Using Your Miles to Book a Flight

With so many credit card issuers today offering airline programs, it's a wonder the airlines make any money. After all, the miles add up. And, if the cardholder spends enough money on his or her frequent flyer credit card, it can add up to be quite a substantial amount of free miles. On the other hand, you have to be willing to make some sacrifices in order to use the miles you have accumulated from your frequent flyer program.

Is it Really Worth It?

The fact that you might need to make some sacrifices in order to take advantage of earned miles raises the question about whether it's worth it to sign up with the frequent flyer program. To answer that question, you must look at your own individual patterns of travel and weigh these patterns against how much it costs you in fees to have the credit card just to earn the free miles. Before you even fill out the application for the credit card, you have to be fully aware that you are not going to receive an award every time you try to use your miles because the programs are not made to work that way.

Many people become disillusioned with their frequent flyer program because they see the commercials that make it look so easy. Then, they find the programs don't work as easily in the reality of the every day world. For the traveler who flies perhaps two or three times a year, it's not realistic to think you will earn enough miles to travel to some exotic place like Paris, London, or even Hawaii. For the business traveler who is quite frequently called away on business trips, however, it's possible to earn enough miles to qualify for a free ticket.

How Flexible do I Need to Be?

Those who will have the best experience using their frequent flyer miles are those who are flexible in the time they are willing to travel as well as their willingness to use a smaller airport. A point to ponder is that the airline is not going to allow you to travel free on a flight that has the potential to fill with paying customers. Economically, that would be a disaster for the airline. Airlines know what flights tend to be under booked, and they will designate a certain number of seats on those flights to free or deeply discounted ticket holders. In this way, the travelers get their seat and the airline doesn't lose a customer paying full fare.

Are there Other Ways to Use My Miles?

Another way you can use your frequent flyer miles instead of a free flight is to upgrade your ticket to first class. Certainly, this will cost more than the price you pay for coach. But, it may well be worth it, especially if you are on an international flight. The little extra comfort you experience from the extra leg room available in first class may be worth the price, especially if you are a tall person.

How Can I Get the Most Out of My Frequent Flyer Program?

In summary, when you want to get the most from your frequent flyer miles, keep these tips in mind: