Mileage programs offered by airlines are a great way to earn free travel and other rewards. Most flights count as a minimum of 1,000 miles even for a short "puddle jumper" flight. Actual air mileage between cities for longer flights can be increased by having a special elite status with a carrier, or through special promotions or bonuses. Traveling on certain dates or at certain times can provide up to triple mileage bonuses.
Check your airline reservation online. Most airlines indicate the number of miles for each segment of a flight when you make a reservation. Make sure you provide your frequent flier ID when you make your reservation--otherwise you have to save your boarding passes and mail them in to the frequent flier program for credit. There are many online mileage calculators if you do not have a reservation.
Check for bonuses. Check different airlines' websites to see if there are any promotions or bonuses offered for travel between the cities to which you will be flying.
Check your passenger status. Some airline frequent flier programs offer bonus miles for frequent fliers depending on how many miles they fly each year. Elite status counts for up to 100 percent bonuses for normal air travel.
Use a credit card that offers bonus airline miles. Many credit card companies offer airline miles when you purchase items with their credit card.
Check into a hotel or use a rental car company that offers frequent flier miles. Make sure the vendor credits the mileage to the frequent flier program of your choice.
Use your miles. Frequent flier miles can be used for free flights, hotels, rental cars, cruises and merchandise.
