My "Gilty" Pleasures

A true (and aspiring) diva, loves a little luxury every now and then.  But high- end fashion and home decor isn't something you have to ooh and ahh at in a magazine anymore. 

Splurge on designer shoes, clothes, accessories and home furnishings at great bargain websites like Gilt, Beyond the Rack, and Bluefly.

With these sites, you can get the fun of flash sales, designer digs at a discount AND earn frequent flyer miles for each dollar you spend through your favorite online shopping program.  Gilt and Beyond the Rack also have rewards programs that help you earn money towards future purchases when you sign up for membership and share with your friends.

You'll be several miles closer to your next vacation, keep a little extra coin in your pocket and you'll look great to boot! (Pun intended... I love stylish designer boots!) You're welcome!

Aadvantage eshopping
Gilt: 2 miles/$
Bluefly: 4 miles/$
Beyond the Rack: 1 mile/$

US Airways Storefront
Gilt: 1 miles/$
Bluefly: 3 miles/$
Beyond the Rack: 1 mile/$

Delta SkyMiles Shopping
Gilt: 1 miles/$
Bluefly: 3 miles/$
Beyond the Rack: 1 mile/$

Please don't stop the music...music for miles that is.

To quote Martin's infamous mechanic, Elroy Preston, "I love my music."  Especially when I can get miles for it. Did you know that you can get miles for buying your favorite songs and videos on iTunes?? Apple's iTunes is a participating online retailer in your frequent flyer program's online shopping mall.  You can get up to 3 miles per dollar spent by going through your favorite online shopping mall to access and make purchases on iTunes.

Anytime I need to refresh my iPod playlists, I know I'll be a step closer to my next free flight.  Can't say I didn't tell ya... Don't you know no good? Don't you know no goo oo ood! *In my Martin voice*

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.

 

Miles for Every Day Purchases... Can't Beat It

You'll be surprised how quickly frequent flyer mileage adds up with every day purchases.  Although, I am registered with just about every major airline's frequent flyer program, I focus the majority of my mileage accrual on American's Aadvantage program.  I find that I accrue Aadvantage mileage rapidly without setting foot on an airplane.  Here's how...

I mentioned before that I have a bit of a shopping problem... It's not that I can't control myself when I hear or see a shopper's favorite word... "SALE".  It's that I pretty much refuse to make a purchase without getting something for my every day purchases.  Whether it's groceries, clothing, gas, travel, gifts etc., it doesn't matter; for every single purchase that I make, I get miles.  I use my mileage debit cards (Citibank and Bank of America) which allow me to accrue 1 mile for every $2 spent on all purchases including bill payment! 

Not only do I get miles for using my mileage debit cards for every transaction, I earn miles for shopping on the Aadvantage eShopping Mall website.

SPECIAL MILEAGE ALERT: From now through May 13, 2011, you can earn 500 bonus miles for all purchases of $75 or more using the Aadvantage eShopping Mall.  Now that's a sweet deal!

Using the Aadvantage eShopping Mall, I frequent online merchants like Best Buy, Target, Macy's, iTunes, ProFlowers, Groupon, and Restaurant.com earning, in some cases, up to 18 miles for every dollar spent!  Trust me, it adds up.  Since January, I have earned 2,252 miles for making basic purchases.  Since I've discovered getting mileage for feeding my shoe fetish and avoiding lines in stores, I have earned close to 40,000 miles.    So not only do I enjoy online sales, I search for promo codes online to get free shipping and additional discounts, plus the mileage to boot! If I can do it, you can do it.

Mother's Day is right around the corner.  Why not use the Aadvantage eShopping website to order mom some flowers? Or a gift from Macy's or Red Envelope? There are so many options to choose from.  Just visit the website and review the list of online retailers for ideas.  You're sure to find many of  your mom's favorites and while you're at it, I'm sure you can find a little something for yourself. *wink*

Word to the wise...bookmark the Aadvantage eShopping Mall website.  Get in the habit of going to the Aadvantage eShopping Mall for all online purchases and you'll see how quickly the miles add up.  Happy Shopping!

Note: Frequent flyer programs with Delta, United, Continental, and US Airways also have online shopping malls that allow you to earn frequent flyer mileage for purchases. So, if you have a preference for a frequent flyer program, do not hesitate to bookmark their online shopping website to earn more miles.