Frequent Flyer Programs - Travel resources and tips for the frequent traveler

Accumulating frequent flyer miles is great way to earn free travel, but it can be a confusing business. Many of us who regularly accrue them are faced with serious frustration when attempting to actually redeem them for an airline ticket. If you are looking to join a program, learn how to maximize your miles, or get tips on where and how to use them, we'll get you started.

For the most comprehensive frequent flyer information online, go to WebFlyer.com. The site is sponsored by frequent flyer guru Randy Petersen's Inside Flyer magazine; he has been the leading expert in frequent flyer programs for years. You'll find up-to-date overviews of all available programs, specifics on restrictions and accrual, and even ratings to help you choose a program if you're looking to join.

FrequentFlier.com is a site which aims to help you maximize the benefits of participating in a program. They offer some great advice, and point out that: "The return is not the miles themselves... it is the tangible benefits that those miles may be exchanged for."

Tracking Miles
With all the different programs available, it's easy to lose track of your account information and accumulated miles. An easy solution is Max Miles, where you'll find features which enable you to track your miles from various programs in one place.

Tips For Redeeming Miles on Flights
-Call on the day of travel to try to nail down seat assignments over the phone.

-If you are a premier, platinum, or other similar "status" frequent flyer, give a polite reminder to the travel agent booking your tickets, and especially the gate or check-in agent, that you are an elite level traveler.

-As a rule, airlines will first downgrade or bump frequent flyers before they will paying passengers. Especially in the case of downgrades, you may have recourse. For example, if you use your miles for an upgrade to first class, and no first class seats are available, the airline owes you the miles for that leg of your trip, or a free upgrade on a future flight.

Likewise, if you are bumped, you are entitled to compensation just like any other passenger.

-Use your miles or non-rev awards for upgrades, not free flights. Award redemption for free flights is so difficult that you rarely get a chance to use them anyway. Use your miles for upgrades on lower-fare flights you purchase.

-Go the Double Mileage route. As a rule, all major airlines will waive blackout dates and availability restrictions if you redeem double the miles required for the award.

-Behave. Even muttered comments can get you blackballed as a frequent traveler.

-Write the airline. Good writing is the best revenge; heck, any writing does the job. Few arguments are as logically compelling as this simple notion: I spent thousands and thousands of dollars on your airline, and you rewarded me with a miserable experience.

Earning and Spending Miles
The most obvious way to earn miles is to fly, and you can get the ins and outs of the airline programs by visiting InsideFlyer.com. But these days you could earn enough miles for a free ticket without ever leaving the ground. There are various ways to earn them by making other purchases, staying at hotels or renting a car, even making long distance phone calls. Airlines also offer miles in conjunction with major credit card companies, and you'll earn about one mile for every dollar in purchases.

Earning miles by spending money online is almost too easy. There are several sites which reward you with frequent flyer miles when you make purchases online. ClickRewards is a big one, with 10 airlines participating.

You're also able to use frequent flyer miles from several major airlines to purchase goods and services online, in one place. A site called Milepoint allows you to turn the miles from your frequent flyer program into "Milepoints" and spend them online with various retailers. Currently, Northwest, Delta, Continental, US Airways, Midwest Express, and America West are participating.