There are many ways to acquire frequent flier miles and free airline tickets without ever getting on a plane, and the most popular method is with a credit card. Many airlines offer "affinity" credit cards, which deposit miles directly into your account according to your purchases, while others allow you to convert points into miles. Remember that it pays to read the fine print before entering into any agreement with a credit card company or redeeming a reward.
Start shopping for cards. There are two kinds of cards, and affinity credit cards are probably the simplest cards to use. Airlines have ties with most cards, like the Delta SkyMiles American Express card or the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Visa Card. In most cases, you'll receive one mile for each dollar spent and usually get a bonus for charging airline tickets. You will collect miles monthly. The downside is that some of these cards carry a hefty annual fee. Bear in mind that miles deposited into your frequent flier account can expire. Many airlines also have blackout dates. Once you sign up for the card, you may find you'll get bonus miles if you use it quickly. Use the card, and you'll be collecting miles immediately.
Consider travel rewards credit cards. These cards do not specify what airline you use, so you have more flexibility when it comes to redeeming your points for miles. Capital One is perhaps the best known of these programs, as it allows you to fly on any airline without any blackout dates. Points acquired through this program do not expire, and you can earn a free flight for 15,000 miles, but the price of your ticket usually determines the number of points required. You can earn one or two points per dollar depending on the program. The American Express Membership Rewards program is a bit different, allowing you to accumulate points and then redeem them through the American Express Travel website. In some cases, you can transfer the points to an airline program.
Learn the rules of redeeming your miles. You should always check the fine print of any credit card agreement, but unless you're a lawyer with a lot of time, you might have problems deciphering the legalese. It is best to talk to someone with the program before collecting a reward just to make sure you understand all the parameters. Note that some programs allow you to redeposit miles or points if your plans change, some do not and some charge a large fee to do so.
Redeem your reward. The process of cashing in the points or miles varies depending on the credit card program. For affinity credit card users, simply redeem your miles through the airline, either by phone or on the airline's website. For travel reward credit card users, the redemption process varies by the program. When redeeming points, make sure to check if there is any sort of fee involved; redeeming miles for a flight within a certain number of days often can carry a hefty charge.
