Weigh card costs vs. rewards
If you're interested in paying for airline tickets with a rewards card, shop for your card accordingly, says Maxine Sweet, vice president of public education for credit bureau Experian.
Two points to consider: Do you get a signing bonus? (Some issuers will give you a boatload of free miles, she says.) And will you earn more in travel than you spend for the annual fee?
With miles, "You use them a lot faster than you earn them," she says. Experienced fliers know that a card that gives a bonus to start can be a good way to get free or discounted airfare.
And, "Smart fliers know it can be worth it to pay for a rewards card if they use it enough to earn a trip that costs more than the annual fee," says Sweet.
But the convenience of a card and all those miles won't amount to much if you're carrying a balance and paying interest. Charge only what you can pay in full every month, Sweet says.
