Airline strategies AA and Delta

[TheVig]

Here is my current card line up that sees the most use.

 

Amex PRG
Amex Delta Blue

Citi AAdvantage MileUp (Recent PC from Gold. Card is in the mail).

Citi DC

Chase IHG

Thinking of app for the Citi AAdvantage Platinum Select for the 2x on gas and dining to compliment the 2x groceries on the MileUp.

 

Mrs. Vig has an increased desire for domestic travel. Little Vig has a desire for international. Asia and Middle East. Currently I'm sitting on 832k SkyMiles, 187k AAdvantage miles, Chase IHG 140k and 120k Amex MR. I've been heavy with SkyMiles for eternity...…….a shyt load came over from Northwest back in the day. 

 

No travel plans or dates have been set. Anybody here have more than one card with the same airline to pad the mileage account? I'm looking long term, not just the initial sign up bonus.

 

 

[hegemony]

perhaps

FWIW, if for AA you're interested in premium cabins for intl then you're wasting your time unless you'll burn the miles on a decent airline. This summer I flew AA to Europe in C for the first time in a decade and I was shocked at how "bad" it was compared with recent Delta, United, BA trips across the pond... not to mention the flights I had on KE and ANA recently.

[cv91915]

How long do you think it will take to burn the miles you already have, based on how many likely vacations you will realistically take?

 

The Amex Delta products are most likely on the "once per lifetime" bonus plan (unless targeted), so that should answer itself.

 

The Citi AA products are on a 24-month SUB cycle [can't get a bonus on any Citi AA card if you have opened OR closed an AA card in the past 24 months (unless targeted)].  You could put that on a 24-month calendar and grab a SUB every time you are eligible.

 

Not sure about the Barclays AA products.

 

If I wasn't on the AA status treadmill I would focus on URs or MRs (and TY?) and then transfer them to the most opportune program when it's time to fly. 

 

No reason you can't also work the airlines and the UR/MR/TY points in parallel, but since you already have a lot of airline miles I would concentrate spending efforts on the flexible points.

 

Summary: airline cards for SUB, flexible points for ongoing spending (and SUB when possible).

Edited August 6, 2018 by cv91915

[TheVig]

Thank you guys for the feedback. 

[Konrad2012]

So you've been hoarding SkyPesos since the Northwest days?

 

You understand that airline miles essentially depreciate right?

[TheVig]

3 hours ago, Konrad2012 said:

So you've been hoarding SkyPesos since the Northwest days?

 

You understand that airline miles essentially depreciate right?

That amount was at one time a lot higher.