The dinging "fasten seatbelt" sign woke me from my peaceful sleep.

The attendants buzzed around the cabin collecting rubbish and asking sleeping people to raise their tray tables.

I stowed the book resting in my lap and slowly lifted my window and gasped at what was below.

Radiating in the purple light of a never-setting sun was mile after mile of perfect, milky white wilderness. Volcanic mountains sprouted up from the white landscape and between them cold lakes of deep water reflected the colors of the sun.

It was 11:00 at night, but the landscape was lit wondrously in bluish other worldly hues which almost seemed ethereal. I could only fantasize about what kinds of wildlife and wilderness were waiting for me below.

I was peering down at Alaska...and the best part is, I had flown here for free!

No, I had not won any contests. No, I am not sleeping with someone from my airline. I learned a simple trick which works all the time - I paid my bills!

Before I began vagabonding full-time, I had the normal American suburbia setup. A house with ridiculous mortgage which I always seemed to be working on, utilities, a lot of unwatched satellite channels, etc. I even drove a fuel drinking SUV which more than likely dissolved an iceberg and killed a baby seal each time that I started it.

One day, burned out on writing checks all the time, I consolidated every one of my monthly bills onto one lucky .

I used my credit card faithfully for all purchases - and paid it off on time every single month so that no interest were added.

Gasoline, eating out, pub nights, films, literally every bill went onto the credit card. My home expenses were automatically billed to the same card, as well as my ISP, life insurance, cell phone, and all other accumulated monthly bills.

Most people don't recognize how quickly the travel reward miles build up on some cards. Many credit cards offer double miles for certain purchases.

Here is my wisdom for taking advantage of the freebies:

1) Select a card that provides maximum flexibility. American Express and Discover both make great credit cards that cater to reward seekers.

2) Cards that require no yearly fee are the best choice, but it may be worth accepting the fee if you know definitely that you can earn a rewards vacation every single year.

3) If you already owe an existing balance with a non-rewards card, you might transfer the balance to another card. Do your research, some credit cards will charge you a balance transfer penalty!

On a positive note, you will most likely get a better starting rate for a while on the new card, and lots of reward points from the transfer.

4) Use the SAME credit card for purchases. Don't accumulate points in scattered places that you will never consolidate.

5) Utilize automatic billing by your phone companies and anyone else that provides it. Usually there are instructions on the opposite side of your monthly statement.

6) No purchase is too small to put on your credit card - those Starbuck's expressos build up by the end of the year! Even fast food chains are now accepting credit cards.

7) If you have a very trustworthy roommate or loved one, volunteer to charge all the joint expenses on your card and have them make checks out to you - that way you receive the points.

8) Check on bonuses offered by the credit issuer - some give double points for booking travel, buying groceries, etc.

9) If you don't intend to save for free flights, use your points often on a set schedule. In this economy with banks in trouble, they are more likely to quit programs or recall rewards.

9) Last, ALWAYS pay your card each month. Using credit is not a negative thing, and is actually helpful for your credit rating, but if you pay interest the banks will always come out on top.

So, the point of the story is - if you have to spend the money anyway (and you probably are) then you might as well get something for free every year. Even if building rewards takes 5 years, be patient, a free trip is better than no trip!