If you do not fly commercial airlines on a regular basis you may wonder why there are so many credit cards dedicated to frequent flyer programs.  The simple and short answer is that the frequent flyer rewards system can yield some very attractive perks in a very short time and then provide substantial rewards over time for those who do fly often. Airline reward programs were the original rewards promotion for credit cards many years ago. The reason airlines and banks made this happen boiled down to a couple simple concepts. First, airline tickets are high priced items and are usually purchased with a credit card. Second the profit margin on most business class flight of the time was very high.  The idea of giving free flights back to the consumer for a little dedication to a particular credit card and specific airline was an easy decision and credit card rewards were born.

But times have changed, and mostly for the better.  Today the offers you will find here, for the most part, do not have blackout dates, and do not have numerous restrictions. Many cards are airline independent and flights can be redeemed on any carrier. Competition is a good thing, but if you want the best ratio of purchases to rewards and you tend to fly on the same carrier often, choosing a card offer by a particular airline will generate the most rewards in the quickest time frame. Additionally, many cards now have a “teaser” that provides an extra incentive to apply for a new card by offering bonus miles, sign-up points and free flights. So, as you will find reiterated across this site, spend a little time, examine the offers and select the card that suit your situation best.