Chase AirTran Airways A+ Rewards Visa Signature Review (discontinued)
Last updated 1/7/2013.
The Facts
The Math
It is up to you to figure out how much a A+ Reward Dollar (we will call a point for our discussion) values. Since a round-trip flight on AirTran or Southwest costs 19,200 points, you are achieving 1 cent/point if the flight costs $192. If you use it carefully it shouldn't be too hard to achieve higher value. There are several interesting things about the A+ Rewards program. They allow one-way redemption on AirTran and Southwest - so one-way coach costs 8 Credits, i.e., 9,600 points. Business class redemption costs double points - a round-trip business class costs 32 Credits (note while AirTran offers business class, Southwest only has coach). You can even redeem A+ Rewards Credits on any other airlines in the world in coach class but they cost much more: 32 Credits for a round-trip within contiguous 48 U.S., 50 Credits for a round-trip between contiguous 48 U.S. and Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, and 100 Credits (=120,000 points) for a round-trip anywhere else in the world.
AirTran Visa vs. FIA Fidelity Amex: It depends on your spending as well as your value of A+ Rewards points. Let us assume your total annual spending is $B while $A goes to 2x categories, and you value a point at y cents, to beat Fidelity Amex, you need y% x $A + y% x$B = 2% x $B + $69, i.e., y=(2B+6900)/(A+B). If A=6,000 and B=30,000, then y=1.86 cent.
The Conclusion
AirTran A+ Rewards Visa is a good card to carry for AirTran and Southwest flyers. However, our biggest question is that how long we will have two separate programs between AirTran and Southwest. But at least, get the signup bonus before they finally combine the two - check out our Deals page.
The Facts
- Annual Fee: $69
- Signup Bonus: 16 A+ Rewards Credits and two business class upgrades
- Rewards: 2x AirTran and Southwest and their hotels and car rental partners, 1x everything else
- Best Use of A+ Rewards Dollars: A+ Rewards is the frequent flyer program of AirTran Airways. AirTran has merged with Southwest Airlines but their programs have not been fully integrated, so we still have two separate programs and credit cards as of now. Note the rewards you earn from the Chase credit card are called A+ Rewards Dollars. You will receive 1 A+ Rewards Credit for each 1,200 A+ Rewards Dollars you accumulate. A round-trip flight in coach on AirTran or Southwest costs 16 A+ Rewards Credits, i.e., 19,200 A+ Rewards Dollars. This works very similarly to the old Southwest Rapid Rewards program before it was revamped.
- Other Benefits: You earn 2 A+ Rewards Credits upon each anniversary.
The Math
It is up to you to figure out how much a A+ Reward Dollar (we will call a point for our discussion) values. Since a round-trip flight on AirTran or Southwest costs 19,200 points, you are achieving 1 cent/point if the flight costs $192. If you use it carefully it shouldn't be too hard to achieve higher value. There are several interesting things about the A+ Rewards program. They allow one-way redemption on AirTran and Southwest - so one-way coach costs 8 Credits, i.e., 9,600 points. Business class redemption costs double points - a round-trip business class costs 32 Credits (note while AirTran offers business class, Southwest only has coach). You can even redeem A+ Rewards Credits on any other airlines in the world in coach class but they cost much more: 32 Credits for a round-trip within contiguous 48 U.S., 50 Credits for a round-trip between contiguous 48 U.S. and Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, and 100 Credits (=120,000 points) for a round-trip anywhere else in the world.
AirTran Visa vs. FIA Fidelity Amex: It depends on your spending as well as your value of A+ Rewards points. Let us assume your total annual spending is $B while $A goes to 2x categories, and you value a point at y cents, to beat Fidelity Amex, you need y% x $A + y% x$B = 2% x $B + $69, i.e., y=(2B+6900)/(A+B). If A=6,000 and B=30,000, then y=1.86 cent.
The Conclusion
AirTran A+ Rewards Visa is a good card to carry for AirTran and Southwest flyers. However, our biggest question is that how long we will have two separate programs between AirTran and Southwest. But at least, get the signup bonus before they finally combine the two - check out our Deals page.