Probably not. Yet that’s essentially what you’re doing if you travel and don’t collect frequent flyer miles. These programs are free to join, but a lot of people still don’t take advantage of them.
Why not? They often appear bewildering. All those membership numbers, alliances and award charts — where do you begin?
Because frequent flyer programs can feel overwhelming, we’ve simplified the process for you. It’s time to stop making excuses and begin accumulating free flights!
Here are nine steps to get started with frequent flyer miles:
1. Set Travel Objectives
Although many skip this stage, it’s actually one of the most vital parts of your frequent flyer plan. Why do you want to travel for free? Which destinations do you want to visit? Not only will this spur you to earn miles, it will also guide you toward which frequent flyer programs to prioritize.
If, for instance, your dream is to explore Easter Island, focus on American Airlines. If holding a koala is on your bucket list, consider Delta. If your aim is to visit your sibling in Dallas more often, look into Southwest. To identify which programs offer the best routes to your destination, simply search for “how to get to X with frequent flyer miles.”
2. Enroll in Mileage Programs
Once you know where you want to go, start registering for programs by visiting the websites of the airlines you’re targeting.
Keep in mind that many major carriers belong to one of three airline “alliances”; airlines in an alliance are treated as “partners.” (Here’s a list of alliances and their member airlines, which change periodically).
If you accumulate miles with one airline, you can redeem them to fly with any of their partners. For example, British Airways and American Airlines are both oneworld members. Since they’re partners, American miles can be used to fly British Airways, and the reverse is true.
If you take only one piece of advice from this list, make it this: enroll in one program from each major alliance. Because miles aren’t interchangeable or transferable in most cases, you don’t want to spread your earnings across multiple airlines within the same alliance. It’s far more useful to have 50K miles in one program than 10K in five different ones.
Tip: To organize your membership numbers (and keep track of mileage expirations), register for a free online service like AwardWallet or UsingMiles.
3. Always Add Your Number When You Fly
As long as you pay cash (rather than miles) for your ticket, you’ll earn frequent flyer miles for every flight. No matter the carrier or route, remember to include your frequent flyer number; even modest amounts can accumulate significantly over time.
There’s a field for entering your frequent flyer number when booking flights online, and if you overlook it, you can usually log back into your reservation to add it. When checking in, verify that your number is attached; if it isn’t, ask the agent to add it.
You might not realize you can earn miles for your preferred airline even when flying with one of their partners. Say you’re booked to Bangkok on Thai Airways. Although you may not fly Thai again, they’re in the same alliance as United — so add your United frequent flyer number to earn United miles for that flight.
4. Check Your Credit
After nailing the basics, you may want to apply for a travel rewards credit card, since these cards are the fastest method to rack up miles.
But before applying, it’s crucial to check your credit score. If it’s under about 700, you shouldn’t rely on credit cards to accumulate miles. Focus on paying down debt and boosting your credit before you pursue travel rewards. If you have limited or no credit history, get a simple card (preferably one without an annual fee) and build your credit for a year or two before applying for a travel rewards card.
Even if your credit is solid, ask yourself: Will you handle rewards credit cards responsibly? Will you clear the balance in full every month?
If your answer is no, skip the travel rewards card. Many of these cards carry very high interest rates, and revolving a balance will erase any rewards you earn. It’s not worth going into debt for points.
5. Apply for a Travel Rewards Card
If your credit looks healthy, it’s time to apply for a travel rewards credit card. You can opt for an airline-branded card that earns miles for a specific carrier, or a general points card whose points transfer to various partners.
Refer back to your travel goals and pick a card that helps you achieve them. Since the travel rewards landscape shifts often, research which cards have the most attractive offers when you’re ready to apply.
Helpful resources include newsletters like The Credit Card Fly and blogs such as One Mile at a Time, The Points Guy, Million Mile Secrets and MommyPoints. (Full transparency: I contribute to The Credit Card Fly.)
6. Use Your Card — Wisely
Now that you’ve got a travel rewards card, start using it! First, be sure you meet the minimum spend needed to earn the sign-up bonus. You may want to set a calendar reminder to ensure you meet the deadline.
After you’ve secured the bonus, keep charging every normal expense to your card. While you’ll typically earn at least one mile per dollar on the card, you earn nothing when paying with cash. Don’t buy extra things solely to chase miles; simply use your card instead of cash for purchases you already planned to make.
Most importantly, pay the statement balance in full each month. Remember: points and miles aren’t worth incurring debt.
When the annual fee appears after about a year, you have choices: cancel the card; downgrade to a no-annual-fee version to preserve the credit line; or threaten to cancel, which might prompt the issuer to offer a “retention bonus.”
7. Apply for Additional Cards
If you’ve been responsible with your card, consider applying for more travel rewards cards. You can apply for one at a time or several in a short span; applying for multiple cards periodically is known as “credit card churn,” a technique advanced travelers use to amass large quantities of miles annually.
Before adding more cards, confirm your credit remains excellent and that you can responsibly meet each card’s requirements.
Tip: Never shut your oldest credit account. If it comes with a hefty annual fee, simply downgrade it — that eliminates the fee while preserving the credit line.
8. Discover Other Ways to Earn Miles
While credit cards are the fastest route to accumulating miles, they’re not suitable for everyone. That doesn’t mean you can’t earn free flights — it may just take more time. There are strategies for earning miles without relying on credit cards; you can use these alone or alongside thoughtful card use.
Here are a few approaches mentioned in the full post:
- Register for dining rewards programs
- Shop through airline shopping portals
- Join social media promotions and contests
9. Redeem Your Miles for Complimentary Flights!
You could write an entire book about how to redeem frequent flyer miles for free travel; it’s too much to cover in just one article. Along with the ever-changing world of travel rewards, the best way to redeem miles depends heavily on where and when you plan to fly.
This collection of airline award charts will help you estimate how many miles you’ll need for your goals. Do your homework and book as early as possible — much earlier than you would when paying cash. For popular routes, award seats can be claimed up to a year in advance.
I’ve used frequent flyer miles for many years and am incredibly grateful for the travel opportunities they’ve unlocked. I’ve flown to wonderful places like Italy, New Zealand, Indonesia, Alaska and the Republic of Georgia. The cash cost of those trips would have been thousands of dollars; without miles and points, many of those journeys wouldn’t have been possible.
So trust me when I say that — although it may feel like a lot of work initially — it’s absolutely worth it. Send me a postcard from wherever you land!
Want to dig deeper into earning frequent flyer points? Join theTravel Hacking Cartel, a community of seasoned travel hackers.
Your Turn: What destinations have you visited using frequent flyer points?
Disclosure: We have an unhealthy Taco Bell habit here. The affiliate links in this article help us fund our dollar menu cravings. Thanks for the support!
