• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Ask Liz Weston

Get smart with your money

  • About
  • Liz’s Books
  • Speaking
  • Disclosure
  • Contact

frequent flier miles

Q&A: Frequent flier cards

March 13, 2017 By Liz Weston

Dear Liz: I have an airline credit card but I find it really hard to use the frequent flier miles I get. The “free” flights have gotten more expensive (they take more miles) and harder to find. I’m getting sick of paying an annual fee for nothing. Would I be better off with a cash-back card?

Answer: Good cash-back rewards cards typically offer rebates of 1% to 2% on most purchases, and some have rotating categories that offer rebates of 5% to 6%. If you’re not an elite frequent flier or trying to amass miles for a special trip, then putting most of your spending on a cash-back card can make sense.

Think twice about closing that airline card, though. It likely offers some perks worth keeping, such as free checked bags and priority boarding. If you take one or two flights a year, the card may pay for itself.

Filed Under: Credit Cards, Q&A Tagged With: credit card, frequent flier miles, q&a, reward cards

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

October 13, 2016 By Liz Weston

phone-scammerToday’s top story: Protecting yourself from debt collection scams. Also in the news: Building a small emergency fund while living paycheck to paycheck, how Millennials can save for retirement, and how to stop wasting your frequent flier miles.

Spot Debt Collection Scams and Protect Your Money
Defending yourself from scams.

Saving $1,000 When You’re Living Paycheck to Paycheck
Building a small emergency fund.

Deck is stacked against Millennial savers: Here’s how to succeed
How to save and invest for retirement.

How to stop wasting your frequent flier miles
Don’t leave any miles unused.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: debt collection scams, emergency funds, frequent flier miles, millennials and retirement

Friday’s need-to-know money news

July 29, 2016 By Liz Weston

money-saving-militaryToday’s top story: Controlling your finances by ignoring short-term frenzies. Also in the news: A new definition of affordable auto insurance, how military members can save money while moving, and how to estimate the value of your travel rewards.

Control Your Finances by Ignoring the Short-Term Frenzy
Resist being reactionary.

What’s ‘Affordable’ Auto Insurance? Now There’s an Answer
Defining the parameters.

7 Ways Military Members Can Save Money When Moving
Making the costs more bearable.

A Rule of Thumb to Estimate the Value of Your Travel Rewards Miles
What are your miles worth?

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: affordable auto insurance, auto insurance, frequent flier miles, military, moving expenses, tips, travel rewards

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

February 10, 2015 By Liz Weston

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: Deciphering your free credit scores. Also in the news: How to keep your frequent flier miles from expiring, the terms first-time homebuyers need to know, and why you should pay with a credit card, not debit, when renting a car.

How to Make Sense of All of Your Free Credit Scores
Know your range.

How to Prevent Your Miles from Expiring
Don’t let your miles go to waste.

10 Terms First-Time Homebuyers Should Know
Knowing how to talk to lenders.

Pay for Car Rentals With Credit, Not Debit, to Keep Your Score Intact
How to avoid a hard inquiry on your credit report.

How to get your teens on the right retirement track
It’s never too early.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: car rentals, Credit Scores, first time homebuyers, free credit scores, frequent flier miles, mortgages, Retirement, teens and money

Friday’s need-to-know money news

February 6, 2015 By Liz Weston

HealthCare-Medical-Identity-TheftToday’s top story: What to do if you’re an Anthem insurance customer. Also in the news: TurboTax stops state filings, how your own personal lottery can add up to big savings, and how your pet can fetch a tax deduction.

Millions of Anthem Customers Exposed: What It Means for You
Find out what you should do if you’re an Anthem customer.

TurboTax halts state filings amid fraud outbreak
What this means for TurboTax customers.

Pay Your Own Personal “Lottery” to Save Money Regularly
Then ten dollar a day habit that could add up to big bucks.

How Your Pet Can Dig Up a Tax Deduction
A deduction, not a dependent.

4 frequent flier mile pro tips that anyone can use
Getting the most from your miles.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: Anthem, data theft, frequent flier miles, pets, Savings, tax deductions, Taxes, TurboTax

Primary Sidebar

Search

Copyright © 2025 · Ask Liz Weston 2.0 On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in