Flying on points and miles - How to fly for free

Ok, so you can’t fly 100% for free unless you have a wealthy benefactor to cover your costs. But what you can do is create a strategy allowing you to upgrade your travels and fly business/first class for less than you pay for economy.

Points & Miles is the art of using credit card sign-up bonuses, rewards programs, and other strategies to earn free or discounted flights. It can be a complex and time-consuming process, but it can also be a very rewarding one.

Here’s an example:

1. You sign up for the BEST travel card, the Chase Sapphire Reserve

2. You receive 60,000 in bonus points after spending $4000 in the first 3 months (or if you’re lucky, you can get an offer for 70,000, 80,000 or even 100,000 bonus points

3. You find a business class trip from Atlanta to Frankfurt via Lufthansa, which is typically $4,000+, for around 60,000 miles + $100.

4. You transfer the 60,000 points from Chase to United, one of their transfer partners, and book the Lufthansa flight through United (because they are both part of the same airline group, Star Alliance.

5. Sit back and relax on your way to Germany only paying $100 to have a seat that turns into a bed on a 12 hour flight!

Here are some tips for getting started:

1. Do your research. There are a lot of different strategies out there, so it's important to do your research and find the ones that work best for you.

2. Understand transfer partners. A large portion of the strategy is to understand how you can transfer points, miles, and/or status from one source to the other, allowing you to focus on accruing points and miles in one area, then finding the right partner for your specific travel situation to transfer them to. If you understand not only the transfer partner, but who shares relationships with said transfer partner, you can open up a huge world of opportunity.

3. Be patient. It takes time to build up a significant amount of points or miles, so don't expect to start flying for free overnight. Also it may take some time to find the right opportunity to use the miles or points you’ve accrued.

4. Be flexible. Sometimes the best flight deals are found on flights or dates that are not in your original travel plans. Be open to new destinations and experiences.

5. Have fun! This can be a great way to save money on travel, but it's also a lot of fun. Enjoy the process and don't be afraid to experiment.

Source: (https://www.uscreditcardguide.com/wings-points-points-miles-transfer-chart-amex-chase-citi-spg-marriott/)

Here are some of the most common strategies:

• Sign-up bonuses: Many credit cards offer sign-up bonuses that can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars in travel rewards. These points can then be redeemed for free flights, hotel stays, or other travel expenses.

• Rewards programs: Most airlines and hotels have their own rewards programs. You can earn points or miles by flying with the airline or staying at the hotel. These points or miles can then be redeemed for free flights, hotel stays, or other travel expenses.

• Transfer partners: Many credit cards and rewards programs allow you to transfer points or miles to other programs. This can be a great way to increase your earning potential and redeem your points or miles for more travel options.

This be a great way to save money on travel. However, it's important to remember that it's not a get-rich-quick scheme. It takes time and effort to learn the ropes, and you'll need to be patient and persistent if you want to be successful.

Here are some additional tips:

• Be aware of blackout dates. Many airlines and hotels have blackout dates, which are dates when you cannot use your points or miles. Be sure to check the terms and conditions before you book your flight or hotel stay.

• Use a mileage calculator. There are a number of mileage calculators available online that can help you determine how many points or miles you need to book a particular flight or hotel stay.

• Be flexible with your travel dates. If you're able to be flexible with your travel dates, you'll have more options and you'll be more likely to find a good deal. It is MUCH more difficult when you are working with very constrained dates

• Sign up for email alerts. Many airlines and hotels offer email alerts that will notify you of special deals and promotions. Signing up for these alerts is a great way to stay up-to-date on the latest offers.

• Book early or late: Booking your flight early or late can often result in significant savings. Airlines typically release their flights 11 months in advance, and booking early can result in lower prices. On the other hand, booking a flight at the last minute can sometimes result in lower prices if the airline is trying to fill empty seats.

• Use incognito mode: Flight prices can sometimes increase if you repeatedly search for the same flight. Using incognito mode or private browsing can help prevent this from happening.

• Fly on weekdays: Flying on weekdays, especially Tuesdays and Wednesdays, can often result in lower prices than flying on weekends.

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With a little effort, you can start flying for free or at a fraction of the cost. So what are you waiting for?