Cost is one of the biggest barriers to travel. Plenty of people would jet off to faraway places more often — if it didn’t cost so much. That’s why so many travelers turn to points and miles: when used wisely, they can make plane tickets dirt cheap or even completely free (aside from some small fees).
But earning enough miles for a free flight can be a slow process if you go the traditional route — flying a lot and accumulating frequent flyer miles. That can take months (or years) and a ton of money spent on airfare.
Luckily, there are faster ways to rack up miles. Here are the top strategies to earn a free (or nearly free) flight without spending a fortune.
1. Score a Credit Card Sign-Up Bonus
If you have good credit and plan to spend a few thousand dollars in the next few months, a travel credit card sign-up bonus can easily get you a free round-trip flight — or even two.
Many cards offer introductory bonuses if you meet a minimum spend in the first 90 days. These spending thresholds usually range from $500 to $5,000, with $3,000 being fairly common.
How to pick the right card:
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Start with your destination. Where do you want to go? Which airlines fly there from your nearest airport?
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Look at airline-specific cards that earn miles directly.
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Then compare flexible rewards cards that earn transferable points or offer travel credits or cashback.
Be sure to factor in annual fees when calculating the value of any welcome offer — and only apply if you can pay off your balance in full. Otherwise, the interest you pay will outweigh the benefits.
💡 Tip: Card issuers discourage people from applying just for the bonus and then abandoning the card, so have a longer-term use for the card in mind.
2. Maximize Your Everyday Spending
Once you have a rewards card, put it to work. Most travel cards earn points or miles for every dollar you spend, but there are ways to earn even more:
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Category bonuses: Many cards pay extra points on things like groceries, gas, restaurants, or streaming.
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Airline shopping portals: Before you buy online, check your airline’s shopping portal. By clicking through the portal first, you earn bonus miles for purchases you’d make anyway.
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Dining rewards programs: Register your card with your favorite airline’s dining program to earn miles just by eating out at participating restaurants.
Even if you’re not traveling, you’re always spending — so make those everyday purchases work toward your next flight.
3. Be Strategic With How You Spend Miles
Sometimes the fastest way to get a free flight isn’t earning more miles — it’s spending fewer of them.
Redemption rates can vary wildly depending on the airline, route, date, and availability. Being flexible with your travel dates or destinations can help you squeeze far more value out of your points.
For example:
A one-way flight from New York to Miami might cost 12,500 miles on March 1 — but only 6,000 miles if you fly March 2. Booking a few weeks earlier could also reduce the cost in miles. Many airlines release “saver” award seats randomly and without notice, so check back often.
💡 Tip: Don’t jump at the first available award seat. With a little flexibility, you might find two flights for the price of one.
4. Leverage Hotel-Airline Partnerships
Think you can only earn airline miles by flying? Think again. You can also earn or transfer hotel points toward flights through travel partnerships.
Some hotel loyalty programs let you transfer points to airline frequent flyer programs, though the value can vary.
One of the best options?
Marriott Bonvoy. It partners with dozens of airlines, and you can transfer points at a 3:1 ratio. Plus, for every 60,000 Bonvoy points you transfer, you usually get a 5,000-mile bonus — giving you even more flight power.
💡 Heads-up: Not all hotel programs offer good value when transferring to airlines, so do your math first.
Final Thoughts
If you’re strategic, you can book flights for next to nothing — without ever stepping foot on a plane to earn miles. By using credit card bonuses, maximizing your spending, redeeming smartly, and leveraging partnerships, free travel can go from dream to reality much faster than you think.
