Earn Airline Miles Without Flying

You can earn airline miles WITHOUT flying. And it doesn't even require you to use the airline's co-branded credit card.

A one-airline strategy works for some people. For instance, if you live in a rural area with limited airline choices.

But for the vast majority, it's not ideal.

Instead, with the right credit card, you can earn points with your everyday spending and convert them to miles to fly on the airline that works for you. We'll explain why this is the better route for most people.

Plus, you can skyrocket your mileage balance by taking advantage of the right credit card promotion.

Travel Transfer Partners

Some credit cards, like Chase Sapphire Preferred allow you to transfer points to a participating airline's frequent flyer program.

$95 Annual Fee, But Here's Why It Is Worth Considering

Our favorite travel-friendly credit card is Chase Sapphire Preferred. It has a huge bonus point offer and premium travel benefits.

Chase Sapphire Preferred lets you earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $625 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. You can earn 5,000 bonus points if you add your first authorized user and make a purchase within the first three months from account opening. This card lets you earn 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases worldwide. The points can be transferred 1:1 to leading frequent travel programs including airline transfer partners. The card has a $0 foreign transaction fee. The card also comes with premium travel and purchase protection benefits (including trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance and auto rental collision damage waiver). There is a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95.

This card is not for everyone. Because the rewards and benefits are so great, the application process is very selective. You'll need excellent/good credit to qualify.

To learn more, click here to visit Chase's secure website. You'll find the online application and details on the 50,000 bonus point promotion. Remember, banks change their promotional offers all the time, so if you have great credit, now is the time to apply.

AMEX Membership Rewards

Do you spend over $334 per month on your credit card?

If you use your credit card daily, consider the Amex EveryDay credit card from American Express, a CreditDonkey partner.

Amex EveryDay offers 10,000 Membership Rewards® points if you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first three months of opening your new card account. Enjoy a 0% intro APR for 15 months on purchases and balance transfers, then a variable rate, currently 14.74% to 25.74%. There is $0 balance transfer fee. Balance transfers must be requested within 60 days from account opening.

This card earns 2x points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $6,000/year in purchases, then 1x) and 1x points on other purchases. If you use your card 20 or more times on purchases in a billing period, you will earn 20% more points on those purchases (less returns and credits). There is no annual fee. Terms apply.

If an annual fee does not scare you, look at the Platinum Card and the Premier Rewards Gold Card.

	Fees
Annual Fee	$550 annual fee	Introductory annual fee of $0 for the first year, then $195
	Terms Apply. See Rates & Fees	Terms Apply. See Rates & Fees
	Benefits and Features
Introductory Bonus Reward Points	Introductory Bonus Reward Points: Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® points after you use your new Card to make $5,000 in purchases in your first 3 months.	Introductory Bonus Reward Points: Earn 25,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you use your new Card to make $2,000 in purchases within the first 3 months.
Airline Status	Airline Status: $200 Airline Fee Credit, up to $200 per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one qualifying airline. Terms Apply. Access to 5 airport lounge networks including The Centurion® lounge network, The International American Express lounges, Delta Sky Club® lounges, Priority Pass(TM) Select, and Airspace Lounge. Enrollment required for Priority Pass Select.	Airline Status: $100 Airline Fee Credit. Up to $100 per calendar year for baggage fees and more at one qualifying airline.
Hotel Status	Hotel Status: Enroll for complimentary SPG Gold Status (Starwood Preferred Guest Gold Preferred Guest). Enroll for complimentary Hilton Honors Gold Status. Fine Hotels & Resorts - book your stay through American Express FHR at one of 600 luxury hotels and you may get a room upgrade upon arrival, daily continental breakfast for 2, guaranteed 4pm late checkout and a special amenity unique to each property. Terms Apply.
Airline Rewards	Airline Rewards: 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel.	Airline Rewards: Earn 3X points for flights booked directly with airlines.
Point Rewards	Point Rewards: Earn 1 point for virtually every dollar spent.	Point Rewards: 3X points for flights booked directly with airlines. 2X points at US restaurants, US gas stations, and at US supermarkets. 1X points on other purchases.

• The Platinum Card offers Airport Club Access to five airport lounge networks, including: Delta Sky Club lounges, Centurion Lounge, and Priority Pass Select. Priority Pass Select alone includes access to over 950 participating airport lounges worldwide. But is the card worth the $550 annual fee? Read our in-depth AMEX Platinum review for our thoughts.

• Premier Rewards Gold Card has a $195 annual fee, but if you spend a lot booking flights directly with airlines, it might be worth it. Read our in-depth Premier Rewards Gold Card review for our opinion.

Bottom Line

The trick to traveling more is to be smart about how you earn airline miles.

Don't restrict yourself to earning miles just by flying or using the airline's co-branded credit card.

Take advantage of credit card airline transfer partners to rack up more miles toward free flights and upgrades.

Of course, airline miles are not for everybody.

• If you have credit card debt, consider a low interest credit card instead. Most rewards credit cards have high interest rates, which is fine if you pay off your balance in full each month. But if you are in debt, the last thing you should think about is traveling and taking vacations while incurring high interest rates.

• If you don't have good credit, consider a credit card for people with fair credit or no credit. While they do not usually offer travel rewards or perks, they can help build your credit history if you use them responsibly - which really helps you out in the long run.

• If you don't want to use airline miles but still want to travel, take a look at general travel rewards credit cards such as Capital One Venture, which earns 2x miles on all purchases. However, their "miles" cannot be transferred to airline transfer partners. Think of them more like points that you can redeem them for travel statement credits toward eligible travel purchases.

Credit card offers, redemption options and values can change at any time. If you have great credit, now is the time to apply.

At Chase's Secure Site Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card lets you earn 50,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $625 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. You can earn 5,000 bonus points if you add your first authorized user and make a purchase within the first three months from account opening. This card lets you earn 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants & 1 point per dollar spent on all other purchases worldwide. The points can be transferred 1:1 to leading frequent travel programs including airline transfer partners. The card has a $0 foreign transaction fee. The card also comes with premium travel and purchase protection benefits (including trip cancellation/trip interruption insurance and auto rental collision damage waiver). There is a $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95. Intro APR for Purchases Intro APR for Balance Transfer Regular APR Annual Fee N/A N/A 17.74% - 24.74% Variable $0 Intro for the First Year, then $95

Keep in mind: taxes, fees and surcharges may apply. Terms and limitations apply.