I'm being a complete dunce I know but can someone please explain the way air miles work.

I have made quite a few trips over the last 6 months and I understand I can claim on these journeys when I sign up - is this right?

Is it simply a case of applying for a credit card and then logging onto the website and using my booking references/boarding pass info?

Thanks for your help folks!

Welcome to FT!

You have several questions here.

1. To get credit for flights, you have to join the airline's frequent flyer program. You do not need any kind of credit card to do this.

2. Generally, you have to be a member when you fly. Airlines may give credit for recent flights as an incentive to join if one learns of a program while on a trip, but nowhere near six months back. Airline policies vary. Check the airline(s) in question, via their Web sites (the most authoritative source) or here. On FT, most active airline forums have "sticky" threads at the top to answer common questions. Read those first. Then scan the other threads in that forum, using the FT Search feature (it's not perfect), to try to find an existing answer before posting a question.

3. Once you are a member of a program, you can often get a credit card to add to your mileage total. You do not need one for flight credit. Depending on your spending patterns, travel patterns and desired awards, you may have better credit card choices. (In some cases you can apply for a credit card and program membership in one step - but, again, you do not need a credit card to join a frequent flyer program.) There are FT forums for credit cards, as well as discussions of each airline's credit card options in the airline forums.

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8703e/4.1.0 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/104)

Is the OP asking about airline-based frequent flyer programs generally, or is he asking about the "Air Miles" rewards program that is a different animal?

Hi,

Maybe somebody on this thread would be kind enough to answer my questions.

I do not have an Airmiles account but would like to open one to collect them. My Mum has one but stopped collecting them sometime. She has a letter saying she has 1250 that will expire end of Oct2009 if no activity occurs on her account before then.

My questioss are:

1) Is there away i can open an account for myself and get her points or change her account to include me(same address)

2) Is 1250 worth bothering about or does it not really have much value


All help/advice here would be great. Also, is there a site, forum or something with tips on the best way to collect airmiles??

Thanks again

1) Is there away i can open an account for myself and get her points or change her account to include me(same address)

2) Is 1250 worth bothering about or does it not really have much value


All help/advice here would be great. Also, is there a site, forum or something with tips on the best way to collect airmiles??

Thanks again

As I re-read the question, that's quite possible and would explain the credit card bit. If it's about the Canadian Air Miles program, try www.airmiles.ca. They also operate in a few other countries. Apologies for the misunderstanding, and I hope my post didn't confuse anyone.

You are currently on the best forum for this purpose. If you would like most of the current best offers all in one place, try my website below.

The UK AIRMILES scheme i am referring to. Is there a dedicated thread for this??

I'm not from the UK, and admit that I'm not famiiar with this program. Is this the program you are talking about: http://www.airmiles.co.uk/ ?

I took a look at this website, and I see no way for you to earn miles by flying. It appears that the basic categories that earn miles are:
Groceries, Credit Card, Home Energy, Petrol, Online Shopping.

Looks like miles earned from these purchases can be exchanged for flights, but flights don't earn miles the way they do in airline frequent flyer programs.

And in general, I would be very surprised if any rewards program will give you credit for any activity that took place months before you joined the program.

vaughn [op]....its time to hear from you...people have posted and there seems to be ?'s that you could clear up....tia for your reply....