[Raises hand.]
Chances are you’d jump at the opportunity too.
While it may sound unbelievable, it’s entirely possible. With a bit of effort and some self-education, you could be booking free flights as soon as next year.
Hopefully you’ve begun your travel-hacking adventure by reading introductory guides and following top frequent flyer blogs.
Now it’s time to arm yourself with some serious resources. By resources, we mean frequent flyer websites and tools where you can uncover deals, expand your knowledge and actually turn those points and miles into free airfare.
Below are 19 resources every rewards traveler should know about:
General Info
As you get deeper into the complex world of miles and points, you’ll come to appreciate these information-rich sites.
1. WebFlyer
WebFlyer provides several helpful features for rewards travelers: in-depth reviews of loyalty programs, the option to compare programs head-to-head, a mileage converter that shows how miles move between programs and a calculator estimating how many miles you’ll earn on particular routes.
2. TravelSort
Though TravelSort is primarily a luxury hotel membership service, Hilary Stockton’s informative posts are valuable to any rewards traveler; topics range from using miles to get to India to persuading your partner that miles are worth it.
3 and 4. Extra Pack of Peanuts and Zero to Travel Podcasts
Not everyone has time to pore over blogs.
If you prefer learning while you’re on the move, subscribe to theExtra Pack of PeanutsandZero to Travelpodcasts; both feature travel stories and tips that will sharpen your travel-hacking skills.
Communities
Curious about the smartest way to use your Club Carlson points? Or want to vent about poor service on Delta? These communities are the place to go.
5. InsideFlyer
Previously called Milepoint, the revamped InsideFlyer has added tools intended to make it a central hub for frequent flyer information.
Alongside more than 200 forums, you can now manage award accounts and itineraries directly on the platform.
6. FlyerTalk
As the longest-running and largest frequent flyer forum, FlyerTalk remains an excellent resource — just be prepared to be humbled by the depth of knowledge its members bring!
7. Travel Hacking Cartel
Although Travel Hacking Cartel is one of the few paid options on this list, it’s worthwhile for folks who don’t want to wade through a flood of offers.
For $15 a month you get email alerts on the best deals plus access to step-by-step travel-hacking tutorials.
Credit Cards
As mentioned elsewhere, credit cards are among the fastest ways to accumulate points and miles. The sites below will help you pick the right cards.
If you’re worried about handling credit responsibly, don’t take the risk; no points are worth falling into debt. (There are ways to earn miles without cards if that’s a concern.)
8. Credit Karma
Before you apply for any cards, it’s crucial to know your credit score. If it’s not in the 700s, work on boosting it with no-fee cards and debt repayment.
To check your score for free, try Credit Karma.
9. Mint
Another smart move before applying is getting your budget under control. I use and recommend Mint, which consolidates your bank accounts, credit cards and loans into a single app or site.
10. The Credit Card Fly
The Credit Card Fly (full disclosure: I contribute there) is a free email newsletter that notifies you when standout credit card offers appear. If you don’t want to monitor many sites and just want alerts about the best deals, this is a handy option.
11. Cards for Travel
The name says it: Cards for Travel, created by Chris Guillebeau of the Travel Hacking Cartel, focuses solely on the top travel rewards cards — even offering a section for Canadian card options.
12. NerdWallet
With a straightforward and intuitive interface, NerdWallet is a go-to for comparing cards. Its filters let you narrow choices by credit score, fees, typical monthly spend and estimated “sign-up value.”
13. CreditCards.com
Once you have several cards, it’s easy to forget which one gives the best rewards on groceries or gas.
CreditCards.com’s WalletUp app fixes that by recognizing your location — whether a pizzeria or office supply store — and recommending which card to use.
Tools
What separates successful frequent flyers from those who get discouraged? The right tools.
Use the following services to stay sharp with your travel rewards.
14. AwardWallet
If you’re overwhelmed trying to remember the details of multiple loyalty accounts, AwardWallet will be indispensable.
This excellent service helps you track account balances, login credentials and mileage expiration dates.
15. ev’reward
As previously mentioned, online shopping is an effective way to earn miles. So before you click “buy,” checkev’rewardto see how many bonus miles you’ll get by shopping through various portals.
16. Expert Flyer
ExpertFlyer is a paid service we endorse; if you plan on redeeming points frequently, its search tools are extremely useful.
Basic access is $4.99 per month, or you can purchase an annual premium plan for $99. A newer (and free) feature is seat alerts, which notify you when better seats open up on your flights.
17. Feedly
Want to keep up with multiple frequent-flyer blogs? Try Feedly. This free tool aggregates RSS feeds from your favorite sites into one convenient reading pane.
18. Hootsuite
Twitter is one of the top places to spot hot deals — both award promos and cheap fares — but it can be chaotic.
UseHootsuiteto organize the feed by creating lists of favorite travel accounts, or follow hashtags like #airfare, #awardtravel and #frequentflyer.
19. Google Calendar
If you earn rewards via credit cards, track their anniversary dates in Google Calendar or a similar tool. Since many cards waive the annual fee for the first year, travel hackers often cancel before the first renewal.
Alternatively, if you decide to keep a card, calling a month before renewal is a good time to ask for a “retention bonus” such as a statement credit or extra miles.
Mastering travel hacking can feel intimidating at first — but it’s worth the effort. Use these sites to grow your frequent-flyer savvy step by step, and reach out if you have questions!
Your turn: Which of these frequent flyer sites is your favorite? Did we leave any out?
Disclosure: We have a deep love of Taco Bell around here. Affiliate links in this post help fund our dollar-menu runs. Thanks for the support!
Emily Carter, senior staff writer for Savinly, is always chasing affordable adventures. Visit her blog at emilycarter.com, or say hello on Twitter @emily_carter.
