Originally Posted by
poetnyouknowit
And I'd be quite happy with a free trip every five years or so since I pretty much only do one big trip each year that would involve flying.
You are setting your sites way too low. Why not make that one big trip each year always free? You can. If you will.
Step 1: Get the United Chase credit card with the 50,000 mile sign up bonus.
Spend money that you would have paid cash for on the credit card. Do not ever spend a dime you would not have paid cash for otherwise. Pay the credit card with money you already have. A few months from now, after Chase has given you your 50,000 United miles, close the account.
Cost: Paying attention and a little of your time.
Benefits: 2 Free tickets anywhere in the USA/Canada or one free ticket to Europe
You could earn another free ticket each year by signing up for the United Dining program and choosing to eat at restaurants in your earea that offer United miles.
Add to your miles by doing your online shopping using United's shopping portal. Say you need a new computer and see a good deal at tigerdirect.com. Go to the United Mall and click on the United link for TigerDirect then buy what you were going to buy.
Get miles for magazines/newpapers you subscribe to.
If you are changing phone or internet providers, get miles from your new company.
On that rare occasion you need to rent a care or stay in a hotel, get miles for each rental/stay.
If you are sending someone special but far away flowers, get miles while you are at it.
If you ever join Netflix, get 4,000 miles from them.
Switch banks to Chase and earn miles on all your debit card purchases.
Free tickets are waiting for you....do you want them?