The Lukoil Credit Card is designed for those who use Lukoil as their main gasoline station when they fill up their tank with gasoline. Let’s take a closer look at this card.

Rewards – The Lukoil credit card pays cardholders 4% rebates when they fill their gasoline at Lukoil and Getty stations. Other other purchases, you’ll earn the standard 1% rebates. For the first 60 days, new cardholders earn 8% rebates on gasoline purchases with Lukoil and Getty and 2% on regular purchases.

Fees – There is no annual fee for this card.

The big question is how does Lukoil compare against it’s peers? There are really two sets of peers. The first is dedicated station specific cards like Lukoil and the second set of cards are those where you can earn reward points at any gas station.

The 4% rebates that Lukoil pays out to card holders puts in at the upper end of the range among it’s peers. There are cards like Shell, BP and Marathon where members can earn 5% rebates. So Lukoil loses out to these cards just in terms of the rebbates paid. But it also beats other cards like Hess (which only pay 3%).

Lukoil versus Discover OPEN Road – As as we will see, the Lukoil has better comparisons against cards that let you earn rebates in any station. The first comparison we will make will be against the Discover OPEN Road Card. The Lukoil beats Discover because the 4% rebate is better than the 2% rebates that Discover holders can earn on gasoline and restaurant purchases. Furthermore, Discover caps the rebates you can earn on these two category of expenses at $250 monthly spend. So in my opinion, Lukoil is better (if you only fill your gas at Lukoil) than the Discover OPEN Road card.

Lukoil versus Blue Cash Everyday – The Blue Cash Everyday from American Express pas 2% on gasoline, while the Lukoil’s 4% is double that amount. In for gasoline, we are talking double the rebates versus the ability to earn half that at any station. But the Blue Cash does pay 3% rebates on groceries and 2% on department store purchases.

Lukoil versus Costco – The Costo credit card is issued by Amex and it has both a consumer and a business version (which pays different rebates on gas purchases). The consumer version pays 3% rebates on gas, 2% on travel and restaurant expenses. Hence, it loses out to Lukoil on the gas rebates but offers consumers the chance to earn extra rebates for travel and dining expenses. However, the Costco business version allows to earn 4% rebates on gasoline (though capped at $12,000 in annual gasoline spend), 3% on dining and 2% on travel expenses. So I think at the margin, the Lukoil card is bested by the Costco business credit card because 4% for the costco card applies to any gas station. Furthermore, you also get extra rebates on dining and travel purchases.

Lukoil versus PenFed – PenFed has a Penfed Gas and Cash Rewards Card that allows you to earn 5% rebates on gas and 2% on groceries. Finally, the Lukoil has met it’s match. The Penfed card beats it in gasoline and also in the grocery rebate area.

Firstly, let’s look at the pros and cons of this card.

Pros – This card gives you 4% rebates for Lukoil gas purchases. While 4% is not at the top of the class (which happens to be 5%), it is still better than the 2% to 3% that most cards offer on gas rebates.

Cons – The major disadvantage of this card (and it applies to all stations specific gas card) is that you can only use it at Lukoil! And I guess you can argue that not having 5% rebates on has is a big negative?

Opinion – The Lukoil credit card will appeal to folks who use Lukoil and Getty exclusively for their gasoline needs. If you are one of those, then this card is made just for you and you can save quite a bit by using this card. I personally find that Lukoil stations tend to charge higher prices (I have BP and Sunoco around the corner as well). If you use other gas stations as well, then you should consider a card that pays you rebates for any gasoline purchases. Below are some suggestions.

The first to consider is the TrueEarnings(R) Business Card from Costco and American Express, especially if you are a Costco member. (Note: you do not need a business to get this card. Use you SSN and you will be considers a sole proprietor). Though you get the same rebates on gas purchases from the Costco card, you can earn them at any gas station. Perhaps the better card to get is the Penfed Gas and Cash Rewards Visa because you can earn more for gas rebates (5% versus 4%). However, you do need to be a Penfed member to get this card.

The Gulf Credit Card is designed for folks who fill up their gasoline at Gulf Stations and hopefully keep them loyal. But how does this card stack in the competitive world of gas credit cards? Let us find out.

Rewards – The Gulf credit card allows you to earn 3% rebates when you make any purchases at Gulf gas stations. For all other regular purchases (except gasoline at any other stations), you earn 1% rebates.

Fees – There is no annual fee for this card.

In this section, we are going to compare this card with station specific cards as well as cards that let you earn gas rebates at any station. The 3% rebates that this card gives at their station falls in the middle of the pack for dedicated gas cards. Other cards that pay 3% include the Hess Visa. Lukoil pays 4% and Shell, BP and Marathon all pay 5% rebates for gasoline at the respective stations. So compared to other gas cards, it is merely average.

But how does it fare against other cash back cards that let’s you earn gas rebates at any station?

Gulf vs Discover OPEN Road – The Discover OPEN Road Card is Discover’s gas card and it pays 2% rebates for gasoline and restaurant expenses for up to $250 in spending (in these two categories) a month. So right off the bat, the Gulf card beats the Discover gas card. Having said that, the Discover cards has an online shopping portal that allows you to earn 5% to 20% from shopping with their online merchant partners. This is a feature that Gulf does not have.

Gulf vs Amex Blue Cash Everyday – The Amex Blue Cash has changed to a non tier formula and is now called the Blue Cash Everyday. It pays 2% rebates on gasoline purchases, which is lower than the 3% Gulf pays. But the Blue Cash Everyday also pays 3% rebates on groceries and 2% on department store purchases. So while the Gulf beat the Blue Cash in gasoline rebates, it loses on the grocery and department store rebate category.

Gulf vs Costco Credit Card – The Gulf credit card has finally met it’s match in the American Express Costco Card, which pays 3% on gasoline at all stations (versus 3% for the Gulf at only gulf stations). In addition, Costco also pays 2% rebates on travel and dining expense which the Gulf does not. So here, the Costco clearly beats the Gulf card. The only snag is that it only makes sense to get the Costco card if you are a member.

Gulf vs PenFed Visa Gas/Cash Back – The PenFed Visa Platinum Gas/Cash Back Rewards Card blows away the Gulf card because they pay 5% rebates for gasoline at any station and 2% at groceries. Though you can only earn rebates for up to $50,000 in annual spending, it should not be a problem for most folks.

First, let us list out the pros and cons of this card.

Pros – can’t really think of any here.

Cons – 3% rebates puts it in the middle of the pack among it’s peers and they are simply cards which pay either similar rebates on gasoline and yet allow you to earn them at any gas stations or cards that simply pay more (4% or 5%).

Opinion – The Gulf credit card will obviously suit those who pump their gas exclusively at Gulf stations. If you are one of those folks, then this card is specifically designed for you. You also get a nice 3% rebates for any purchases (gas or not) at Gulf stations (though it is not the highest rebate paid by a gas credit card). However, the problem with this card is that 3% on gasoline (with no other categories thrown in) just does not cut it today. If you are the sort of person that uses a few stations for your gasoline needs, then you will need to get a credit card which simply pays you a rebate on any gas station purchases.

Other Gas Cards to Consider – If you use other gas stations as well, here are some other cards to consider. The first to consider is the TrueEarnings(R) Card from Costco and American Express, especially if you are a Costco member. It matches the 3% of the Gulf card (but you can earn them at any gas station) and you also earn 2% rebates on travel and dining as well.

Another card to consider is the PenFed Visa Platinum Gas/Cash Back Rewards Card. It is simply a better card in almost all aspects (5% on gas and 2% on groceries versus just 3% on gas from Gulf stations).

The Asiana Airlines Visa Business Card is designed for the business owner who flies to South Korea a lot via Asiana Airlines.

Rewards – This card allows cardholders to earn double miles for any Asiana Airline ticket purchases and one miles for every dollar spent on other regular purchases. You also get to earn double miles on any grocery spending. You also get an automatic $100 rebate twice a year for qualifying airline tickets. New cardholders also get 10,000 bonus miles after their first purchase on the card.

Fees – A business owner who gets this card has to pay an annual “company fee” of $80. There are no additional fees for any extra cards issued to employees.

Verdict – The Asiana Airlines Business Credit Card will appeal to the business person who travels with Asiana Airlines (most like to South Korea or Asia). If you happen to be such a business owner, then this would be a good card to get for your business.

Alternative – You should also note that there is an alternative to earning Asiana Miles. The Starwood Preferred Guest(R) Business Credit Card from American Express OPEN allows you to transfer Starpoints into Asiana Miles on a one on one basis. Furthermore, if you transfer 20,000 points, you get an additional 5,000 bonus miles. Starwood also has partnerships with over 30 airlines, including those that fly to Asia like Air China, ANA and JAL and you can transfer most points on a one for one ratio and also earn that 5,000 bonus miles whenever you transfer 20,000 points. Hence it is a great alternative to this card. It has a lower annual fee at $45 and no fees for additional employees card.

The Hawaiian Airlines Business credit card is designed for business owners who fly a lot with Hawaiian Airlines. He or she is most likely to have a business in Hawaii or fly there a lot.

Rewards – This card allows you to earn double miles on any Hawaiian Airlines ticket purchases and any purchases on board the plane. For other regular purchases, you earn the standard one mile for every dollar you spend on the card. New cardholders get 10,000 bonus miles after their first purchase on the card. Cardholders can also earn up to 5 additional HawaiianMiles for every qualifying dollar you spend at participating HawaiianMiles XtraMiles partners. Furthermore, you will receive a one-time 25% travel discount toward two published full coach round-trip fares between Hawaii and the Mainland on Hawaiian Airlines flights for you and a companion.

Every year, you can earn 2,000 bonus anniversary HawaiianMiles each year after your account is renewed.

Fees – There are two level of fees for this card. First, you will be charged a company level fee which is $50. And there will be a charge of $25 for each additional card.

Verdict – The Hawaiian Airlines Business Credit Card will appeal to business owners who fly a lot with this airline. If you put your business expenses on this card, you will be able to earn miles very fast. The downside to this card is that depending on your number of employees, the annual fee can add up.

Alternatives – You should also be aware that Hawaiian Airlines has partnerships with a couple of other reward programs.

Membership Rewards – Firstly, it is a partner with the Membership Rewards from American Express. You can transfer points to Hawaiian Airlines miles (one for one).

The following business charge cards from American Express allows you to earn membership reward points.

Business Green Rewards Card from American Express OPEN	The Gold Card from American Express OPEN	The Business Platinum Card&#174 from American Express OPEN

Tips – To save on annual fee, you get for example get the Gold Card for yourself (the business owner) and get your employees the Green Card. That way, you only pay the annual fee for the gold card. This strategy would make sense if you have a large company.

Starwood Preferred Guest – Starwood Preferred Guest allows members to transfer points into miles for over 30 airline partners (mostly on a one for one ratio). You can transfer Starpoints into Hawaiian Miles. Also, when you transfer 20,000 points, you will get 5,000 bonus miles! The Starwood Preferred Guest&#174 Business Credit Card from American Express OPEN ironically is one of the best airline credit cards for this reason. The advantage this card has over the Hawaiian Airlines Business Card is that the annual fee is only $45 (first year is waived) and there is no additional fee for employee cards.

The Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card is targeted at the business owner who flies frequently with Alaska Airlines and would like to earn faster miles.

Rewards – This card allows you to earn triple miles for every dollar spent on Alaska/Horizon ticket purchases. For everything else, you earn the usual 1 mile for every dollar that you spend on the card. New cardholders will get 20,000 miles after their first purchase on the card. And you will also get an annual $99 companion ticket discount code. You can earn unlimited miles on this card.

Fees – The Alaska Airlines Business card has got two fee structures. The first is a fee that is paid at the “company level”. The ‘company level fee is $50 if Company Earning Level Plan is adopted. And there is no additional fee for employees.

If the “individual plan” is adopted, the company will have to pay a $25 fee and it cost $75 for employee cards.

Verdict – The Alaska Airlines Business Credit Card is one of the better airline credit cards. Firstly, you can earn triple miles and secondly, you get an anniversary $99 companion ticket discount. For a business that has it’s owners or employees flying a lot with Alaska Airlines, then this is a card to consider getting.

Alternatives – I would also like to highlight alternative cards where you can also earn miles for Alaska Airlines. The Starwood Preferred Guest program allows members to transfer their points to Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles on a one to one ratio. Furthermore, when you transfer 20,000 points to Alaska Miles, you get a additional 5,000 bonus miles. The Starwood Preferred Guest&#174 Business Credit Card from American Express OPEN is one of the very best rewards credit card you can get because you can transfer points to over 30 airline partners (most on a one for one ratio).