JetBlue has done a marvelous job of promoting their airline through their perks of leather seating, more leg room, and DirecTV for every seat. Do other airlines supply these benefits? Maybe, but I wouldn’t know because they aren’t nearly as well advertised. Their business has increased tremendously and really stands out in the airline marketplace.
Credit card companies work similarly. As a primary way to acquire new customers, there are a wide variety of credit card options to choose from. Different names, colors, and benefits all make the decision very difficult.
One area to look closely at is the perks you may get with the card. This can include frequent flyer miles, reward points that can be used for online purchases, or simple cash back. Here are a few recommended cards and the offers they provide:
Blue Cash from American Express - This card has a fairly simple reward program. Based on the amount you spent the previous year (and what you bought), you’ll have a certain amount of money credited to your account the subsequent year. You start at a 1.5% rebate for gas, grocery, and drugstore purchases and 0.5% for all other purchases. If you spend over $6,500 over the course of the year, any additional gas, grocery or drugstore purchases gives you 5% back and 1.5% on everything else. To make it even sweeter, there’s also no annual fee!
Hilton HHonors Platinum Card from American Express - This is a hotel rewards card that distributes “points” that can be used toward stays in Hilton and their family of hotels. All purchases contribute to your total, but there are a number of purchases that increase your point total at a quicker rate, including grocery stores, drugstores, gas stations, and restaurants. Again, no annual fee (which is very rare for a hotel-specific credit card)
Citi Driver’s Edge Platinum Select Card - Similar to the Blue Cash, this card offers a 6% rebate on purchases at supermarkets, drugstores and gas stations for the first 12 months and 3% afterwards. All other purchases award you a 1% rebate. In addition, you get $1 in rebates for every 100 miles you drive. These rebates can either be used for online purchases (through Citibank’s ThankYou Network) or car-related expenses (buying, renting, or servicing) This card also does not have an annual fee.
These three cards are excellent options that provide you with additional financial reasons for using your credit card. Just be sure to pay off your balance each month, so that the high interest rate doesn’t ruin the pleasure of any bonus rewards you may earn!
