Miles for Cupcakes? Sweet!

This diva loves miles-- and cupcakes (in moderation, of course)! If I told you that eating cupcakes can get you closer to your dream vacation, would you believe me?  Well, it's true!

 I recently discovered that earning miles is even sweeter.  If  you're in the Washington, DC area or plan to visit in the near future, be sure to check out one of my favorite local cupcake shops: Red Velvet Cupcakery! With delicious flavors and beautiful presentation, Red Velvet provides great cupcakes to indulge your sweet tooth or sweet treats for the next special occasion.  They even offer vegan, gluten and sugar free cupcakes.

You can earn miles for every dollar you spend at the Washington, DC, Penn Quarter and Reston, Virginia Red Velvet locations through the Rewards Network dining program.  Choose from their wonderful daily menu and their weekly featured flavor with all rich, delicious wholesome ingredients.

So, if you haven't already, sign up for your frequent flyer program's dining rewards program and register your debit/credit card(s) to make sure you earn miles for your sweet purchases and other dining experiences at participating eateries!

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.

 

Get the Ball Rolling...

Although I have traveled since I was in diapers, I was not a believer.  Like many others, I enjoyed an occasional vacation but figured I didn’t travel enough to justify joining a frequent flyer program.  What was the point?? 

That all changed about 12 years ago when I saw the proverbial light and embraced the frequent flyer philosophy --- get miles, miles, and more miles.   Acquired miles (points or segments – depending on the airline) can be redeemed for free air travel; other goods or services; or increased benefits, such as travel class upgrades, airport lounge access, or priority bookings.  I have adopted a lifestyle that is all about reaping the benefits of frequent flyer programs and have decided to share what I’ve learned over the years.    

I’m a bit of a mileage junkie (to put it mildly) and I’ve learned a few things along the way that I want to share with you.  I've learned that travel is not the only way to get frequent flyer miles and have committed myself to earning miles whenever and wherever possible.

With that said, here are a few tips to get the ball rolling with earning frequent flyer miles and rewards points.

First things, first:

Enroll

Enroll in one, if not all frequent flyer and customer rewards programs.  Just about every airline and hotel has some type of loyalty program.  At minimum, you should enroll in the rewards program for the airline which you are most likely to use when traveling (consider the airline with the most flights out of the airport closest to you).  

Here are a few Airline Frequent Flyer Programs to get you started:

American Airlines: Aadvantage® Program

US Airways: Dividend Miles

Delta: SkyMiles

Southwest: Rapid Rewards

Air Tran: a+ Rewards

United:  Mileage Plus
JetBlue: TrueBlue

How to Earn Miles/Points

Travel  It goes without saying that EVERY time you book a flight you should enter your frequent flyer membership number.  However, there are several ways to earn miles even if you never take a trip! Let me tell you how.

Shop!  I’m a shopaholic that loves a good sale. So when I couple a good deal with an opportunity to earn frequent flyer miles, I am psyched!!  Most airlines have an online shopping mall that give you miles for every dollar you spend.  You don't need a special credit card to use it! 

Simply register on the online shopping mall website with your frequent flyer number; bookmark the website; register a credit or debit card; and use the site to locate popular online  retailers like Groupon, Target, the Gap, Macy’s,  Sephora, Walmart and Best Buy.

Any time you shop online through the online shopping mall or use your registered credit or debit card with participating retailers: online, in-store,  or through catalogs, you'll earn miles or points. Enroll today and earn more rewards than ever before.

• American Airlines Aadvantage:  Advantage eshopping
• United Mileage Plus:  Mileage Plus Shopping
• US Airways: Dividend Miles Storefront
• Delta: SkyMiles Shopping
• Southwest: Rapid Rewards Shopping

Dine out! Register up to 5 credit or debit cards with  your preferred loyalty program’s dining program and get up to 5 miles per dollar each time you dine at a participating restaurant including tax and gratuity.  Use the dining rewards website (or app) to locate restaurants in your city and start getting miles today.

Hotel Stays.   Most hotels have partnered with your favorite frequent flyer program to provide miles for hotel stays.  Many hotel customer rewards programs give you the option to accrue miles versus rewards points for each hotel stay. Register with your favorite hotels’ guest rewards programs for other great perks and travel incentives.

Credit/Debit Cards.   Each airline has a credit card that gives you mileage for each dollar spent many of which include promotional offers up to 30,000 miles when you make a minimum purchase within a specified time frame.  Click here for a listing of various airline/mileage credit cards.

A few banks are affiliated with frequent flyer programs or have their own rewards program so that when you use your debit or bank card you earn miles or points for everyday expenses. Consider opening a checking account and request a debit card to earn miles for everyday purchases. Some debit cards/banks offer basic rewards which allow you to redeem tons of things -- from gift cards to travel rewards.  Ask your bank if they have a debit card affiliated with a mileage program or some other travel rewards.

Here are a few affiliations I know for sure:

Frequent Flyer Program	Affiliated Bank
US Airways Dividend Miles	Bank of America (exp. 9/30/12)
Delta SkyMiles	Sun Trust

These are just a few simple tips to get the ball rolling with earning airline mileage for every day purchases.  The world is too full of beauty and adventure to allow the cost of travel to keep you from it.   As long as you continue to earn miles with some eligible activity (travel, shopping, dining, etc.), your miles do not expire.   So why not earn miles and see the world?  

Get the ball rolling...get it?!