Originally Posted by
Evan!
Simple question followed by a CC caveat. MilesBuzz! is heavy on CC threads because those offers are where the big bonuses can be found.
There are many other ways to get miles. If we knew a little more about you personally and professionally perhaps FTers could aim some methods to you that are applicable. Without that information.....
- Most airlines have a section on their web sites on how to earn miles through partners... not just flying. AA and CO both have these.
- Before you shop for almost anything you should first check out the possibility of using an airline shopping portal that will earn you miles. Ex: AA has AAdvantage Shopping. I rarely shop for office supplies without using an airline portal to get miles.
- Hotel stays can earn you miles, hotel points, or even both. There are many ongoing miles deals as well as limited-time offers.
- Renting cars can be lucrative. Sometimes FTers rent cars JUST to get the miles. Others, like me, rent cars for work and personal use and have worked the promos out there to the nth degree! Check out the Q3 2010 Car Rental Bonus Promos! thread if cars are an option for you.
- Flowers! Recently 1800Flowers was offering 30 Delta miles per dollar. I have seen the earnings as high as 100 XYZ miles/dollar. I can't help but wonder about the office workers out there who are responsible for buying company gifts for clients and employees who are not aware that they could be getting multi-K miles using other people's money.
- Dining. Many airlines participate in Rewards Network which allows you to earn miles when dining at restaurants within their network. It's easy and (sometimes) can be lucrative.
- Thanks Again. Similar to Rewards Network, Thanks Again allows you earn miles spending money with merchants within their network (dry cleaning, retail shops, car washes, etc). They too have an on line shopping mall.
- Alarm monitoring/security services.
- Energy services. Ex: CO offers miles with both Energy Plus and Direct Energy (here).
- e-miles allows you to earn miles by taking surveys. Same with e-rewards. Also check out MyPoints.
- Corrective eye surgery. Search FT on "lasik" for any current miles promotions.
- Mobile phone services.
- etc.
This list could go on and on. You get the idea
Some items might not be applicable to AA or CO but it's a start. Again, not knowing your personal situation, some of these options might not be for you. Perhaps cars and hotels are not applicable. Good luck on your India goal.
and don't forget, you can always buy miles directly from the airline if you are short.
granted, this is not usually cost effective unless there is a bonus promotion, but the airlines occassionally have bonuses for purchasing miles outright, so it does not hurt to check that area of their websites frequently for offers that may be relevant to your situation at the time.
also, if you already have a credit card with the issuing bank of the airline card, sometimes they will let you do what they call a "product change" and switch your card to the airline affinity card WITHOUT doing another hard credit check.
same with amex if you have a blue/clear/whatever credit card (not the charge card products you pay in full every month), they will usually let you switch to either delta card or SPG card.