People ask me everyday which card I use for the majority of my credit card spend. It is the SPG Personal card from American Express. Here are the reasons why:

1. No blackout dates on redemptions

2. $0 annual fee first year and low $45 renewal (I usually get a retention bonus if I ask at renewal time)

3.The "cash and points" redemption option is clearly the best in the industry offering the highest return on your points. The cash and points option is not always available, but do check it out when you see it.

4. The card gives a 5,000 airline mile bonus when converting points into airline miles in blocks of 20,000. So 20K SPG becomes 25K airline miles. (this means you are earning 1.25 miles per $ instead of the typical 1 mile per $)

5. Points can be transferred into over 30 different airline program and other programs

6. People that live at the same mailing address can transfer point between themselves without charge. (stop and think about this one)

7. An SPG point brings the highest trade value on the Flyertalk Coupon Connection forum of all the hotel points or airline miles available. You are getting your highest return per dollar spent.

8. I'm not the only one that believes in this card. It wins the Freddie Award almost every year as the best all around travel credit card.
　
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Humbled by the Poker Gods

Here I sit at the airport 4:30 AM trying to get home to Michigan. The Poker Gods have whipped me bad. My flight is not until 11:35 PM, so I'm standing by for the 3 flights this morning to Chicago in hopes of getting home a day early. Unfortunately every flight is overbooked. My earliest try is the 6:10AM which is over by 6 people. The 1K rep said this would be my best shot as the later two are more overbooked and less likely to have no shows.

It seems that United has reduced capacity to the point that most of their flights are flying full or close to it. That is good for them, but could lead to a long day for this frugal traveller.