Airline miles and points are one of the best ways to reduce or even eliminate the cost of airfare. With the right strategies, you can accumulate rewards points quickly and redeem them for discounted or free flights. Here’s how to get started with miles and points to make travel more affordable.

1. Sign Up for Frequent Flyer Programs

Most airlines offer free frequent flyer programs that let you earn miles every time you fly with them. Signing up for these programs is the first step in collecting miles that can be redeemed for future flights, upgrades, or even hotel stays.

• Popular programs: Look into loyalty programs from major airlines like Delta SkyMiles, United MileagePlus, or American Airlines AAdvantage.

2. Get a Travel Rewards Credit Card

Many credit cards offer travel rewards points or miles for every dollar spent. Some cards, like Chase Sapphire Preferred or American Express Platinum, also offer sign-up bonuses worth thousands of miles after meeting a minimum spending requirement within the first few months.

• Maximize earnings: Use your travel rewards credit card for everyday purchases to quickly accumulate points.

3. Earn Miles on Partner Airlines

Most airlines are part of global alliances (e.g., Star Alliance, SkyTeam, or oneworld), which allows you to earn and redeem miles across partner airlines. This means you can credit miles to your account even if you’re flying with a different airline within the same alliance.

• How to do it: Check if your airline belongs to an alliance and choose to credit flights to your main frequent flyer account.

4. Use Points for Long-Haul or Peak-Time Flights

Miles offer the best value on long-haul flights or during peak travel seasons, when cash fares are typically high. Redeeming points for these flights gives you more value per point and can save hundreds of dollars.

• Best practice: Use points for international or cross-country routes to maximize your savings on high-cost flights.

5. Earn Bonus Miles with Promotions and Partnerships

Many airlines offer bonus miles through partnerships with car rental agencies, hotels, and online retailers. These partnerships allow you to earn miles for non-flight purchases, making it easier to accumulate rewards.

• Where to find deals: Visit the “Earn Miles” section of your frequent flyer program’s website to see current promotions and partnerships.

6. Convert Hotel Points into Airline Miles

If you stay frequently at hotel chains like Marriott, Hilton, or Hyatt, you may be able to convert hotel loyalty points into airline miles. Many hotels have partnerships with airlines, allowing you to transfer points and increase your mileage balance.

• How to transfer: Log in to your hotel loyalty account, select “Transfer Points,” and choose an airline partner.

7. Book Flights Through the Airline’s Shopping Portal

Airlines have online shopping portals where you can earn miles for purchases with various retailers. By clicking through your airline’s shopping portal before buying online, you can earn extra miles on items you were already planning to buy.

• Pro tip: Bookmark your airline’s shopping portal and use it when shopping online to maximize your mileage.

8. Take Advantage of Credit Card Travel Benefits

Some travel rewards credit cards offer additional benefits like free checked bags, priority boarding, or access to airport lounges, helping you save on extra travel costs. Cards affiliated with airlines also sometimes provide bonus miles when you book directly with that airline.

• Best cards for travel perks: Cards like the Delta SkyMiles American Express and United Explorer Card offer airline-specific benefits that enhance the value of your miles.

9. Watch for Promotions and Mileage Boost Opportunities

Frequent flyer programs often offer limited-time promotions, such as double miles on select routes or bonus miles when signing up for partner services. These promotions are excellent opportunities to boost your mileage quickly.

• Stay updated: Subscribe to your airline’s newsletter or follow them on social media to be alerted to upcoming promotions.

10. Use Miles Wisely by Booking Award Flights Early

Airlines set aside a limited number of seats for award flights, and these seats tend to go quickly. Booking award flights as early as possible gives you access to more options and avoids last-minute point surges.

• How to plan: Start checking for award availability 6 to 12 months in advance, especially for international flights or peak travel dates.

Conclusion: Making the Most of Airline Miles and Points

Earning and redeeming airline miles and points can dramatically lower the cost of travel. By following these strategies and staying active with frequent flyer programs, you can accumulate rewards points quickly and use them for discounted or free flights, turning your travel dreams into reality.