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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]OP here - thx for all the input. 
We are family of 4 - no one travels for work. We travel on almost any airline (not Frontier or super low budget) , happy to fly economy , minimal interest in business class/first class, neutral on lounge access as we always try to fly non stop. We travel every Christmas for a week from DC to skiing , travel for summer 1 or 2 trips , one domestic, one international to see family and friends. A few long weekend trips to NYC possibly. No preference for Marriott vs Hilton. Both kids are in HS so will be doing some college visits in next few years that would require flights. Thx! [/quote]

OP, based on what you say in this poinst, I don't think you're the right mentality to take advantage of these points cards. To find those kinds of amazing reward flights you need to be incredibly dedicated to the game, prepared to open and close credit cards multiple times a year, keep track of them, be a heavy spender to accrue the minimum spend across multiple cards, be willing to pay annual fees that can be as much as a thousand dollars, be glued to the internet and notifications for reward flights, be prepared to pounce whenever an airline overs transfer bonuses (once you transfer the points are locked to that airline), and have plenty of flexibility on your travel dates and destinations and willingness to book a year out. If you only travel at Christmas or internationally during peak summer months, you're making it even harder.

You can get a standard Chase Sapphire and just let the miles accumulate and eventually be able to purchase reward flights, which will typically be the equivalent of the cash value of the tickets in points+fees. The real "reward" from travel cards are the sign up bonuses, aka 75,000 points is roughly the same as $750, but consider the opportunity costs of the card fees plus foregoing cash back cards at higher %s. The people who get the most out of the reward cards are high spenders who also spend highly on the premium reward card fees and people who use the points to get discounted business class seats, which will still cost more than paying economy in cash on the same flight. The cards are set up to reward specifically the high spenders because the whole point is to get the high spenders to use those cards, for that is where they make their money. They don't care about regular folks with average spending or travel habits, even normal UMC people.

If you're just a normal spender who only wants one or two credit cards, get the Chase Sapphire, let the points accumulate, and use it for domestic reward flights for the college visits or weekend breaks, or hotels. That's where you're likely to get the most value rather than chasing after elusive flights or organizing your travels around point flight availability, which is never going to be as friendly as you might think. [/quote]

This is just so...overwrought, dramatic and wrong, I don't know where to begin.  I mean use points or don't, it's a hobby like any other, but don't make things up to support your point. [/quote]

Yeah, a lot of inaccuracies and exaggerations, but I think I agree with the outcome- based on the way the OP described their travel patterns, probably best to keep to a simple setup like Sapphire Preferred+Freedom Unlimited.  But plenty of ways to do some light credit card bonus hunting, maybe 2-3 new cards a year across Chase and Amex, and not get that deep into the game.[/quote]

And honestly 2-3 new cards a year is a pretty easy, simple setup to gather enough points for a few trips a year. Some may be keepers, some get closed after a year, but pretty straightforward.[/quote]

Agreed.  But I also totally get the argument that for a lot of people managing that becomes just one more piece of work they have to do.  Those who stay with it enjoy the game/puzzle aspect, it doesn't feel like as much work to them.[/quote]

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