Changing The Face Of Airline Credit Cards by:Robert Alan

People who apply for airline credit cards today will find that the application process is fairly straightforward

. They will also find that reading the details of their terms and benefits isn't very difficult for them to do. Moreover, they will find that they understand what they do and don't get from their airline credit card and can even explain that information to someone else if asked. That's something that's important to credit card consumers but it wasn't always the case when it came to airline credit cards. It was through direct consumer pressure that these cards came to be so clear and easy to understand.

The Way That Airline Cards Used to Be

It used to be very difficult for people to understand the terms and benefits of their airline credit cards. Many people would get an airline credit card only to discover that it couldn't be used for the airline that they were booking a flight on. Others would accumulate the necessary amount of points to be awarded with a free airline trip but they would learn that "blackout dates" inhibited them from actually using those points during any time of year when it was convenient to travel. This made people start to get really frustrated with airline credit cards. They liked the idea of using them but found that actually trying to make use of them wasn't something that was easy to do.

Customers Demanded Change

Instead of just griping about the problems that they had with their airline credit cards, customers banded together and demanded that changes be made. Consumers could have chosen to deal with the airline credit card problem in other ways. They could have stopped using the cards or they could have used them with the terms that were already in place. However, they recognized that there was a way to make these cards work to their benefit if only they could figure out how. They worked with consumer groups and legislators to set guidelines for lenders.

The Way That Airline Cards Are Now

The changes that were demanded by consumers created a different type of airline credit card. Some of the restrictions are still in place. For example, some airline credit cards still have blackout dates that restrict travel (although this is getting increasingly rare). However, what's different is that customers are aware of those restrictions in advance. When you apply for airline credit cards today, you can clearly see what the limitations are on those cards. You can also see what the benefits are going to be, which airlines it's going to work with and what you need to do in order to maximize your points. By demanding that airlines and lenders be clearer in the way that they present airline credit cards to consumers, customers were able to make changes that benefited them as a whole group. The result is that there are now more airline credit cards to choose from and customers can understand how to select the ones that are right for their needs.

About the author

Robert Alan is an editor for http://www.CreditCardAssist.com and frequently contributing writer on various credit card-related topics. Find more free information, tips and advice from Robert on the best airline credit cards at http://www.creditcardassist.com/airline/creditcards.html

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