Pilots are the Best Credit Card Salesmen

Miss Blinkin and I made a trip to Lake Tahoe last weekend which was absolutely amazing. We were able to capture gorgeous pictures without the aid of Instagram. But as amazing as Nevada/California was, it’s not -paddle boating on the lake- or -eating In n’ Out Burger- that is occupying my mind. Rather it’s the savvy sales skills of our pilot on the flight from CLT to PHX that has me in awe.

Towards the end of our flight, the turbulence shifted from outside the plan into the aisle as the Captain spoke.

I Have a Special Announcement to Make

“You all are the FIRST to hear about this EXCLUSIVE offer. By signing up for a US Airways Dividend Miles World Mastercard, you could earn UP TO 40,000 miles. These 40,000 miles COULD lead to 2 FREE round-trip tickets to anywhere in the United States.”

Holy garbanzo beans!

“For the LOW cost of an $89 annual fee, you will also be eligible to receive 2 companion tickets each year for $99.”

I was amazed by the reaction.

Typically this is something we hear from a Sales Associate at a Deparment Store and we’re programmed to say “no.” But (apparently) it’s a completely different offer when it comes from a Pilot (someone who most people view as intelligent).

I kindly turned down the brochure from the Flight Attendant but I was one of the few. The team of attendants handed out EVERY credit card brochure that they had.

Credit card applications were raining on the cockpit like confetti.

This offer got less and less exclusive as time went on. We received the same spiel 4 separate times on 4 separate flights but NONE sounded as good as the one coming directly from the Pilot. I also found the “exclusive” offer on their website. Along with the amazing offer, I found the fine print.

Observations:

• You actually earn 30,000 miles after your first swipe and earn the additional 10,000 miles IF you transfer a balance.
• One flight can range from 20,000 miles to 80,000 miles.
• Scheduling appears to be EXTREMELY frustrating. If I want to leave on Thursday and return 2 weeks later on a Tuesday, it’s a great deal. For the traditional travel of Friday-Sunday, not so much…

First off, if you are not a credit card user – shame on you. Between the rewards, protection and perks – credit cards are the most attractive spending option. Notice I say “spending” option, not “borrowing.” If you can’t pay it off within 30 days, you shouldn’t be buying it.

If you are a frequent flyer, some of these airline cards are fantastic. I,  however, haven’t fallen in love with one yet. I prefer to receive cash back in the areas I spend on most – gas, groceries, etc. It’s entirely a personal preference though. I would highly recommend visiting a website where you can compare the various credit cards available. For example, you can compare credit cards at Totally Money.

Swipe wisely.