Unlike most of you here, I only fly about 5000 miles a year, mostly because there is no trravel involved in my job and getting time off is near impossible. With flying that little each year (and not even getting enough for an upgrade) is it even worth joining frequent flyer programs?

Would you like to spend $0 on airfare (only having to pay taxes and occasional fees) for the 5,000 miles/year you do fly?

Very possible.

Only roughly 1/3 of all miles earned overall are from flying. The other 2/3 are earned from other activities.

Spend enough time on flyertalk and most people will easiliy be able to earn 50,000 - 100,000 miles per year doing things you already do. Spend those miles on your flights and never have pay for airfare again.

Heck, yes! Check the S.P.A.M. (Sites for Points and Alternative Miles) Board here for ways to keep your account active, since your miles may be spread out among a few airlines. You also need to keep track of alliances. For a long time, if you flew Northwest or Delta or Continental, you could get credit in any of those 3 for flights on the other 2. So, even though you might take one flight on each airline in a year, you could get all of your credit in one program. (Check "Airline Partners" on each ariline's Web site.)

Years ago I signed up every time I took a new airline even though I flew infrequently because "you never know". My first mileage reward, in 1997, was a round trip ticket for my 12-year old son to go to a conference in Bermuda with me.

It really depends. If you're going to be flying with the same carrier/alliance from year-to-year, then it probably is. You can accumulate miles, althoguh you'll never be elite, and with miles from CC spend and other sources, you should easily be able to manage a reward ticket each year (or at least a one-way upgrade for your holidays).

Have a look at what CC programmes are available for your carriers, and see if you think its worth it. I'd say, probably it will be.

If there is not any cost associated with maintaing a FF account, let me ask you why wouldn't you have them? What exactly do you have to lose by signing up for one? a few minutes a year tracking down your FF # to input for your annual trip? Hey even 5K will get you a OW trip interisland in Hawaii on many programs

poetnyouknowit, welcome to FlyerTalk. This seems ideal for our MilesBuzz forum, and I'll move it there. Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator, TravelBuzz.

Why not? Many airlines are offering one-way awards for half the cost of a round trip, so for 12,500 miles you can get a one-way ticket. If you start collecting "miles" on credit cards, dining out, hotel rooms, car rentals, video club memberships, and other bonuses, your first award flight will come sooner than you expect.

Excuse me! This is FLYER TALK!!! What do you think we're gonna day?!

I guess your next post will be to the American Dental Association stating that you only have 6 teeth and wondering if you should still brush them!

BTW - I'm totally kidding. It's free - join, get an affinity credit card and accrue your points in a plan that does not have miles expire. Who knows - someday you might find yourself someplace you only dreamed of!

Absolutely. I used to fly a lot. Last 2 years have been slow. However, after joining this board, I'm already up to 80K miles from non-travel activities in 6 months and roughly 20K in the past 3 months from flying.

Just to join? Costs nothing. And, technically, it allows you to use discount codes for car rentals and other things (though I've never been asked to show my ff number when renting). If you're talking about a credit card to earn miles, which costs money, then that's another thing. That is how you earn miles from purchases. There are some cards that allow you to accure miles and then decide later how to use them (e.g., which airline).

definitely join some frequent flyer programs! I would suggest you to setup an free email account for all these program registrations and make a good spreadsheat to record all account numbers, usernames and passwords. When the numbrs get higher, management would take time.

As others have pointed out, it is free, and as the previous poster pointed out, it can take time. Some enjoy that time spent (like a hobby) and others do not. You should join for the airline you fly the most, and decide after a while if it is worth your time keeping track.

Should you join a program to get miles for every airline/flight that you fly? I used to do that. But I no longer bother with the Southwest flight that I take every few years. Again, you will have to decide for yourself after you try.

1. longhaul F on great foreign carriers
2. no mileage expiry

= worth it

A few weeks ago I applied for an Aeroplan card. Even though I've been flying as a passenger, off and on, for well over fifty years, this is my first frequent flyer card. I don't know if I'll be using it much, but all I have to do is keep it activated at least once per year. That I can do by filling up the car's gas tank once a year or one trip to the supermarket. The points are good for seven years. If I decide to fly Cathay Pacific again sometime in the future, then I'll get an Asia Miles card beforehand.

All in all, neither card costs me anything, and therefore I have nothing to lose, and who knows, if we decide in future to increase our flight travels in retirement, then my wife and I may gain something in return for using these cards.

definite YES...because you get something for nothing
i.e. even if you dont send money and effort on other alternative miles collection (i.e without flying), you may still be able to redeem your miles for some products like DVD player, some basic travel gear etc...