The Only Beginners Guide To Frequent Flyers You Need

Everyone knows frequent flyer miles are amazing, and if you use them correctly you’ll save a ton of money. Frequent flyer miles are easy to collect these days, but harder to use if you’re a newbie. We’re going to demystify frequent flyers miles for everyone who decided to join the bandwagon in 2018. After reading our tips you’ll be using airline miles like a pro.

1. What Are Frequent Flyer Miles?

Frequent flyer miles, which are also called airline miles or travel points, are points that members of airline loyalty programs earn through various means. Normally members accumulate a set amount of airline miles based on how much they have flown in recent months or how much they’ve spent on their credit cards.

Read: Frequent Flyer Miles Hacks That Only Few Flyers Know

The airline miles can be used for various things such as reward tickets (free tickets), upgrades, discounts, and access to airport lounges amongst other things. Those who live for traveling are obsessed with collecting as many as possible because the airline miles will help them in their travels.

An important thing to remember is that “miles” doesn’t refer to the actual miles you’ve flown. Traveling 2,735 miles from Seattle to Miami, for example, will not get you a free ticket. The miles you earn will be deposited in your airline mile account. Some budget-friendly airlines give a free round-trip domestically for every 20,000 miles that are earned.

Read: Frequent Flyer Mistakes: Why You Fail To Fly For Free

2. Difference Between Frequent Flyer Miles and Credit Card Reward Points

In the world of frequent flyer miles, you can earn airline miles two way: by signing up to an airline loyalty program or by signing up for a credit card which offers rewards miles. There is some credit card that works on any airline miles, while others have partnered with specific airlines. At the end of the day, the good news is that you can use both at the same time.

Read: This Is How You Should Be Using Frequent Flyer Miles When Traveling With Family

3. What You Need To Know

Every airline has its own loyalty program, which is free to join. Once you become a member you start accumulating points by flying with specific airlines. Travelers have the option of signing up with three different airline alliances and earn frequent flyer miles for most flights. The three big alliances are:

American Airlines (Oneworld)
Delta Airlines (SkyTeam)
United Airlines (Star Alliance)

Read: Top Airlines For Frequent Flyers To Travel With

4. What Happens After You Sign Up?

When you sign up for a frequent flyer account, you’ll be assigned an account number that is unique to you. You can use your account and your points for future flight purchases. The rules are very simple, you earn miles for every flight you take, and when you have earned enough, you can redeem them for a free flight with that airline or its partner. In most cases, the airline miles in your account don’t expire till the account is active. Frequent flyers also have the option of claiming miles for old miles earned from previous flights before they were members. Most airlines give a grace period of a year or three months.