Travel rewards are what's hot now in the credit card reward program world. They allow frequent fliers to build up the points, using the credit card of their choice airline company. Or they can even use their regular Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or other credit card to build up points on every purchase and redeem them for exotic travel destinations.

Amazingly, even travel Web sites, like Orbitz and Travelocity, are getting into the mix, according to credit card experts. Such choices in the credit card travel arena really let you get the most miles out of your airline reward credit card.

The benefits for these specialized cards, however, only come if you are a dedicated customer. For example, if you tend to fly whatever airline has the cheaper ticket, you're better off getting an all-around airline reward card, such as your typical Visa or MasterCard, which will allow you to redeem your points for practically any airline, or other travel prizes. This holds true if you tend to shop at many different Web sites for airline tickets, and jump at the cheapest chance.

On the other hand, if you tend to shop at the same Web site—say, Expedia—or if you fly the same airline for business over and over, you may be better off if you get their special credit card. The reason is simple: these cards give special benefits to people who stay loyal to

them. For instance, one card may give three reward points for every dollar that you spend at their Web site, but if you shop at another Web site, or use the card for any other purpose, you only earn one point per dollar.

This premise is nothing new, though. Airline reward cards have been around since the 1980s that have been linked to specific airplane companies. These cards are pretty old-hat and simple to understand. The money you spend on them goes directly to adding points to your particular frequent flyer program for that given airline company. What is also a bonus to these cards—and explains why they have lasted so long and still are a popular favorite with frequent fliers—is that they also give your travel points still for every mile that you fly for them. So in that regard, it's like getting double credit for every flight that you purchase. You earn miles for the cost of the flight, and the length of it in miles.

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