Mileage Deals and Dogs
BEST
MCI/WORLDCOM
Up to 5,000-mile sign-up bonus for long distance, plus 5 miles per dollar spent.
CONTINENTAL AIRLINES/CHASE VISA OR MASTERCARD
First-year rate of 7.9% means you're paying only a half-cent per mile. Get rid of the card when the rate spikes up in the second year.
NORTHWEST'S AND CONTINENTAL'S OFF-PEAK AWARDS
Snatch up a U.S. ticket for 20,000 miles, except in June through August.
TWA/EAB VISA OR MASTERCARD
Card comes with $100 flight coupon, lowering cost of miles to less than 1 cents apiece.
WORST
NORTHWEST/U.S. BANK GOLD VISA
With a $90 annual fee and only 1,000 bonus miles for signing up, you pay 2.5 cents extra per mile.
WEEKLY E-MAIL SPECIALS
Your miles are worth less than a cent when you combine miles and dollars to buy tickets.
AMERICAN EXPRESS MEMBERSHIP REWARDS
High annual fee and no sign-up bonus mean other cards are better for mileage fans.
BUYING MILES
American, for example, lets you top off an account by buying 5,000 miles for $125. Cost: 2.5 cents per mile.
Return to main story
| 
