Hey everyone, I'm new to the whole frequent flyer and mileage credit card thing. This past weekend, I flew on the United 787 in first class for no other reason than just doing that (flew iah->lax->iah same night same dreamliner). I also was already planning to go to Texas for the US Grand Prix in Austin so it worked out. Realizing the potential to earn some nice frequent flyer miles, I signed up for United Mileageplus and got a Mileageplus explorer card. Between the signing bonus on the mileage plus card and the miles earned on this trip for the flights as well as hotels and rental cars (all of which were booked through United using their promotions and partners), I've now got around 40,000 miles.
Before this, I had taken exactly one trip in my adult life that involved flying. So I'm trying to figure out what now (btw I live in Orlando, Fl). Thanks to the Circuit of the Americas, I'll now be travelling to Texas at least once, if not twice a year for Formula 1 and the World Endurance Championship. I have family in Austin and Dallas so lodging will probably be unecessary, although rental cars may be for a day or two. The other major travel destination I'd see myself going on a regular basis is Colorado, and specifically the San Juan region (I'm also a big train buff and love the Durango & Silverton as well as Cumbres and Toltec). I also have a friend who goes to school in Rochester and some family in North Carolina that I'd like to visit more often.
International travel is something I'm somewhat interested in (I'd like to go to Europe once probably, maybe more), but my career is one that will provide a comfortable middle class income but not much more, so the costs involved are scary, especially since I have a hard time picturing myself tolerating economy seating for 8-12 hours.
So my question is this - should I stick with United, Mileageplus, and the explorer card? They offer one stop service to pretty much everywhere I would want to go, and I've already got the miles with them. I should be able to put $25k a year on the Mileageplus card in normal expenses to get the 10k mileage bonus (the one spending I wouldn't be able to do is my $5kish annual spending at Costco which would have to go on an Amex). I also travel some on Amtrak so I'll get a few miles there. If I do, how do I decide between using miles vs paying cash for a ticket (and maybe using the miles for a class upgrade)? Would the Mileageplus club card be a worthwhile upgrade with its 1.5 miles per $?
Or is it worthwhile for me to use up the points I have but but get a different rewards credit card and start earning my rewards on that and be more agnostic about my airline choice? My credit score is excellent - over 720 - and I do not carry a balance month to month. Thanks for the help.
Before this, I had taken exactly one trip in my adult life that involved flying. So I'm trying to figure out what now (btw I live in Orlando, Fl). Thanks to the Circuit of the Americas, I'll now be travelling to Texas at least once, if not twice a year for Formula 1 and the World Endurance Championship. I have family in Austin and Dallas so lodging will probably be unecessary, although rental cars may be for a day or two. The other major travel destination I'd see myself going on a regular basis is Colorado, and specifically the San Juan region (I'm also a big train buff and love the Durango & Silverton as well as Cumbres and Toltec). I also have a friend who goes to school in Rochester and some family in North Carolina that I'd like to visit more often.
International travel is something I'm somewhat interested in (I'd like to go to Europe once probably, maybe more), but my career is one that will provide a comfortable middle class income but not much more, so the costs involved are scary, especially since I have a hard time picturing myself tolerating economy seating for 8-12 hours.
So my question is this - should I stick with United, Mileageplus, and the explorer card? They offer one stop service to pretty much everywhere I would want to go, and I've already got the miles with them. I should be able to put $25k a year on the Mileageplus card in normal expenses to get the 10k mileage bonus (the one spending I wouldn't be able to do is my $5kish annual spending at Costco which would have to go on an Amex). I also travel some on Amtrak so I'll get a few miles there. If I do, how do I decide between using miles vs paying cash for a ticket (and maybe using the miles for a class upgrade)? Would the Mileageplus club card be a worthwhile upgrade with its 1.5 miles per $?
Or is it worthwhile for me to use up the points I have but but get a different rewards credit card and start earning my rewards on that and be more agnostic about my airline choice? My credit score is excellent - over 720 - and I do not carry a balance month to month. Thanks for the help.