Air miles Credit Cards - What are they? (and how can I fly around the world for free!!!)

Airmiles credit cards allow you to accrue Airmiles as you spend. These Airmiles (or points) may be redeemed against flights, car hire or hotels.

For regular travellers, the Airmiles credit card represents a useful device for saving money on flights. But how much must you spend to jet off to the hottest destinations on the globe? Here are our top ten most desirable destinations and the average spend that could take you there.

The Airmiles Top Ten

1. Paris – Art, architecture, music, cheese; Paris has it all. By spending £3000 on your Airmiles card, a short flight and introduction to café society could be yours.
2. Rio De Janeiro – Shop around, and a spend of as little as £25,000 on your card will ensure that you’re whisked away to the land of the Samba and Batucada.
3. Cairo – Egyptology may be racked with curses, but a trip to Cairo certainly won’t put a curse on your Airmiles Card. A £25,000 spend can take you there.
4. Tokyo – There’s no guarantee of bumping into a forlorn Scarlett Johansson in one of the cities many high rise hotels, but a £30,000 spend on your Airmiles card will facilitate a flight to Tokyo.
5. Mumbai – Visit India’s principle port on the Suez Canal in return for a total spend in the region of £30,000.
6. Madrid – The orange and olive groves, Museo Taurino, Santiago Bernabeu and flamenco nightlife of the Spanish capital are a wonder to behold. A £3000 spend on your Airmiles credit card takes you there.
7. New York – Sample the sights and sounds of Woody Allen’s favourite town by spending an average of £32,000 on your Airmiles credit card. You’ve seen the film ‘Manhattan’, now experience Madison Avenue and Central Park for yourself in their full, colourful splendour.
8. Cape Town – In return for a £33,000 spend on your card, the delights of Table Mountain, the Cape Peninsula National Park and the Peninsula bay can be yours.
9. Beijing - The development of Beijing continues to proceed at a rapid pace, and you can involve yourself in this booming economy for a £35,000 spend on your air miles credit card.
10. Sydney – Sports, beer, sports, beer and opera. What more could you ask for? A spend of £60,000 takes you halfway around the world to the land of Home and Away.

What else should I know about Airmiles Credit Cards?

• Airmiles are not an exact quantity. An airmile on one credit card will not necessarily equate to an air mile on another. It’s important to ascertain exactly how many points you need for a free flight before deciding on an Airmiles card.
• You often need to spend a significant amount on your credit card before you are entitled to a free flight. Ensure you spend enough on your credit card annually to reap the benefits. If you’re a low spender then another reward credit card may be better for you.

Always clear the balance

Because the magnitude of rewards is so high with Airmiles cards, many have higher than average interest rates.

It’s imperative that you pay your balance off in full at the end of every month or you’ll have soon paid far more in interest than your free flight is worth.

If you feel that air miles would be of no really use to you, maybe you should consider one of the multitude of cash back credit cards that are on offer these days