Most airlines offer frequent flyer programs which allow their passengers to earn miles when flying. These programs work really well for frequent travelers, who are rewarded with points for every flight they take.

But even if you’re not a frequent flyer, a great way to accrue airline rewards is by applying for frequent flyer credit cards. This type of program is geared towards rewarding card holders with miles that they can use for their future travels, earning miles based on the $$$ you spend.

If you’ve made the decision to apply for a frequent flyer credit card, or are interested in how it works, we’ve put together an overview on how to earn miles based on most airline credit cards.

How to Earn Miles with a Frequent Flyer Credit Card

Choose Your Card Wisely

There are so many credit card companies to choose from that offer frequent flyer programs. In fact, almost all major credit cards offer jetsetter incentives.

It’s important for you to choose a card that offers the best value, as you want to be able to enjoy free travels and large discounts on your flight expenses eventually.

A couple of things you should look for in cards are their rewards rate and how flexible and easy it is to use and earn them. Signing bonus and benefits are enticing as well. There are cards that offer as much as 40,000 points as a sign-up bonus when you spend at least $1000 within your first three months of use.

You should check the conversion rate of points to miles, as well as purchase amount to points. This will give you an idea of how many points you can earn from your everyday purchases. Some cards offer a 1:1 ratio of points to miles so don’t miss this kind of detail too.

Chase, Barclay, and Discover offer some of the best frequent flyer cards in terms of ease of earning miles and flexibility. They’re tied with dozens of airlines too so you can choose where you want to spend your miles.

Use Your Card for Everyday Purchases

There’s no better way to put it. The more you use your card for purchases, the more points you earn that you can trade for miles.

The difference with having a frequent flyer card is that the conversion rate for points to miles is usually lower. This means you can get more miles converted compared to other types of cards.

Owning a credit card is already a big risk in itself but if you can promise to handle your finances well, there’s no problem using it for shopping or dining.

Fly Often

Otherwise there’s no point in applying for a frequent flyer credit card!

Every time you book a flight, always take note of your frequent flyer number and include it in your booking details. This will automatically credit your miles to your account.

Once a certain number of miles have been met, you may be eligible to fly for free to a certain location. You may also get other perks like a seat upgrade or extra baggage weight.

Watch Out for Promos

Credit card companies are fond of offering promos to their clients to encourage you to use your card more. They’ll partner with different establishments to offer great deals and discounts which could also mean double rewards points for you.

Ultimately, airline partners want to make it easier for you to earn miles so that you can fly with them more often.

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Megan is an Australian Journalist and award-winning travel writer who has been blogging since 2007. Her husband Mike is the American naturalist and wildlife photographer behind Waking Up Wild; a website dedicated to opening your eyes to the wild & natural world.

Committed to bringing you the best in adventure travel from all around the globe, there is no mountain too high, and no fete too extreme! They haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on their list.

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