This is one of the cards that we use to gain large quantities of FF. Bonus Miles.  It is the only one that we know that gives double miles at hundreds of places where we normally shop and use services.  It also gives
10,000 bonus miles for signing up for the card, with your first purchase. This card is for anyone who is serious about acquiring FF. Bonus Miles in a big way.
 
 

Another way we found  to generate large quantities of frequent flyer miles is now available to all United Mileage Plus Members.and to all Delta Sky Miles Members.  It's United's and Delta's Dining Programs. 

What was once a perk for only the elite flyers who flew 25,000 paid miles or more, has recently been opened up for the rest of us.

We now have a way of adding substantially to
our ever growing Frequent Flyer Accounts. 

How it Works

1. You already are a Mileage Plus member or sign up to be a member through their Web site or call their toll free number. (go to our links page)

2. Register up to 3  credit cards that you normally use, and then use them discreetly to gain 10 Mileage Plus  miles for every $1 spent, at participating restaurants. 

Platypus Tip: 
To make it 11 miles to each dollar spent, be sure to use your ff program's Credit Card to gain the extra 1 mile.

3. You don't even have to spend all your own money. If you dine out with friends or co-workers, have them pay you in cash for their dinners.  Put $50 on your card and you will get 500 ff bonus miles, put $100 on your card and you will get 1000 miles, just for one evening  of enjoyment. 

They even have special incentives.  The latest one;  if you dine out 7 times within a two month period (ending June 30 2001) get an extra 1,000 Bonus Miles. 

Watch those miles rack up! 

Since your card is already on file with them, there is nothing else to do. Your frequent flyer account will automatically be credited with the miles.

With over 7,000 restaurants to choose from across the U.S. you can even take the latest "Dining" Directory filled with participating restaurants on trips to get even more miles.... 

Find the complete listing of these restaurants, cafes and bistros by visiting  United Online
or calling 1-800-555-5116.
or visit  

  Delta.com

When American Airlines launched the first Frequent Flyer Program 20 years ago and United  followed suit, who would have thought they were not only creating a new phenomena, but a new form of currency, as well?  At between $.02 and $.025 a mile, miles have real value.

If you have my book, you've read the comparison between a paid ticket and a "FREE" award ticket purchased with frequent flyer miles, and know how really valuable that ticket can be. Above and beyond being the "right" price, the FREE award ticket gives and keeps on giving.  On trips with destinations  such as Australia and New Zealand they can be worth two to three times their paid counterparts value, as they allow stopovers and open jaws and changes of dates and places.  You can fly into one country and fly home from another, change your mind and stay an extra few days or decide to go to another place altogether. Even if it turns out you can not make that trip, for a fair amount you can even re-deposit those miles back in your account to be used for another time. You don't need to spend money on trip insurance. 

Now, there are over 3 Trillion frequent flyer miles ready to soar in accounts all over the world. 70% in U.S. accounts and nearly half were earned while their owners were on the ground. Everything from dining out to changing your long distance telecommunications carrier can earn you miles and hundreds of other activities, in-between. (see side bar on a new opportunity to earn 10 miles for every $1 spent.) 

We've come a long way from the days of only earning 1 mile for every mile flown. Now with multilevel frequent flyer credit card programs, you can earn up to 15,000 ff miles just for joining a program, each year and even get bonus miles for buying a house or car, taking out a mortgage or buying almost anything in the world.  The internet has opened up even more possibilities with scores of Web sites ready to give you miles for almost any activity you can imagine.  Even pay your taxes by phone with your ff credit card and earn miles! I predicted this in 1997 before many of these offers were even a gleam in their promoter's eyes.

Airlines may have hundreds of partners all to ensure that you stay loyal to them.  Everyone and anyone can get on the band wagon.  Just read the fine print on your frequent flyer statement.  You can buy frequent flyer miles at the tune of $25 per 1,000 miles for yourself, or to give away, if you want to start your own "rewards" program. They are even giving 100 mile certificates on your cereal box.

And don't believe what you hear about how hard it is to use those precious miles once you have them.  We have not had any trouble using ours for the past 15 years and we fly on average of twice a year or more on our ff bonus miles. You only need to know a few rules; like don't travel in July or August and book your trips as far in advance as you can. Calling is the best way to set up a FREE trip and late at night seems to be a calmer time to get what you want. Stay home in the Summer and plan your glorious trip for September or October, or for next Spring. Then all the crowds will be down and you can have the whole place to yourself.  This is what we did in Northern California just last week in late April, early May. We were able to walk the Seashore without another living soul in sight.  We drove through the wine country like we owned it and up through the Redwood Forests without seeing another car for hours. Heaven! (Coming soon, watch for an article about a great deal we worked out at a 150 year old gorgeous Inn B&B, just for our Readers.)

From Paris to Mendecino, it doesn't matter, Spring and Fall are the times to travel.  I am just hoping the rest of the world doesn't catch on.  But, if you're going to Hong Kong and beyond, it's always crowded, so, knock yourself out. Just know if you travel in the height of the Summer, you will not only have the crowds, but you can count on high prices and heat too.

Another tip that I have been giving our Readers is to fly the larger Airlines, because their ff programs are also larger. This has been borne out in statistics that showed that larger Airlines such as United with 7% seats set aside for ff flyers and American Airlines with 9% ff seats beat their smaller competitors by a wide margin.  What's the use of getting ff bonus miles in programs like America West with only about 2.5% ff seats set aside, if you are not going to be able to find a seat on the flights you want ? * In this case bigger is better.

In the future, there will definitely be more seats available as Airlines scramble to keep you flying with them.  It's a buyers market and miles are easy to get. So, what are you waiting for to FLY for FREE?  Get our guide and learn the fine points of how to: Fly Free and Stay Cheap! The guide never goes out of date, because we are continually updating this Web site with new information to keep you informed. We are out there working on deals and learning new things to pass on to you. Check back with us often to see what's new for you.

So, Blow out the Candles for the Happy 20th Birthday. Pack your bags and join the party. May Frequent Flyer Programs continue to enjoy 20 more great years of Flying for FREE.
*latest figures available from 1999.

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