Earning airline miles and improving your status on airlines can help you rack up bonus miles and other travel perks. Make the most of your travel and earn airline miles faster by employing any (or all) of the following strategies.
Be sure that you've signed up for every available rewards program, and fill out your profile with each airline (so you won't have to enter your frequent flier number each time you book a flight). If you use a travel agency, make sure they have all of your numbers, and double check that they are used with each booking. Since forgetting to enter your number happens, get in the habit of reviewing your entered information upon check-in at the airport, where you'll have a chance to add your frequent flier number at the kiosk.
2. Link Reward Programs
Many hotel and car rewards programs will allow you to link your account to an airline reward program, so do so whenever possible. Sometimes this will mean forgoing points towards free rentals, but many programs allow you to "double-dip" and earn rewards for multiple programs.3. Sign Up for Credit Card Programs
You have a few options here: Some cards are airline program specific, which means that all of your points will be turned into airline miles. Other credit cards offer more generic rewards, which you may use toward a variety of purchases.4. Don't Fly Direct
If you have the time and the inclination, opting for flights with multiple stops can help you earn points faster, as airline rewards factor both miles and legs traveled in the formulas for accruing points. As a bonus, these flights are usually cheaper, as well, which is good news for whoever is footing the bill.5. Get Status
We know that getting status (and those free upgrades) is one of the reasons you rack up the points in the first place, but getting airline status will, in turn, help you earn points faster, as well (since bonus points are worth more and more as you move up the status ladder with each airline). Sure, you'll have to travel more, but all the miles logged for work can send you on a free vacation down the road.6. Fly Business or First Class
A no-brainer if your company is willing to foot the bill for these seats, as you'll earn more bonus miles for the higher class tickets. Even if you are paying your way, it's worth exploring your ticket options: on overseas flights in particular, you may find that the difference in price (factoring in all restrictions, change fees, etc.) makes a business class seat the better purchase.
