Writer: Brittney Mayer
Editor: Lillian Guevara-Castro
Reviewer: Ashley Fricker
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No matter how much you love your job — because we all do, of course — often one of the best parts of a great vacation is that your destination is far, far (far) away from the stress and bustle of your everyday life. Unfortunately, as soon as you start adding airfare and hotel rooms to your vacation expenses, those happy little palm trees can turn into mean little dollar signs right before your eyes.
Designed for those who spend more time in the air than on the ground, frequent flyer programs can be a treasure trove of savings for jet-setters who know their pilots by name. But what about the rest of us, those yearning for sandy beaches, fruity drinks, and happy trees?
Well, as it turns out, you, too, can enjoy the benefits and bargains of frequent flyer programs — all without stepping foot on a single plane. Read on to learn how to get frequent flyer miles without flying. We’ll explore using travel rewards, cash back rewards, miles received as gifts, combining rewards with miles, and more. We’ll also take a look at some of our top credit card picks that can help get you in the air for cheaper.
1. You Can Use Travel Rewards Cards to Earn Miles
Credit card travel rewards are a simple, straightforward way to earn points and miles to cover expenses for your next trip. Really, what’s easier than spending money you were already going to spend anyway? In fact, pair a solid per-dollar earning rate with a juicy signup bonus, and you could be poolside sipping from a coconut in no time. Plus, you can use your travel rewards card to pay for those tropical treats to get a jump start on your next trip.
If you’re devoted to your favorite airline, then a branded rewards card, such as the Gold Delta SkyMiles® Credit Card from American Express, is a good choice as the miles you earn can be added to your existing frequent flyer account. Those who would rather have more flexibility in where — and with what carrier — they fly should check out our top-rated travel rewards cards. These programs have no brand restrictions or blackout dates to limit your travel options.
+See More Travel Rewards Cards
In your search for the perfect rewards card, don’t forget to investigate the associated rates and fees to ensure you get a good financial deal in addition to awesome travel perks. An important — yet often over-looked — cost to be wary of in a travel card is that due to foreign transaction fees. When charged, these fees will apply to any purchase you make that involves a conversion between US and foreign currencies.
Many travel credit cards will come without foreign transaction fees — but not all. When present, foreign transaction fees are typically 3% to 5% of the total transaction amount. You can check the terms of your credit card offer or cardholder agreement to find out the details of your card’s fees.
2. You Can Use Cash Back Rewards to Purchase Miles
Although unknown to many, one way to add to your stash of frequent flyer miles (without dealing with airplane food) is to simply purchase them from the airline. While this method won’t always provide the greatest value — per-mile costs can be prohibitive to some free-flight aficionados — it’s a good way to pad your points if you come up a little short when it’s time to redeem.
Additionally, many programs regularly offer discounts on miles purchases that can increase the value. Of course, the best way to get great value is to buy those miles with free money — like cash back rewards from your everyday credit card. With a great cash back card, such as our top picks, you can earn rewards on everything you buy, including gas and groceries, then redeem your cash back for a statement credit to cover your miles purchases.
Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.
- Earn $200 cash back after you spend $1,500 on purchases in the first 6 months of account opening. This bonus offer will be fulfilled as 20,000 ThankYou® Points, which can be redeemed for $200 cash back.
- Earn 2% on every purchase with unlimited 1% cash back when you buy, plus an additional 1% as you pay for those purchases. To earn cash back, pay at least the minimum due on time. Plus, earn 5% total cash back on hotel, car rentals and attractions booked with Citi Travel.
- Balance Transfer Only Offer: 0% intro APR on Balance Transfers for 18 months. After that, the variable APR will be 17.49% - 27.49%, based on your creditworthiness.
- Balance Transfers do not earn cash back. Intro APR does not apply to purchases.
- If you transfer a balance, interest will be charged on your purchases unless you pay your entire balance (including balance transfers) by the due date each month.
- There is an intro balance transfer fee of 3% of each transfer (minimum $5) completed within the first 4 months of account opening. After that, your fee will be 5% of each transfer (minimum $5).
Additional Disclosure: Citi is a CardRates advertiser.
- INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers. Discover will automatically match all the cash back you’ve earned at the end of your first year! There’s no minimum spending or maximum rewards. You could turn $150 cash back into $300.
- Earn 5% cash back on everyday purchases at different places you shop each quarter like grocery stores, restaurants, gas stations, and more, up to the quarterly maximum when you activate. Plus, earn unlimited 1% cash back on all other purchases.
- Redeem cash back for any amount. No annual fee.
- 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 17.49% - 26.49% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies.
- Terms and conditions apply.
To maximize the amount of cash back you can earn — and, thus, put toward your temporary ticket out of the rat race — you should seek out the cash back program that will make the most of your spending. If you make purchases just about everywhere, a simple, flat-rate unlimited program may be best. However, if the bulk of your buys fall into a variety of common categories, you can often bag bonus cash back rewards.
Categories rewards will typically come in two types: those that rotate quarterly, and those that remain the same all year long. Rotating categories can be great for those whose spending changes with the season, typically offering bonuses on gas or groceries during the summer and popular shopping brands during the holiday months. However, if your spending is as regular as a German train, then set categories might give you the most robust rewards.
3. You Can Use Miles Gifted to You From Family & Friends
Another way to accrue frequent flyer miles without actually flying frequently (or at all) is to take advantage of the airplane addicts in your network of family and friends. The simplest option is to have them order a ticket for you, as most, if not all, airlines will allow you to designate a ticket purchased through your account to be used by a family member.
Another option is to receive a transfer of miles directly. The majority of major airlines and travel rewards programs will allow you to gift or share points and miles between accounts. Among the things to keep in mind when considering transferring points (or receiving them) is that some airlines will charge a per-mile fee to gift miles, sometimes as much as several cents per point, which can easily eliminate any value from the transaction.
I have had friends who asked for frequent flier miles in lieu of wedding gifts, to help reduce the cost of their honeymoon. It’s a great way to get something you actually want and need for your wedding instead of can openers and assorted bowls.
Your frequent flyer or travel rewards account may also have a cap on the number of points or miles you can send or receive on an annual basis. Points transferred over the cap may be unavailable to use until the next year, or lost altogether, so be aware of any limitations before you initiate a transfer.
Stack the Savings by Combining Rewards and Miles
Few things are as good for the body, mind, and soul as a great vacation. Even the simple act of getting away (far, far away) from the daily grind can be enough to help you relax and rejuvenate.
You can transfer some travel rewards to your existing frequent flyer account to save even more.
At the same time, it’s hard to enjoy the food, fun, and fruity drinks when you’re focused on how long it’ll take you to pay for it all.
While frequent flyer miles and travel rewards can both be effective ways to pay for your much-needed getaway, unless you’re in the air more than a migratory bird, it can feel like forever to collect the points you need. That said, saving in the skies can be as simple as saving in the grocery aisles if you know how to properly stack your points and miles.
For example, you can use the generous Ultimate Rewards signup bonus from your new Chase Sapphire Preferred® credit card directly, redeeming them through the Chase portal to cover travel expenses. Or you can transfer your Ultimate Rewards to any of Chase’s popular airline partners, turning those points into branded frequent flyer miles and adding to your vacation-ready hoard.
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Editorial Note: Our site content is not provided or commissioned by any credit card issuer(s). Opinions expressed on CardRates.com are the author's alone, not those of any credit card issuer, and have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by credit card issuers. Every reasonable effort has been made to maintain accurate information; however, all credit card offer details, including information about rewards, signup bonuses, introductory offers, and other terms and conditions, is presented without warranty. Clicking on any offer on CardRates.com will direct you to the issuer's website, where you can review the current terms and conditions of the offer.
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