Double Dipping Ain't That Bad...

Double dipping your tortilla chip in the salsa at your company holiday party... no bueno.  Double dipping for miles, on the other hand, es muy bueno!  (read: Great!  for my Spanish challenged folks.) So, you're probably wondering how the whole "double dipping" thing works... 

In my first blog post, I mentioned that there were several ways to get miles besides traveling.  One of those ways is signing up for your bank's debit or credit card affiliated with a frequent flyer program.  I bank with both Citibank and Bank of America to earn Aadvantage and U.S. Airways Dividend Miles, respectively with my debit cards.  These credit and debit cards are accepted worldwide (Mastercard and Visa logo) – and can help you travel worldwide too. You'll earn miles quick and easy on every purchase you make.  So, here's how you double dip.

First dip: sign up for your favorite program's dining rewards program.  You can register up to 5 credit or debit cards so that you get at least 3 miles per dollar spent at participating restaurants including tax and tip... (Do you see where this is going??) Make sure one of those cards that you register with the dining program is a debit or credit card affiliated with another frequent flyer account and when you dine at a participating restaurant and use the card that you've registered and voila... you have just double dipped without getting the side eye from grossed out party goers.

I'll use myself to further illustrate the point.  I am registered with Aadvantage's Dining Rewards Program and I have registered my Bank of America Visa debit card which earns me 1 mile for every $2 spent with US Airways Dividend Miles program.  As a VIP Dining Rewards member (a status you obtain after 12 dines each a calendar year), I earn 5 miles per dollar with Aadvantage.  Last week, I treated someone to lunch at Thai Tanic in Washington, D.C.(a participating rewards network restaurant) and spent $50 after tax and tip using my US Airways debit card.  As a result, I got 250 miles with American's Aadvantage program for dining with a participating restaurant, and I got 25 miles for my US Airways Dividend miles account... double dipping and earning miles for BOTH programs in a single transaction.  

Another double dipping opportunity presents itself when you shop online.  Visit any one of your frequent flyer program's online shopping malls and make a purchase with a debit or credit card for a different frequent flyer program and there you go again, double dipping.  If I purchase a $20 Groupon through the Aadvantage shopping mall, I get 10 miles per dollar with American (200 miles), and 10 Dividend miles when I pay with my Bank of America US Airways debit card. It's a win win win.  :)

This works for points programs as well and any other goods and services that you purchase through your favorite frequent flyer program's various opportunities to earn miles  that require credit card payment i.e. plane tickets, vacations, car rentals. Double dipping helps you keep your frequent flyer accounts active and beef up the number of miles/points you get and you'll be a step closer to more travel.  You just can't beat it.