| There is nothing quite like taking a vacation to a | | | | the cheapest fares to places I frequently visit, and |
| warm, sunny destination, especially during the most | | | | what companies it had frequent flyer miles credit |
| busy and stressful time at work. The absolute | | | | card programs with. From those I decided on the |
| freedom of dodging all duties to lie out on a beach | | | | company I trusted most, and the card that also had |
| sipping fruity drinks garnished with an umbrella is | | | | the best features for my personal situation. The top |
| something all people should experience at least once. | | | | things to consider are if the rewards can be applied |
| Of course, I include myself in that category of | | | | to an airline you might actually use, if any black-out |
| people that ought to experience the freedom, as I | | | | dates coincide with your preferred time to vacate |
| have not really experienced anything similar to | | | | and if the rewards will expire before you can |
| freedom since the 4th grade. Just like everyone else, | | | | accumulate enough miles for a first-class ticket to |
| I'm tangled in the web of day-to-day work, I don't | | | | Maui. |
| have the money to go anywhere remotely close to | | | | I couldn't be more pleased with my credit card |
| warmth and sun, and if I skirted my duties for a | | | | choice. Aside from the fact that I fantasize of islands |
| random tropical vacation, I'd return home to find that | | | | every time I remove it from my wallet, it works |
| my employer would have permanently skirted me. | | | | perfectly for me. I can literally fund vacations with |
| However, the middle of my three problems is in the | | | | nothing but patience and purchases that I have to |
| process of being solved. With my frequent flyer | | | | make already. In essence I am getting frequent flyer |
| credit card program, I receive frequent flyer miles on | | | | miles for free. |
| purchases I make daily. Without ever setting foot on | | | | Right now I'm saving up my miles for a trip to Hawaii |
| an airplane, in fact, I might be able to gather enough | | | | - a trip that my employers will actually know about, |
| miles over time to cover my entire ticket to a place | | | | that is, contrary to the freedom I extolled earlier. |
| where the sun is actually visible on a regular basis. | | | | Each time I use my card, on anything from groceries, |
| At first I was awed by the various frequent flyer | | | | to clothes, to gas, to gifts, I get a little bit closer to |
| miles credit cards available. Every single credit card | | | | Honolulu. I can feel the lei draped over my neck |
| issuer seemed to offer so many different flavors | | | | when I pump my gas, I feel the sand playfully |
| that I was afraid to commit to any particular one, in | | | | warming my bare feet when I buy a gallon of milk, |
| fear of missing a better deal with a card I had not | | | | and I can hear the clumsy waves tumbling over one |
| yet looked at. | | | | another when I buy a new dress shirt and tie. |
| So I did a little research. I checked what airline had | | | | |