This Flight Mile Hacks Super Page contains a growing list of money-saving tips from for Booking Ahead to get Free Flights; Using Flight Miles for Magazines & Using Flight Miles for Restaurant.com Certificates.
Chase Sapphire for Flight Miles
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We really like the Chase Sapphire cards. There is a free version and then there are two other versions. One has a $99 annual fee and the other has a $475 annual fee.
Before you balk at the $475 price, you’ve got to know that it comes with roughly an equivalent value in benefits which include; $300 per year travel credit applied instantly toward airfare and hotel fees, airport lounge membership ($150 annually) and Global Entry reimbursement ($100 every 5 years value).
Bonus Points
Plus as a new card member, you’ll receive between 50,000 and 100,000 bonus points when you sign up. 50,000 points are enough for 2 roundtrip domestic tickets or almost enough for one roundtrip to Europe. Tim Economides – North Sebago, ME
Ditto! Chase Sapphire is the best! Amanda Good – Salt Lake City, UT
Purchase Points
Also with the Sapphire card you get between 1 and 3 points for every dollar you spend on regular purchases and dining or travel purchases. What I really like is that you can spend your points within the Chase reward system OR (this is my favorite part) transfer your points at a 1:1 ratio to member airline, hotel,
and train reward programs. We almost exclusively transfer our points to United Airlines which has some of the best award options, especially for international travel.
Plan Ahead with Flight Miles
A quick tip for anyone wanting to use their frequent flyer miles for free travel-book your trip as far ahead as you can. The travel industry usually lets you book a maximum of 330 days in advance of your trip. Try to book as close to that maximum as you can, as airlines generally have many more frequent flyer miles available than they do actual seats for award travel. Laurie Smith – Warren, NJ
Flight Miles for Magazines
I have found a way to buy magazine subscriptions, for myself or for a gift, using frequent flyer miles. The Web site is www.magsformiles.com. The mileage programs that they accept are Alaska, American, Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian, Spirit, and United. There are offers for as low as 400 miles. The differentt magazines offered varies from time to time, but the last time I checked they had 40 different publications listed. I had a few thousand miles with US Airways that I wasn’t going to use for travel. I redeemed them for subscriptions to Scientific American, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, Parenting, and Budget Living. So, when flying, sign up for the frequent flyer program, even if you don’t think you will ever accumulate a significant number of miles.
Suzanne Tourville – Colombia, MO
Flight Miles for Meals
I had 2000 frequent flyer miles on United Airlines that I had forgotten about. I was able to redeem them for $100 in credit at Restaurant.com. Find out more at United Airlines. With Resturant.com you purchase gift certificates for a discounted price and then when you go out, you only spend like $10 for $25 worth of food. Also, they have a “diners club.” For $10 per month, you get a $25 coupon and an additional gift certificate each month. Memberships are 3, 6 or 12 months in length. Also, CouponMom.com regularly sends out “discount” codes for Restuarant.com. I’ve received codes for as much as 80% off, and the gift certificates from Restaurant.com are good for a full year. Last Christmas that’s what everyone got and it only cost me something like $8 for the whole family. This is the ONLY way we go out! Jeannie G.- USA