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Top 3 Miles Cards

By , About.com Guide

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Do you carry a balance on your credit card? If so, an air miles card might not be a good choice. Interest rates (expressed in Annual Percentage Rates, or APR) tend to be higher on these kinds of cards. How much do you charge to a credit card? If it's a low figure, you might pay more in annual fees than an occasional plane ticket would cost outright. Here, we rate the eight airline and bank cards in a number of important categories:

1. Best Interest Rates

Among the cards we've included, Capital One has the lowest regular interest rate at 9.9% APR. Wachovia (formerly First Union) comes in second at 13.99%. Delta and Northwest Visa rates are next at about 16.5%.
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2. Annual Fees

Remember that there can be several "annual fees" or "membership fees" for each variety of card. Many offer standard, gold or platinum options, and the price rises with the privileges and credit limits available at the higher levels. Among our choices, National City FirstAir at $45 USD/year and Wachovia AirMiles, AirMiles Plus at $49 offer the lowest annual fees.
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3. Lowest Minimum Miles for a Trip

Capital One MilesOne Card offers the lowest total, at just 18,000 miles for a free trip. Be warned: They break their travel into "zones." The minimum gets you a trip within your home zone, which might not take you very far. National City FirstAir gives a free trip at 20,000 miles.
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