How to rack up miles and get travel perks for no extra cost
Why try to get airline status? For frequent or semi-frequent travelers obtaining “status” through one airline or alliance can save money and make travel more enjoyable. While the coveted free first class upgrades are usually reserved for people who fly a lot and are mid or high tier status there are other awesome perks such as premium seating upgrades, free drinks, free checked bags, special bag drop lines and quicker boarding which help save time.
I just became eligible for Alaska MVP Gold, after making MVP in May. Now I can check two bags for free, earn twice as many miles every flight which enables me to get free flights more quickly, have been able to choose a premium seat online during check in and received four (!) complimentary immediate first class upgrades. I can also make last minute flight changes for no fee instead of paying $125.
This particular article is written with American travelers in mind, but airlines worldwide typically belong to one of the alliances and have their own statuses and ways of earning miles as well.
Elite Status is earned when someone has reached a certain amount of “miles” on an airline giving them a loyalty designation for the next calendar year after they earned it. Status earners recieve complimentary upgrades, bonus miles, and other bonuses. There are usually tiers like Silver, Gold and Platinum (or Diamond for Delta).
Travel Credit Card- For the sake of this article, a travel credit card is not tied to a particular airline but is one that gives benefits and points based on traveling as well as other perks such as Global Entry, lounge access, refunds and credit on traveling expenses, travel insurance, etc. Some examples include American Express Platinum and Chase Sapphire Reserve.
Airline Credit Card- An airline credit card is one that gives benefits towards flying on a particular airline.
Class of Service- First, business, economy (coach) class
Ways to get status through flying:
- Flying one airline: easiest for people who travel domestically and have plenty of options from their hub city.
- Flying one airline and partners: easiest for international travelers. While it takes more miles to earn status this way, since the flights are usually much longer it could only take a couple round trips to far-off destinations to reach this goal.
- Segments Flown: For people who take a lot of short business trips that don’t accrue a lot of miles but do fly frequently this is a good way to earn status. It’s easier to earn status this way by taking non-direct flights since each segment is a leg of the trip.
- Dollars Spent: Airlines usually give more miles based on the amount of money spent on the ticket. If someone pays a full fare for economy class or purchase business/first class they can reach status quicker even not flying as frequently.
If you are a frequent or semi-frequent traveler:
Make sure to fly on one airline or its partners. There are three international alliances that the big three US carriers are a part of- Star Alliance (United), OneWorld (American), and Skyteam (Delta). Alaska Airlines and JetBlue choose their own partners so they work with a combination of different airlines. Southwest doesn’t team up with different airlines but they do have partners such as rental car companies, hotels, restaurants and other methods.
One important thing to note is if the miles you’re earning are elite qualifying miles. Flying Alaska, for example only allows miles earned by flying (or bonuses for class of service noted as elite qualifying miles) to be counted towards status. Other programs allow miles obtained from credit card purchases count towards status.
If you are a non-frequent air traveler:
If you travel a few times a year, status might not be a worthwhile option to pursue cost-wise. However, if you have decent credit and live somewhere where it’s easy to earn on one airline you can use a combination of credit cards and airline tickets to obtain status.
All airlines have credit cards with benefits- make sure to find one that gives elite qualifying miles. If you’re a frequent diner and traveler but not by air as often you can also get a travel credit card that gives perks that elite travelers get without the status- including lounge access, free checked bags, priority boarding etc. I recommend following The Points Guy or NerdWallet to see the latest credit card deals and choose which one(s) is best for you.
If you’re a traveler on a budget:
Three Tips for Free Miles
1. If you usually fly a particular airline get an airline credit card. Airline credit cards usually have a lower annual fee and many waive it the first year- so even not meeting the bonus (or choosing to sign up when you know you will make some large purchases) makes this a better option for travelers on a budget. Budget airlines such as Spirit and Southwest also have credit cards with low annual fees.
2. Sign up for mileage accounts. Mileage accounts are 100% free, and as long as you have activity at least once in two years you keep the miles. You can earn miles with basic purchases and also by renting cars and staying at hotels- just make sure to put your frequent flyer number in instead of your hotel rewards number. If you don’t stay at hotels or fly frequently enough it would be better to choose one rewards program so they accumulate quicker.
3. Sign up for a Dining Program. One of the best kept secrets of earning miles without flying is through dining programs. With these free to join programs such as Delta and Alaska’s you can enter any credit & debit cards and earn miles just going out to dinner!