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Additional purchases with your card can secure you a ticket home.
Your best choices include cobranded airline credit cards and general travel cards. If you’re looking for flight-specific perks like free checked bags and priority boarding, an airline card is usually the better choice.
But if you want to get a broader collection of perks like earning miles on flight purchases, getting an airline credit or TSA PreCheck and Global Entry fee credit, and you also want to get hotels benefits — consider a general travel credit card.
★★★★★
Whichever airline you choose, redeeming miles for a flight to Japan starts from 35,000 miles plus $5.60 for fees and taxes for an Economy flight. This is according to the United website as of January 2019.
How do I earn the miles?
You can earn 40,000 miles if you spend $2,000 within 3 months of your account opening. You'll also earn 25,000 miles after spending $10,000 in the first 6 months.
Annual Fee | $0 intro annual fee for the first year ($95 thereafter) |
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Purchase APR | 16.49% to 23.49% variable |
Balance transfer APR | 16.49% to 23.49% variable |
Welcome offer | 40,000 miles after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months, plus 25,000 miles after spending $10,000 in the first 6 months |
Rewards | 2x miles at restaurants, hotels and United and 1.5x miles on all other purchases |
★★★★★
If you opt in for a round trip, you'll pay around $62 on additional fees plus 78,000 miles, meaning you'll pay $56.6 more on fees and taxes.
How do I earn the miles?
The card comes with an excellent welcome offer of 70,000 miles when you spend $2,000 in the first 3 months of card membership. Compared to similar cards, you get high value for a hight spending threshold.
By earning the welcome offer, you'll have nearly enough points for a round-trip ticket to Japan.
Annual Fee | $0 intro annual fee for the first year ($99 thereafter) |
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Purchase APR | 15.74% to 24.74% variable |
Balance transfer APR | N/A |
Welcome offer | 70,000 miles after spending $2,000 in the first 3 months |
Rewards | 2x miles on Delta purchases, restaurants and at US supermarkets and 1x miles on all other purchases |
★★★★★
How do I earn the miles?
When you spend $5,000 within 6 months of account opening, you can earn 75,000 bonus points. That's more than enough to convert to Delta SkyMiles and book a flight to Japan.
To get the return ticket, you need to spend about $8,250 on prepaid hotels or flights booked through Amex's travel site.
Annual Fee | $550 |
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Purchase APR | See Pay Over Time APR |
Balance transfer APR | N/A |
Welcome offer | 75,000 points after spending $5,000 in your first 6 months, plus 10x points at US gas stations and US supermarkets on up to $15,000 in combined purchases in the same timeframe |
Rewards | 10x points at US gas stations and US supermarkets on up to $15,000 combined in the first 6 months, 5x points on directly-booked flights on up to $500,000 annually, then 1x points after that and on other purchases |
One-way trips between the US and Japan start from 32,500 miles plus $5.60 for taxes and fees for Economy MileSAAver tickets according to the American Airlines website as of January 2019.
How do I earn the miles?
Spend $2,500 in your first 3 months of card membership and earn 50,000 bonus miles.
Now you need to spend another $7,500 at gas stations, restaurants or American Airlines purchases to get a total of 65,000 miles, which is enough for a round trip to Japan.
Annual Fee | $0 intro annual fee for the first year ($99 thereafter) |
---|---|
Purchase APR | 15.99% to 24.99% variable |
Balance transfer APR | 15.99% to 24.99% variable |
Welcome offer | 50,000 miles after spending $2,500 in the first 3 months |
Rewards | 2x miles on eligible American Airlines purchases, at gas stations and restaurants and 1x miles on all other purchases |
To earn a reward flight to Japan, consider getting a general travel or airline credit card. With an airline card you earn miles on your flights and potentially purchases at restaurants or gas stations. Plus you get airline-specific perks like free checked bags or priority boarding.
With a general travel rewards card, you can convert your points to airline miles. And you may get additional perks at hotels and extra statement credits among other benefits.
However, if you’re not sure whether any of these cards will work for your spending habits, check out other travel credit cards to compare your options.
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