The best way to earn airline miles for free trips and first class
Airline miles can be a great way to save money on travel, and even fly first class for free. But with so many different ways to earn miles, it can be hard to know where to start.
Here are some of the best ways to earn airline miles for free trips and first class:
- Sign up for frequent flyer programs. The most basic way to earn airline miles is to sign up for frequent flyer programs with your favorite airlines. This is free to do, and you’ll start earning miles on every flight you book.
- Get a travel rewards credit card. Many credit cards offer rewards programs that allow you to earn airline miles on your everyday spending. Some cards even offer sign-up bonuses worth tens of thousands of miles, which can be enough for a free round-trip flight.
- Use airline shopping portals. Airline shopping portals are websites that allow you to earn miles on your online purchases. Simply visit the shopping portal before you make a purchase, and you’ll earn miles on your spending.
- Dine out at participating restaurants. Many airlines have partnerships with restaurants, so you can earn miles on your meals. Simply sign up for the airline’s dining program and dine at participating restaurants to earn miles.
- Take advantage of special promotions. Airlines and credit card companies often offer special promotions that allow you to earn bonus miles. Be sure to sign up for email lists and follow airlines and credit card companies on social media so you don’t miss out on any special offers.
Once you’ve earned enough miles, you can redeem them for free flights, upgrades, and other travel perks. First class flights typically require more miles to redeem, but it’s definitely possible to fly first class for free if you’re strategic about how you earn and redeem your miles.
Here are some tips for earning and redeeming miles for first class flights:
- Focus on one or two airlines. The more miles you have with a particular airline, the easier it will be to redeem them for first class flights.
- Be flexible with your travel dates. First class flights often book up quickly, so it’s important to be flexible with your travel dates.
- Use a mileage calculator to estimate how many miles you’ll need. This will help you set realistic goals for earning and redeeming your miles.
- Consider transferring miles to a partner airline. Some airlines have partnerships with other airlines, which allows you to transfer miles between programs. This can be a great way to top off your account if you’re close to having enough miles for a first class flight.
With a little planning and effort, it’s possible to earn enough airline miles for free trips and first class flights. By following the tips above, you can start saving money on travel and enjoying the luxury of flying first class.