07-25-2013, 08:22 PM
I actually like the frequent flier programs. With a very small amount of organization you can reap very large travel rewards from just your regular occasional flights and credit card spending/sign up bonuses on your regular expenses (groceries, gas, amazon, etc). The trick is that you have to be a tiny bit organized (and there are websites like award wallet that do exactly that for you) and ensure that you pay the balance every month so you don't get hit by any bank fees. In fact, some of the programs save you money on your regular travel (my current airline credit card gives me free checked baggage for two (normally $50 for domestic flights via most airlines).