10. Take a Survey
Got an opinion and don’t mind sharing it? Why not sign up on a marketing survey site that gives you points for a few minutes of your time. For example, E-miles is affiliated with US Airways, United, Frontier, Alaska and Southwest, along with other rewards programs. You get 500 e-mile points for taking surveys (minimum one per month, geared to your personal interests) and can then redeem them with the partner you choose. E-rewards is another similar survey-for-points site.
11. Complain Politely
If you have a legitimate gripe about a recent flight or travel experience (not a rarity these days), it might be worth your while to kick up a little fuss. If you play your cards right at the complaints department, you may be able to score some appeasement points for your troubles. Airlines want to keep you loyal and happy, so a strategic complaint conveyed in a polite, professional tone could be you ticket to a ticket – or at least a few points towards that goal. Even positive comments can be rewarded. No guarantees, but it’s worth a shot. On a related note, Spirit Airlines launched a campaign over the summer that gave away 8000 Spirit frequent flier miles just for sharing grievances about air travel in general, in 140 characters or less. Expect to see more of these kinds of promotions in the future.
12. Be Social
Here’s how to get free airline miles in a few easy clicks. Airline frequent flier programs are active on social media these days. Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites often present promotions, contests and surveys that gift you points simply for “liking” or “retweeting” a message. If you don’t mind spamming your friends and followers with marketing messages, it’s an easy way to snag a few extra points. Follow a few of the major airline programs and keep a lookout for any free miles on offer.
