee is worth it.