Frequent Flyer Miles

Get the most out of your Frequent Flyer Miles (FFM)for traveling.

Tips for Earning FFMs:

1) Be “loyal” to an airline.

2) Choose the best credit card with which to earn FFMs.

3) Take advantage of FFM earning opportunities

4) Some airlines even reward those travelers who bring their pets with Frequent Flyer Miles. Look into this if your pet travels with you.


FFMs have a monetary value attached to them. Unfortunately the exact monetary value is difficult to pin down. Each may be worth anywhere from 1-3 cents. When you plan to use your FFMs, assume the value is 1 cent each.

Tips for Using Frequent Flier Miles:

1) Check if the airline(s) have a deadline for using FFMs. If so, plan to use them or lose them.

2) Use FFMs to upgrade your airline ticket to First Class.

3) Use FFMs to make expensive flights more economical. Do not use them for cheap flights.

Making Use of Airline Alliances

FFMs from one airline cannot be combined with those of another airline. However they can often be used with another airline – a partner airline within the same “Alliance”. If one airline will not allow you to use your FFMs because of a flight blackout, try a partner airline within the same Alliance.

Here are three Airline Alliances and the partner airlines (membership may change over time):

1) One World Alliance – American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, LAN, Malev Hungarian, Qantas, Royal Jordanian Airlines and select affiliate airlines

2) Sky Team Global Alliance – Aeroflot, Aeromexico, Air France, Alitalia, China Southern, Continental, Czech Airlines, Delta, KLM, Korean Air, Northwest and 3 associate airlines

3) Star Alliance – Air Canada, Air China, Air New Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, bmi, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa, Scandinavian Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, Spanair, SWISS, TAP Portugal, THAI, Turkish Airlines, United, US Airways and 3 regional carriers: Adria Airways, Blue1, Croatia Airlines

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