Two Associated Press Travel Writers Debate Merits of Loyalty Card Programs

Are frequent flyer miles worth the effort? This isn't the most earth-shattering of all travel questions, but there are distinct viewpoints on that question, both pro and con. Two aviation reporters of the Associated Press -- Scott Meyerowitz and Samantha Bonkamp -- recently debated the issue in a story sent out to newspapers on the A.P. wire, and if you haven't seen that article, you might be interested in some of the points made in it.

Against the decision to pile up frequent flyer miles are the following points made by Bonkamp:

-- It can often be hard for the casual traveler to rack up enough miles for a free flight, and you can't expect to be upgraded just for signing up;

-- The cards whose use earns frequent flyer points are expensive ones: they tend to have higher interest rates than the normal variety, and yearly fees are also higher than for more traditional cards;

-- Miles expire and they take some work to maintain.

In favor of paying attention to frequent flyer possibilities are the following points made by Mayerowitz:

-- Just one round-trip flight between Washington, D.C. and Orlando earns enough miles for subscriptions to either Sports Illustrated or Entertainment Weekly;

-- Many hotel programs are particularly generous to even the lowest-tiered members, giving away mini-bar credits or free Wi-Fi;

-- Many credit cards offer a generous signup bonus, often large enough for a free domestic flight or to top off an account. They often also waive the annual fee for the first year.

So there you have some of the key arguments. Are you convinced?