For avid travelers and frequent flyers in general, the prospect of taking a free air ride might seem like a pretty good deal. And it should, because people have been using credit card miles for years to travel the world affordably, and fuel their passion.
While there’s no way to include flying into your eco-friendly travels, for example, you can use your credit card miles to fund your exploits and save up on accommodation, and many other perks in the process.
That said, the entire concept around credit card miles can be quite confusing to the aspiring traveler, so today, we’ll be going over everything you need to know and do enjoy the benefits of collecting and redeeming flyer miles. Let’s dive in.
Credit card miles in a nutshell
Let’s break down the concept of credit card miles. If you are new to the game, you might mistake credit card miles for frequent flyer miles, but those are two different programs, and we’ll address the latter throughout the article.
Credit card miles are loyalty benefits programs that some card companies offer to their clients, as a reward for credit card spending.
Spending on your credit card allows you to accrue credit card miles, and over time, accumulate enough miles for a free flight. Now, the value of one mile will be defined by the credit card issuer, the partnering airline, and the type of card you choose.
However, it is the airline that determines the number of air miles you need to collect in order to redeem them for a free flight. If you don’t have enough miles for a whole flight, you might be eligible for discounts, seat upgrades, priority boarding, and more.
Ways of earning flyer miles
Unlike frequent flyer miles, credit card miles can be accumulated without ever boarding a plane. This is what makes this option so appealing to many travelers nowadays, as it allows you to accrue miles by using your credit card, and not necessarily jetting around the world if you’re not a frequent flyer.
In practice, using your credit card to say, buy travel tech for your upcoming exotic escapade might grant you a few extra miles.
To start earning your miles, you’ll need to find a card issuer that offers a miles reward program. Luckily, both major and minor card issuers nowadays have these benefits, so you should have no problem finding a good air miles credit card program that offers sizable rewards and has numerous different card types for you to choose from.
Remember, there is no single credit card program, instead, there are many types of cards to suit the needs of every traveler, so be sure to get in touch with the issuer to find the best card for you.
Checking your balance and card protection
Whether you simply want to check how many miles you’ve accumulated or want to calculate how many you are still to accumulate to earn a free flight, there are several ways you can stay on top of your progress.
Firstly, you will find your credit card miles in your monthly billing statement. Alternatively, you can log into your online banking account, or even call your card issuer.
Keep in mind that it may take a few days for your miles to appear in your statement after you’ve made a purchase. Another important thing to keep in mind is to protect your credit card miles from theft.
If your account password is not strong enough, hackers might gain access to your credit card information and redeem your miles, aside from withdrawing your money as well. If you notice anything suspicious or missing miles, contact your issuer immediately.
Redeeming your credit card miles
When the time comes to redeem your credit card miles, there are a few key tips to keep in mind. First, be sure to keep an open schedule, because airline companies only have a handful of reward seats per flight, and they might not be able to squeeze you in.
This means that you should book your flight well in advance to improve your chances of snagging a seat on a flight that fits your travel schedule.
Next, be sure to read the fine print in your contract to check if you can combine miles and transfer them between airlines. And lastly, be sure to get in touch with your card issuer and follow the steps to redeem your miles without a hitch.
Wrapping up
Accumulating credit card miles is a great way to save up on your travels. If you’re new to this reward program, be sure to follow these tips in order to find the best card for your needs, and use the rewards to fuel your travels.
