Start Flying for Free Thanks to This Easy Air Miles Hack
Collecting air miles is one of the best ways to afford more travel opportunities, but sometimes the miles seem impossible to use. The Points Guy’s Julian Kheel reveals tips on how to ensure you get the free flights you want, when you want them.
When you go on holiday, using air miles for your flight is a great way to save money. But sometimes the miles can be limiting, with flights unavailable on the dates you want to travel or flight routes that start in a specific city, which is not necessarily where you’ll be travelling from. Julian Kheel, senior editor at online travel platform The Points Guy (TPG) flies at least 100,000 miles a year and has an easy and effective tip to avoid this problem.
“Points and miles are one of the most popular ways to fly for free,” he tells us. “And if you want to use your points and miles to the maximum value, you don’t want to be collecting them from a particular airline, but rather using ‘flexible points,’ which are offered by the major banks such as Amex Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate and Citi Thank You.”
Instead of opting for a credit card associated with any specific airline, Kheel suggests going for a general rewards credit card where the points collected can be used for anything. This way your flight options aren’t as limited.
“The reason these points are more valuable than standard airline miles is that the points can be converted into airline miles or even hotel points for multiple airlines and hotels. Effectively, you’re collecting a dozen or more options as opposed to one.”
These rewards points can be turned into airline miles but also used as cash, meaning you can use them to actually purchase the airfare even when mileage tickets are not available.
Say goodbye to paying for airfare and save that money for the holiday.
KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?
Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.
Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.
Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.
We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.