The Insider’s Guide to Earning Miles in the U.S.

When most people think of airline miles, they imagine long hours in the air. But here’s the insider secret every savvy traveler in America knows: the fastest way to rack up free flights isn’t by flying—it’s by swiping. Credit cards, transfer partners, and loyalty programs are the real engines behind mile collecting, and if you know how to play the game, you can turn everyday spending into business-class tickets across the globe.

The Golden Rules of Mile Collecting:

1. Flights aren’t everything. The bulk of miles in the U.S. are earned through credit card spending, not flying.

2. Think flexible. Pair an airline’s loyalty program with bank points that can be transferred to multiple partners. Flexibility equals freedom.

3. Know your transfer partners. This is where the magic happens—move points to whichever airline offers the best deal for your route.

Meet the Big Three Airlines

• American Airlines (AAdvantage)
  A Oneworld giant that dominates U.S. skies. Miles can be earned directly, or through Citi, but not Chase or Amex.
• United Airlines (MileagePlus)
  A Star Alliance favorite. United makes earning easy with Chase credit cards, especially the United Explorer Card.
• Delta Airlines (SkyMiles)
  SkyTeam’s pride and joy. Partnered with American Express, so you can transfer Membership Rewards straight into SkyMiles.

The Cards That Change the Game

• Chase Sapphire Preferred / Reserve
  The all-rounder. Earn Chase Ultimate Rewards and transfer them to United, Southwest, British Airways, Air Canada Aeroplan, and more. Ultra-flexible and beginner-friendly.
• American Express Gold / Platinum
  The international darling. Collect Membership Rewards, then move them to Delta, Flying Blue (Air France/KLM), Aeroplan, ANA, and more. Perfect for crossing oceans in style.
• Citi Premier
  The wildcard. ThankYou Points convert into Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Avianca Lifemiles—often the sweet spot for long-haul business class.

Beyond the Plastic

Earning doesn’t stop with credit cards:

• Rent a car with Hertz or Avis and snag bonus miles.
• Book a hotel through Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors, then funnel points into miles.
• Shop online via airline portals like AAdvantage eShopping.
• Even dining out can pay off—programs like AAdvantage Dining reward you for picking the right restaurant.

How It Looks in Action:

Open a Chase Sapphire Preferred, earn 60,000 bonus points, and transfer them to United MileagePlus. That’s a ticket to Europe—free. Stay at a Marriott hotel and convert loyalty points into more miles. Use Amex with Rakuten to build Membership Rewards. Dine out through AAdvantage Dining and add even more to your total. Suddenly, your weekly habits look like a business-class itinerary.

The Golden Strategy

• Stick to one or two major banks (Chase or Amex) to maximize points.
• Define your travel dream: a weekend in Miami, or a honeymoon in Paris?
• Always check transfer partners before you redeem.
• And above all—watch those signup bonuses. They can net you 50,000 to 100,000 miles in one swoop.

The Power Combos:

• Chase Sapphire + United → Star Alliance freedom
• Amex Gold + Delta → SkyTeam perks
• Citi Premier + Turkish → Star Alliance luxury (especially for business class)