This article attempts to help readers become aware of avenues to earn and spend airlines miles such that they yield the greatest returns. It is meant to convey guiding principles but is not intended to hand-hold or spoon-feed. Indeed, some of the information that is relevant at the time of writing may become outdated over time. Readers will need to exercise due diligence in performing their own research; the contents of this article arose from many hours of the author's research, analysis and discussion with peers.
Introduction
Before I begin, allow me to introduce some very useful resources:
- Frequent Flyer, a twenty-minute video which offers a quick glance into the amazing world of frequent flyer programmes and airline miles.
- The FlyerTalk Miles&Points forum, which contains a wealth of information and discussion about the topic, and is the source for a lot of my information
I attribute no small part of my passion for this topic to having watched the film
Up in the Air in 2010. I deliberately use the vague term "this topic" because there are actually multiple sub-themes that the world of frequent flying can be broken down into. Some flyers strive to achieve top-notch VIP status on the airlines they are loyal to. Others simply hope to earn miles at a low cost, and use them in exchange for the highest possible return. Some, as we shall see, may not even fly frequently at all. My objective in writing this guide is to address the second group: those wanting to earn miles at a low cost and spend them to get the most value.
