Earning airline miles is easier than it sounds. All it takes is little research to get started. Several ways are available out there to follow and earn that extra free ticket!
You are probably familiar with several ways to earn airline miles. However, you might be missing some details. Even frequent flyers are unaware of the benefits of many reward or loyalty options offered in the “flying world”. If traveling for leisure has been a part of your lifestyle and you’d want to save money as you’re traveling, it’s vital that you know how to boost airline miles. This article will discuss six ways to boost airline miles using your credit card, including getting a sign-up bonus, shopping portals, frequent-flyer programs, considering other airline partners, and finally keeping an eye on special airline promotions. and even choosing to sell miles.
1- Getting a Sign-Up Bonus
In order to receive a sign-up bonus you must get a rewards credit card first. If you already hold one, you might want to get another one which can help you boost your miles. As a matter of fact, sign up bonuses are worth thousands of points. However, how big the bonus is depends on the card you get, so choose wisely!
When getting a rewards credit card, take the time to scout for options and carefully compare each. Aside from knowing the amount of sign-up bonus you’ll get from the credit card, it’s also important to consider its payment terms and other perks offered. These things will significantly impact the comfort and frequency of your trips.
You will have to spend a particular amount of money within a certain period of time to receive the bonus. The amount varies depending on the credit card you hold, however, the amount usually ranges between $1,000 and $6,000. Thus, if you are looking to get those miles fast, search for the card which requires a minimum spend or an amount that you can reach within the first month. Some rewards credit cards might not even require a minimum spend.
2- Bonus Mall or Shopping Portals
Bonus mall is an online shopping portal which offers exclusive promotions. Therefore, if you are someone looking for discounts or rewards when shopping online, bonus mall is no doubt the right choice for you.
Before purchasing, make sure to visit the bonus mall that your credit card offers, explore the retailers, and finally pay online and steal those extra points. Always compare your options before buying so you’ll know which retailer offers the best discounts or rewards.
Before purchasing, make sure to visit the bonus mall that your credit card offers, explore the retailers, and finally pay online and steal those extra points. Additionally, many airlines offer shopping portals on their websites for frequent flyers and through which you can earn an extra bonus on your purchases.
Make sure to check these websites and if possible, sign up for their e-mail list so you’ll be sent notifications if the airline has new promos and discounts.
3- Frequent-Flyer Programs
As a frequent flyer you can join “frequent-flyer” programs for free, therefore, signing up to several ones does not cause any harm. However, you might not earn enough points to actually get something in return if you concentrate on several airlines.
Therefore, it is better to have 200,000 points with one specific airline company than 10,000 each with 20. Remember that points can expire in case your account is inactive for a specific period of time (usually 18 months), thus, you will need to carefully monitor the accounts you open.
For you to maximize frequent flyer points, opt to travel with one airline for your trips. The more often you travel with the same airlines, the more perks you get to enjoy with them. Some airlines even give out free tickets or accommodations to travelers who frequently choose to travel with them.
4- Considering other Airline Partners
Several airlines out there actually belong to networks of foreign or domestic carriers (i.e. SkyTeam, Star Alliance, Oneworld, etc.). Such airlines or organizations give you the opportunity to combine earned and redeemed miles. You can find the partners of your preferred airline on this last’s website.
Signing up with airlines that belong to a network will allow you to enjoy more perks during your trip. When you have thousands of points, you can choose to redeem them as airline tickets and accommodations for your next trip. This will be very convenient and allows you to save more money in the long run.
5- Keeping an Eye on Special Airline Promotions
Most of the airlines run special promotions through which you can earn extra airline miles. Such offers are available on frequent flyer programs’ pages, so always visit the websites of your favorite airlines so you’ll be one of the first persons to know of their promos. You can also sign up for their newsletter so updates are automatically sent to your email.
Make sure to keep an eye on these special promotions to earn bonus miles when booking a hotel room, renting a car, flying, or even booking a cruise, and many more.
As an advice, you might want to book your hotel or rent a car prior to your trip in order to earn those extra miles for your flight.
6- Buying Airline Miles
Buying airline miles is never a good idea. As a matter of fact, carriers charge a lot for airline miles, and sometimes offer bonus miles when purchasing a specific number of miles. Always make sure that you are not paying too much considering that one mile equals an average of 2.75 cents.
On the other hand, keep in mind that you cannot simply monetize your points/miles due to the fact that most programs do not provide such option. And you allow only to share your miles with a family member without making any profit.
Nevertheless you can partner up with services like MilesBuyer and sell airline miles by yourself in most easier way.
Conclusion
Multiple ways and loyalty programs are available out there for you to profit from. However, make sure to always choose wisely, and the ones that compliment your preferences. Flying has never been boring, and many frequent flyers have created their own unique and creative opportunities to earn those extra rewards, and so can you!
