Airline reward cards usually allow you collect mileage points by charging ticket purchases to your card. Generally, a dollar earns you a mileage point. When you have collected 24000 mileage points, you can redeem a ‘free’ airline ticket to any destination within the United States. Apart from that, you can also collect points from making general purchases with your card like buying brand merchandize, eating at selected restaurants and even buying gas. Of course, the amount of points you can collect for each dollar you spend differs with each reward card. There are also cards that allow you to collect mileage for every mile you (and your companion, in some cases) have travelled. Furthermore, some cards immediately award you with a few thousand points the moment your card application has been approved.


Now, does it sound like it’s a little too easy to gain your mileage points? It makes you wonder if anyone will lose out on this deal apart from the company, until you realize just how hard it is to actually reach that 24000 mileage point mark. To make it even harder, certain airlines only allow you to redeem points and the free tickets from them or their airline partners. This will greatly limit your travelling freedom.


What’s more, some airlines predetermine particular travel periods when free ticket redemptions are not allowed. These periods are known as ‘blackout dates’ and usually coincides with peak travelling seasons. You still can fly but you won’t be travelling on a free ticket. Based on the notion that not all airline reward cards are equal, you as the consumer should exercise your right to pick the best airline reward card for all your travelling needs. If you are a well-planned spender, your mileage points may even get you free car rentals, hotel rooms or even a class upgrade in your next flight out.