 |
Frequent flier miles sound great in principle--travel with a
certain airline and earn points that you can cash in later, or
use a certain credit card to earn points without even traveling.
What could be better than free airline ticket? Airlines,
unfortunately, aren't so keen on your sudden desire to fly for
free. Their goal is to sell seats not give them away, no matter
how much they try to entice you into earning frequent flier
miles. By being aware of some simple tricks of the trade, you
can not only increase the amount of flight points you earn but
also stretch them as far as possible.
First, earn the maximum amount of points every time you fly by
choosing a specific program and following all of their rules and
regulations. Be aware of their promotions and partner companies.
You could earn miles by buying flowers at a specific florist or
staying at a particular hotel. Keep updated by reading their
websites and newsletters for promotions. Certain techniques can
also earn you more miles. Fore example, see if you can earn
extra miles for business trips by paying for the flight with
your own credit card and having your boss reimburse you. Or if
your spouse flies less than you, he or she can use a free
frequent-flier mile ticket while the paid ticket goes on your
account, earning you more points faster. While you are actively
earning miles, stay organized. Save receipts, and watch out for
errors in your statements. Know how many miles you have and how
many you need to qualify for free trips or other perks that come
along with a certain status as a frequent flier. Finally, don't
waste your miles on cheap flights or by cashing them in on other
purchases, such as magazine subscriptions or club memberships.
As wonderful as a promotion may seem, frequent flier miles are,
essentially, cash, and you can bet that an airline wants to save
itself money by having you spend your cash on something other
than an airline ticket.
Do you figure that you'll never fly frequently enough to earn
enough miles to be useful? You can actually earn points without
even flying by using a credit card that offers frequent flier
miles based on the amount you charge every month. While these
credit cards sounds like great deals, getting the most out of
them can be tricky. Many cards that offer miles also come with a
hefty annual fee, so be sure that the cards are worth the fees
before you use them. For example, if a card charges fifty
dollars annually, and it takes you four years to earn enough
miles to purchase a ticket worth less than two hundred dollars,
then your investment in the card did not save you any money. If
you believe that you can receive worthwhile savings with a
mileage credit card, then charge as much as you can--groceries,
dinners, even monthly bills--but pay off your bill every month
or you'll be losing money on the interest charged. If you go to
a restaurant with friends or family, have them pay you for their
meal in cash and charge the bill on your credit card. Some
restaurants will give you extra mileage when you pay with a
specific mileage earning credit card, and some credit cards will
give you extra mileage when you charge groceries and other
items. Take advantage of these deals by checking your credit
card's mailings, email newsletters, and website.
Finally, you've spent years earning thousands of frequent flier
miles on everything from your credit cards to your business
trips out of town, and now your ready to cash them in and live
the high life. The first way to get the best flight with the
nicest upgrades or advantages possible from your frequent flier
miles is by purchasing tickets as early as possible--as much as
a year in advance. Also, try and schedule your flight for the
middle of the week--Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday--rather than
on Saturday or Sunday when more people are flying, and try to
book midday flights, which are less popular than morning or
early evening. Finally, call the airline rather than use the
internet to book your flight. All of these methods are more
likely to lead to you receiving the awards and deals that you
want to get from your hard-earned frequent fliers.
About the author:
Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online
and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16
year old son. Get a great selection of luggage at
|
