3 Secrets: Get Frequent Flyer Miles Without Flying – (Aug. 2024)
Updated:
Writer: Brittney Mayer
Brittney Mayer, Credit Analyst
Brittney is a Credit Strategist and Finance Expert who has spent years honing her knowledge of the credit industry both personally and professionally. Brittney applies her more than a decade of research experience to crafting in-depth consumer guides designed to help CardRates readers make better, more informed financial decisions.
Lillian Guevara-Castro brings more than 30 years of editing and journalism experience to the CardRates team. She has worked at The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, Gwinnett Daily News, Gainesville Sun, and The New York Times, where she covered demographics, consumer issues, and the business and financial sectors. Lillian has a degree in journalism and communications from Georgia State University and brings her fact-checking expertise to ensure Digital Brands content is accurate and engaging.
Ashley Fricker has more than a decade of experience as a finance contributor and editor, and has specialized in the credit card industry since 2015. Her credit card commentary is featured on national media outlets that include CNBC, MarketWatch, Investopedia, and Reader's Digest, among many others. She has worked closely with the world’s largest banks and financial institutions, up-and-coming fintech companies, and press and news outlets to curate comprehensive content and media. Ashley holds a bachelor's degree in multimedia journalism from Florida Atlantic University.
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.
Our in-house experts rate Air Miles credit cards based on:
Miles earnings rates
Annual and other fees
Signup bonuses and intro APRs
Travel insurance protection
Travel and other credits
We also consider other cardholder needs and data points specific to the category. We then compare it to similar card offers and evaluate the terms before assigning a numerical value, in which 5.0 represents the best. Ratings are updated as issuer changes occur, and issuers have no influence on our ratings.
Our in-house experts rate Air Miles credit cards based on:
Miles earnings rates
Annual and other fees
Signup bonuses and intro APRs
Travel insurance protection
Travel and other credits
We also consider other cardholder needs and data points specific to the category. We then compare it to similar card offers and evaluate the terms before assigning a numerical value, in which 5.0 represents the best. Ratings are updated as issuer changes occur, and issuers have no influence on our ratings.
Our in-house experts rate Air Miles credit cards based on:
Miles earnings rates
Annual and other fees
Signup bonuses and intro APRs
Travel insurance protection
Travel and other credits
We also consider other cardholder needs and data points specific to the category. We then compare it to similar card offers and evaluate the terms before assigning a numerical value, in which 5.0 represents the best. Ratings are updated as issuer changes occur, and issuers have no influence on our ratings.
Our in-house experts rate Air Miles credit cards based on:
Miles earnings rates
Annual and other fees
Signup bonuses and intro APRs
Travel insurance protection
Travel and other credits
We also consider other cardholder needs and data points specific to the category. We then compare it to similar card offers and evaluate the terms before assigning a numerical value, in which 5.0 represents the best. Ratings are updated as issuer changes occur, and issuers have no influence on our ratings.
Enjoy a one-time bonus of 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
Our in-house experts rate Air Miles credit cards based on:
Miles earnings rates
Annual and other fees
Signup bonuses and intro APRs
Travel insurance protection
Travel and other credits
We also consider other cardholder needs and data points specific to the category. We then compare it to similar card offers and evaluate the terms before assigning a numerical value, in which 5.0 represents the best. Ratings are updated as issuer changes occur, and issuers have no influence on our ratings.
Our in-house experts rate Air Miles credit cards based on:
Miles earnings rates
Annual and other fees
Signup bonuses and intro APRs
Travel insurance protection
Travel and other credits
We also consider other cardholder needs and data points specific to the category. We then compare it to similar card offers and evaluate the terms before assigning a numerical value, in which 5.0 represents the best. Ratings are updated as issuer changes occur, and issuers have no influence on our ratings.
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,300+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and the Partner Lounge Network
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.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
4.9/5.0
About this rating
Our in-house credit card experts rate Cash Back offers based on:
Cash back earning rates
Annual and other fees
Signup bonuses
Regular and introductory APRs
Reward redemption rates
We also consider other cardholder needs and data points specific to the category. We then compare it to similar card offers and evaluate the terms before assigning a numerical value, in which 5.0 represents the best. Ratings are updated as issuer changes occur, and issuers have no influence on our ratings.
Bank of America® Customized Cash Rewards credit card
4.9/5.0
About this rating
Our in-house credit card experts rate Cash Back offers based on:
Cash back earning rates
Annual and other fees
Signup bonuses
Regular and introductory APRs
Reward redemption rates
We also consider other cardholder needs and data points specific to the category. We then compare it to similar card offers and evaluate the terms before assigning a numerical value, in which 5.0 represents the best. Ratings are updated as issuer changes occur, and issuers have no influence on our ratings.
$200 online cash rewards bonus after you make at least $1,000 in purchases in the first 90 days of account opening.
Earn 3% cash back in the category of your choice, automatic 2% at grocery stores and wholesale clubs (up to $2,500 in combined choice category/grocery store/wholesale club quarterly purchases) and unlimited 1% on all other purchases.
Choose 3% cash back on gas and EV charging station, online shopping/cable/internet/phone plan/streaming, dining, travel, drug store/pharmacy or home improvement/furnishings purchases.
If you're a Bank of America Preferred Rewards® member, you can earn 25%-75% more cash back on every purchase. That means you could earn 3.75%-5.25% cash back on purchases in your choice category.
No annual fee and cash rewards don’t expire as long as your account remains open.
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for purchases, and for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days. After the Intro APR offer ends, a Variable APR that’s currently 19.24% - 29.24% will apply. A 3% Intro balance transfer fee will apply for the first 60 days your account is open. After the Intro balance transfer fee offer ends, the fee for future balance transfers is 4%.
Contactless Cards - The security of a chip card, with the convenience of a tap.
This online only offer may not be available if you leave this page or if you visit a Bank of America financial center. You can take advantage of this offer when you apply now.
0% Intro APR for 15 billing cycles for any balance transfers made in the first 60 days (Balance Transfer Fee 3% for 60 days from account opening, then 4%)
19.24% - 29.24% Variable APR on purchases and balance transfers
$0
Excellent/Good
Additional Disclosure: Bank of America is a CardRates advertiser.
Our in-house credit card experts rate Cash Back offers based on:
Cash back earning rates
Annual and other fees
Signup bonuses
Regular and introductory APRs
Reward redemption rates
We also consider other cardholder needs and data points specific to the category. We then compare it to similar card offers and evaluate the terms before assigning a numerical value, in which 5.0 represents the best. Ratings are updated as issuer changes occur, and issuers have no influence on our ratings.
Our in-house credit card experts rate Cash Back offers based on:
Cash back earning rates
Annual and other fees
Signup bonuses
Regular and introductory APRs
Reward redemption rates
We also consider other cardholder needs and data points specific to the category. We then compare it to similar card offers and evaluate the terms before assigning a numerical value, in which 5.0 represents the best. Ratings are updated as issuer changes occur, and issuers have no influence on our ratings.
INTRO OFFER: Unlimited Cashback Match for all new cardmembers–only from Discover. 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—automatically.
Redeem your rewards for cash at any time.
Apply and you could get a decision in as little as 60 seconds.
Discover could help you reduce exposure of your personal information online by helping you remove it from select people-search sites that could sell your data. It’s free, activate with the mobile app.
Get a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases. Then 18.24% to 28.24% Standard Variable Purchase APR applies, based on credit worthiness.
Our in-house credit card experts rate Cash Back offers based on:
Cash back earning rates
Annual and other fees
Signup bonuses
Regular and introductory APRs
Reward redemption rates
We also consider other cardholder needs and data points specific to the category. We then compare it to similar card offers and evaluate the terms before assigning a numerical value, in which 5.0 represents the best. Ratings are updated as issuer changes occur, and issuers have no influence on our ratings.
Our in-house credit card experts rate Cash Back offers based on:
Cash back earning rates
Annual and other fees
Signup bonuses
Regular and introductory APRs
Reward redemption rates
We also consider other cardholder needs and data points specific to the category. We then compare it to similar card offers and evaluate the terms before assigning a numerical value, in which 5.0 represents the best. Ratings are updated as issuer changes occur, and issuers have no influence on our ratings.
INTRO OFFER: Earn an additional 1.5% cash back on everything you buy (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year) - worth up to $300 cash back!
Enjoy 6.5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, our premier rewards program that lets you redeem rewards for cash back, travel, gift cards and more; 4.5% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and 3% on all other purchases (on up to $20,000 spent in the first year).
After your first year or $20,000 spent, enjoy 5% cash back on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3% cash back on drugstore purchases and dining at restaurants, including takeout and eligible delivery service, and unlimited 1.5% cash back on all other purchases.
No minimum to redeem for cash back. You can choose to receive a statement credit or direct deposit into most U.S. checking and savings accounts. Cash Back rewards do not expire as long as your account is open!
Enjoy 0% Intro APR for 15 months from account opening on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable APR of 20.49% - 29.24%.
No annual fee – You won't have to pay an annual fee for all the great features that come with your Freedom Unlimited® card
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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