Questions and Answers

Hi guys/Lucky!

In about a year and a half to 2 years, my husband and I will be going to the UK (pretty positive on this one) or somewhere in western Europe (a possibility) for me to attend grad school. I was wondering what card or airline affiliated card we should get now to help build up points to use on flights/offer the best benefits for our situation. I want to get started on something now so we can help defray the cost of our flights when we move out there and hopefully have enough for flights for visits back to the US while I’m working on my master’s out there.

I received an email from Delta this week about applying for their Gold American Express and getting 50,000 in points when I spend $1,000 within the first 3 months (which seems pretty great). I also received an email from British Airways to apply for their Visa Signature card, earning 50,000 Avios when I spend $2,000 within the first 3 months on the card, and earning an additional 25,000 Avios when I spend $10k or 50,000 Avios when I spend $20k within the first year. Which also sounds really great. I know that the bonus points are ones we can easily

We currently have a Southwest Premier Visa for the past 3 years or so (a spur of the moment application by my husband. I didn’t find out until after he applied, so there wasn’t much of a chance for me to look at all of the options. I wasn’t too thrilled with him, but we do mostly use SW for our domestic flights), but I want something that will be more helpful for us when we live in Europe/UK. We currently use the card for most everyday life purchases, majority of our bills, plus things for the rental unit we own and supplies for the handyman side job my husband does for a realty company. We don’t travel much right now, as I’m in school and not working much (double majoring and working on an international relations certificate as well), but it is likely that we’ll be going to the UK or Ireland next year, either as a vacation or for me to personally visit some universities I’m interested in.

So, my conundrum is: which card(s) would be best suited for our situation?

I appreciate all of your help!

Leila

Welcome! Are you wanting to travel in premium cabins back & forth across the pond or are you ok with economy? That might change the strategy depending on your answer.

Also, in what part of the US are you based? If you’re closer to one hub vs. another that could make a difference too.

You’ll definitely want a card with no foreign transaction fees so you can keep using it while you’re abroad.

[QUOTE=”MidSouth Skier, post: 9086, member: 184″]Welcome! Are you wanting to travel in premium cabins back & forth across the pond or are you ok with economy? That might change the strategy depending on your answer.

Also, in what part of the US are you based? If you’re closer to one hub vs. another that could make a difference too.

You’ll definitely want a card with no foreign transaction fees so you can keep using it while you’re abroad.[/QUOTE]

Hi! We don’t mind economy, but wouldn’t mind the possibility of premium cabins on occasion.

We’re currently based in SLC, so we have a decent delta hub where we’re at. My husband’s side of the family is here, but mine is in WA, so Sea-Tac would be the closest big hub for them, and Spokane being the closer intl airport.

And definitely a card with no intl fees! Our SW visa doesn’t have intl fees, which was fantastic for when we were in Ireland and I was in Russia last summer.

What about churning Alaska Airlines cards? Not for use overseas but to build up your mileage balances. [URL=’https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mileage-plan/partners/partner-overview.aspx’]They partner with a number of airlines[/URL] that might be useful to you. Of course the trick to using Alaska miles on Delta is that there must be low-level space – and there rarely is on Delta – but it would give you a lot of choices.

Anyone else have suggestions?

AmEx SPG? Good flexibility and no forex fees?