Posts Tagged travel card problems

Not sure if it’s from the credit crunch, but have you noticed miles rewards credit cards looking less and less attractive? It used to be hard enough and restrictive enough but now it’s looking to be just plain not good enough.

For instance, Delta’s frequent flier program SkyMiles recently implemented changes that, in a nutshell, make it considerably harder to redeem free flights. When you fly with them using your accumulated mileage, for instance, you can be expect to be charged an outright $25 for domestic flights and $50 international “fuel charges”, late-booking fees up to $150 for flight schedules under three weeks, another $25 for a plane transfer to another airline (regardless of reason) and a shorter expiration date for your miles rewards. Why not just tell us not to fly with you, Delta?

Citibank’s ThankYou network, in a similar vein, decided to make their travel options a pain where the sun doesn’t shine. Complicating it would be an appropriate way to put it.

For instance, they introduced a new fixed and variable flight option. The fixed type allows you to redeem for the usual miles but adds a mandatory Saturday night hotel stay together with a 14 day advance booking. The variable type removes the Saturday night hotel room and advance booking requirement but costs considerably more mileage.

It’s not just those two either. Several updates on the terms of frequent flier programs and travel benefits on various networks are making cash backs and other rewards look like a more fruitful deal.