I’ve bagged millions of airline points over the years – here are my top tips

I’m fascinated by the common vernacular used when it comes to airline points. People still regularly refer to “air miles” and “frequent flyer schemes” when, in truth, I’d argue that neither exist or, at the very least, they’re nearing extinction.

The travel rewards industry is not, however. It’s booming. “Air miles” are everywhere and it’s no longer how far or how regularly you fly that matters, but how much you incorporate their reward-earning opportunities into your daily life. These days, while being a frequent flyer certainly helps, you can earn far more points from daily spending on the ground than from any time spent in the sky.

British Airways last week became the latest airline to fundamentally change how it rewards its passengers with “elite-status” perks, though this has no bearing on how people earn the far more common type of points, Avios. Currently, loyal BA customers receive Tier Points based on the type of flights they book, with long-haul jaunts in premium cabins earning the most. From April, however, the airline will start offering elite status based on total spending. Not everyone is thrilled, but many are.

A high-spending passenger, for example, can now earn elite status (giving access to airport lounges and fast-track security lanes – plus free checked bags – for an entire year) by purchasing a single (very expensive) ticket or holiday, which was impossible under the previous system.

It will no longer be possible to “game” your way to elite status by booking multiple cheaper flights classed as “long haul”. The old system saw people to fly to, say, Bulgaria, for just a couple of hundred pounds, and then simply turn around and head home without leaving the airport, racking up major points in the process. This sort of loophole will be closed.

While high spenders could get rewards and privileges sooner, for infrequent flyers (ie. the vast majority of people), last week’s changes don’t really have any bearing. In common with other airlines, BA has a mass-market offering that runs in parallel to its Tier Points: namely, Avios, which gives everyone the opportunity to spend their way to one-off perks without being a Gold status high-flyer.

So how can you play the sometimes mystifying airline rewards game, maximise your points and spend your way to the best premium perks? It’s easier than you think – and I’m living proof. I’ve redeemed many millions of airline points over the years and spent them on experiences ranging from short-haul hops to Europe to long-haul flights in ludicrous first-class suites with showers.

As the founder of the travel blog God Save The Points, I’ve also helped more than 40 million people use their own points.

The three golden rules are: (1) Every bit you spend daily counts, (2) It’s better to participate than not, (3) Don’t be too hasty to cash in your points – a bit of research goes a long way. But there’s plenty more to consider too. Here’s my beginner’s guide:

Learn the basics

Airline loyalty programs are free to join. You can sign up online by navigating to your preferred airline’s website and sharing your name and email to get started. Not all airlines have loyalty programmes – Ryanair, for example, does not – but virtually all “full-service” carriers and many low-cost ones do. You could take a look at The British Airways Club, Emirates Skywards, SAS EuroBonus, Virgin Flying Club and Qatar Airways Privilege Club, for starters.

Points are currency and even if you never amass many, they bring modest savings on flights or can be used to buy things like tickets to UK attractions and cases of wine. A one-way upgrade to business class can cost as little as 20,000 points, and 20,000 points could come from a card welcome bonus alone, or after a few thousand pounds of online spending.

One big misconception is that you must be loyal to one airline. But the various airline alliances mean this is not the case. You can earn Virgin Points when travelling with partners such as Delta or SAS, or BA Avios by flying with the likes of Qatar Airways and American Airlines. Just enter the loyalty programme on which you’d like to earn points when making your booking.

To really maximise a programme, however, you need to wrap it into your day-to-day spending. You’ll soon find you can earn points on countless purchases, with or without your preferred airline’s own credit card. The more of your lifestyle you intertwine with rewards, the more points you’ll earn, and thankfully technology is making this easier than it once was.

Pick the right game

Knowing where you want to go with your loyalty points, and what sort of perks you want to earn, is vital. If you really want to fly business class to Thailand, for example, joining EasyJet’s loyalty programme won’t help. But if you love European city breaks, it will.

Comparing rewards programmes isn’t easy, but the company point.me, of which I am a shareholder, has sought to help people choose the right one with its annual rankings of the best and worst. Both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic made the top five last year, with Air France/KLM’s Flying Blue programme taking the top spot. For what it’s worth, I participate in all three. Once you have set your travel goal, find out how many points you’ll need to reach it.

Every swipe counts

Virtually every airline has a credit card, and with that card each swipe brings points to spend on flights and perks. Many of the best airline cards are from Amex, but there are Visa and Mastercard alternatives as well, if you’re in an area which struggles with Amex acceptance.

Maximise the welcome bonuses associated with applying for one of these airline rewards cards. Standard offers can be around 20,000-30,000 points, but bonuses can skyrocket to 50,000 or even 80,000 points during promotional periods. You might earn another stash of points after the first year depending on how much you spend.

A good friend who runs an IT business used to pay all suppliers, such as Amazon Cloud bills, with direct debit. They now pay them with a rewards-earning credit card and net many, many thousands of points every month. They just put them to use on business-class flights to the Maldives for their family of four, with Avios. All from spending that would have happened anyway.

But don’t get carried away

Earning points can be addictive, so be careful not to make any unnecessary or outlandish purchases. It should also go without saying, of course, that you’ll quickly lose any financial benefits if you are paying ludicrously high interest rates to the banks – pay the balance off in full at the end of each month.

Look for ways to engage daily

Ensure your chosen airline program has enough ways to reward you constantly, with just about everything you do in life.

A good loyalty program will have an e-store where you can earn bonus points while shopping online – and in store at numerous retailers, points subscriptions or sales to help you earn faster. Plus, partner offers to earn points for things like grocery shopping.

Sainsbury’s with British Airways, or Tesco with Virgin Atlantic, are examples where you can earn from your credit card on the spend and then convert the supermarket points into airline miles too.

Don’t hold on to your points for too long

Points are not ISAs and if anything, they typically devalue over time. A flight which costs 70,000 points this year may cost more in the future. The longer you wait, the more chance for devaluation – so be careful.

Be flexible

Flexibility is the word everyone loves to hate with points. To get that coveted business- or first-class seat using your points you might need to fly out a day earlier, or take the early-morning departure, not the later one.

When it comes to redeeming points, seats available for the best value are limited on each flight, so it pays to use patience. Use your airline’s “flexible” calendar tools – they are offered by both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic – to get a better idea of seat availability.

Seats come and go every day with points, so just because you failed in your search today it doesn’t mean a seat won’t open up tomorrow. Check back, check often. If Avios is your currency, checking at midnight the day seats get released (355 days in advance) is a great tactic.

Don’t set your heart on business class

By most metrics, “winning” with your rewards points involves a seat at the pointy end of the plane acquired using points, which would’ve cost a cash price you’d fret to pay.

However, one size does not fit all. For an everyday family, points may be the key to unlocking a trip at all. If you’re simply traveling thanks to your points, or even taking a modest savings on a cash ticket, count it as a success.