Air Miles Programs
Major Airline Loyality Programs
When joining an airline miles program, concentrate on the 1 or 2 airlines you travel on the most. Remember that most airlines belong to a larger group of airlines. For example... I'm in American Airlines AAdvantage program. When I fly on Alaska Airlines (which I do quite frequently) I can give them my American Airlines program number and still earn points on American for every mile I fly on Alaska Airlines. Below you will find links to the major airlines programs and a brief description of ways to earn miles when not flying.
Click the logo of the plans below to be taken to the websites for that plan. There you can join and get all kinds of info on more ways to earn.
American Airlines
Make sure you join the AAdvantagdining and AAdvantageshopping programs to earn the most points. If you qualify... The CitiBank credit card will really boost your miles too! Filling out surveys can also be a great way to get air miles at e-Rewards (I fill out surveys on my breaks at work and on weekends) - Check the website to see if you live in a state where you can get miles for your electric bill with companies such as Reliant Energy and Energy Plus. Signing up for DirectTV will give you 25,000 miles = 1 free ticket! With AAdvantage dining I have all my ex-husbands credit cards set up for my account - expecially his citibank AAdvantage card. That way he gets airmiles and I get airmiles for each dining trip out! Always see how many different ways you can earn at 1 time. (The credit card comes in handy with this!)
**Earn miles everyday with the Citibank AAdvantage Credit card and get 60,000 miles for signing up and first year's fee waived! That's 2+ FREE tickets right there! Click here to choose the card that is best for you!
United Airlines
United and Continental have merged and so has their miles program. Definitely join the MileagePlus Shopping and MileagePlus Dining and if you qualify, grab the MilagePlus Visa. MileagePlus also has a surveys program that is a fun way to earn air miles at Opinion Miles Club.
**Earn miles everyday with the United Explorer Credit cards and get 40,000 miles for signing up and first year's fee waived! Click here to apply
Delta
Like with American, make sure you join the SkyMiles Dining and SkyMiles Shopping (actually ran by the same company that manages American's). And for those that qualify... definitely get the SkyMiles Mastercard from SunTrust. Residents in some states can get miles for their electric bill with Energy Plus.
**Earn miles everyday with the Skymiles Credit cards by American Express and get 60,000 miles and a $50 statement credit for signing up! (conditions apply) Click here to apply.
Southwest Airlines
As the others do, Southwest Rapid Rewards offers RapidRewards Shopping, RapidRewards Dining and a Southwest AirlinesRapidRewards Visa for those that qualify. Southwest has one of the smaller programs for earning partners, but there are still plenty of ways to earn miles. RapidRewardsDining lets you earn while you eat out and RapidRewardsShopping lets you earn while shopping online. Check the website to see if you live in a state where you can get miles for your electric bill with companies such as Reliant Energy (earn 27,000 right now with Reliant!) and Energy Plus.
**Earn miles everyday with the Rapid Rewards Credit card by Chase and get 50,000 miles for signing up! That can be as much as 2 FREE trips!! Click here to apply
Alaska Airlines
Alaska has very few partners. They don't participate in the Dining or Shopping programs, but on the plus side, when you fly with them you can earn American Airlines miles and build your account that way. Sometimes their flights are actually American Airlines flights. I personally recommend you concentrate on the American Airlines program which has many more ways to earn.