how to use air miles

We’ve all seen movies where people get free flights or upgrades using air miles, but how can you get in on the action?

At its simplest, an air mile is a unit of currency used in loyalty programs created by airlines – when you fly, you get more miles. But you can usually now get air miles every time you spend on a credit card, which is a much faster way of building them up – it could mean a free flight after a few years.

Different programs tend to be linked to different airlines, through frequent flyer clubs, so make sure your credit card is on one that’s useful to you. Many airlines come under one scheme: the main options are OneWorld ( oneworld.com), SkyTeam ( skyteam.com) and Star Alliance ( staralliance.com). These have between 13 and 28 airlines in each. OneWorld tends to win the awards, and includes BA, so it may be worth starting there.

Okay, so you’ve been spending on a credit card, amassing points. Now what? Well, first, there’s never a totally free flight: you’ll still have to pay tax. But you can get the basic tickets for free, or at giant discounts – so good that they tend to be highly competitive.

Airlines release a limited number of reward seats for their flights, so you need to get in quickly. Savvy users of air miles will be on airlines’ websites the same day that those airlines confirm their flight schedules, which can be up to a year in advance, to scour the options. If you don’t want to do this, you’ll have to just hope that what’s left is still something you want to grab. It can be a great way to head off for a surprise destination.