Sticking with one airline card is often a better bet. American Airlines is offering new AAdvantage cardholders a 5,000-mile bonus and a cross-country trip for 17,500 miles (but the card has a high $85 annual fee).
Or consider sticking with a simple cash-back card, like American Express Blue or National City’s CashBuilder card. You can earn as much as $1,000 a year in cash rebates. And, with that kind of dough, you can buy a ticket almost any time, anywhere.
