Tag Archives for bank of america.
Bank of America has just launched the Air France KLM World Elite Mastercard.
Air France KLM Flying Blue has been one of the international programs most keen on that sweet, sweet U.S. credit card revenue. They’re a transfer partner of American Express, Chase, and Citibank. And now they have their own US-issued co-brand.
There are some creative elements to the card, and will help those looking for Air France elite status.
This is the best offer I’ve seen yet for an Alaska Airlines Signature Visa from Bank of America: 20,000 miles plus two board room passes on approval, 1000 additional miles for applying online, plus the standard annual $50 companion ticket. The $75 fee isn’t waived, but the benefits strike me as worth it — enough miles to upgrade two transcon flights, for instance. The best bonus I’ve seen previously for this card was 10,000 miles. So a big thanks to reader David for the heads up. Update: I understand this is a promotion intended to ‘come out’ November 1, but they apparently made it live a bit early. I’ve put in my application..
The Arizona Republic compares the two USAirways co-branded credit cards and correctly sides with the Barclays/Juniper Bank Mastercard product that I’ve been touting the past couple of days over the stale Bank of America card.
I’ve written previously about USAirways dumping Bank of America in favor of Juniper Bank (over $400 million cash infusion from the new bank certainly helps with that decision). The credit card was supposed to be available January 1, but the website still shows a ‘coming in 2006’ graphic. I’m anxiously awaiting details like annual fee, signup bonus, and elite qualifying miles for reaching a spending threshold, but I do know that it will offer 1.5 miles per dollar spent for the first 12 months of cardmembership and it will give 3 miles per dollar spent with USAirways (industry standard is 2).
Bank of America, which is being replaced by Juniper Bank as issuer of USAirways’ co-branded credit card, is suing the airline for breach of contract. Bank of America claims it has exclusive rights to offer a co-branded card through December 2008. Juniper Bank has been sold the exclusive right after December 2008… but their deal with USAirways involves a two-year “transition period” in which both banks can issue a card.
The offer for an America West Visa Platinum has improved — 10,000 bonus miles after your first purchase if you apply online.That just more or less brings the signup bonus to industry norms, and so I’d only get this card (which comes with an annual fee) if I really wanted America West miles in particular, though other cards like the Starwood American Express will still earn the points more efficiently for regular spending.
Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel -- a topic he has covered since 2002.
Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »
