Flying......

http://www.netjets.com/MarquisJetCard/

The only experience I have with frequent flyer miles is through Delta and I've been pretty happy with them.  Every time you fly you earn more miles and you can use them to buy flights for yourself or family members.

Last year before my honeymoon, I saw a promo to earn 30K Delta miles--you can buy a ticket on most flights for this amount of miles--by opening a Delta American Express and spending at least $500 in the first month.  You continually earn points by using it.  We just toss everything on there and pay it off each month to earn the most miles possible.

The promo is still running:

http://www.delta.com/content/www/en_US/skymiles/earn-miles/earn-miles-with-partners/credit-card-partners/earn-30000-bonus-miles.html?psboth=CCSG_Bing_PA_Amex%20Co-Brand_Sitelinks_Earn%2030000%20Bonus%20Miles

None of the people in their ad looks like my family.....you got anything with fighting kids and parents who look like they haven't slept in a week?

FF programs require a lot of miles to make it worth it.  We have a CC that give miles for every 10 dollars spent (or something like that) and we usually get a free ticket every year.  I have jet blue points and they can be gifted/swapped, they dont expire but I have to fly once every year to keep them active.  

Travel agents can be helpful - My aunt uses one.  Her agent says "go ahead and look online, and Ill see if I can beat it.  If I cant you'll then know you got a good deal, If I can, then you'll get a better one"  With 5 or 6 people, a TA may have a group discount that they can offer (or discount their commission).

Other tips:  Book 6 weeks out and on a tuesday, they tend to have the lowest rates at the time.

I find orbitz to have the cheapest flights, but once I find the orbitz prices, I also look at the carriers site to see if its cheaper.  Sometimes it is, sometimes it isnt.

One more tip.  Search online using a PC and not a mac or iphone.  Some sights will know if its an apple product and will increase the price b/c apple users tend to be 'more affluent'.  (not just airline, but some retail sites as well)

It will almost always be 2 bikes.  I have flown with bikes before so I'm up to speed on the bike friendly airlines....but I may also look into shipping bikes and other options if we end up flying to races 3 times per year. 

I've got the Venture card as well and it really is the best travel card out there.  I use it for everything I can to get the "miles" and then I still scout out the best deals for travel so its sort of like double dipping.

Airfarewatchdog.com for finding cheapest flights.

And if you're flexible...really flexible, about travel times, bidding on Priceline is still a good bet.

Have not paid for a flight in years but have flown multiple times using Credit Card sign up bonuses.

Examples: British Air- 100,000 miles for siging up and charging $2k in the first 2 months. This converts to 2 round tickets domestic flights on their partner airlines.

Southwest Visa: 2 free round tickets with free drinks for signing up and charging $1K in the first 3 months.

Found most of the deals on http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/finance/

I find most of the sites like Kayak, cheapoair, Orbitz and Expedia return very similar results.

some tips: book early (as early as you possibly can) if you have specific dates/times.

Call the airline!!  sometimes the airlines don't "share" best rates with the online search engines, or indeed have the best rates on their own site!  I find it is often worthwhile placing the personal call, and being really genuine and nice to the staff, they will go the extra to get you the cheapest flight that fits your needs.  this really does work.

I also use a travel agent, I find the $30 fee is more than compensated by not having to do all the work finding the flights etc.

(I have a corporate travel agent I can use if I pay the fee personally)

So, can we read between the lines?  I'm assuming your kids raced well this weekend?  Congrats!

American BAD!!! They may get better with the merger and all, but they are late, you have blacked-out travel.  Delta gives good upgrades, but you pretty much have to fly all the time. 

Southwest is cheap and your bags fly free and you get to pick your seat.

Freq Flyer Miles are by person.  i.e. if you fly, you get those miles.  2-3 times per year won't get you much in actual flyer miles/upgrades.

Bottom line, I would go with Tony's suggestion.  Southwest Airlines Card, use it for every single purchase, then you'll build-up miles quick and they fly almost everywhere you want to go.