Getting Started With Airline Miles and Points

What You Need to Do Before Your First Redemption

Before you can use miles or points, you need three things: a rewards account with an airline or credit card program, miles or points in that account, and a clear picture of what those miles are actually worth to you. Most people start by opening a rewards credit card, which deposits miles into an airline account or a separate points program. The card issuer and the airline (or program) are often different companies, so you will be managing two separate accounts — one with the card company to earn points, and one with the airline to spend them.

The checklist below walks through the concrete steps in the order that makes sense. You do not have to do everything at once, but understanding each piece before you start will save you from common mistakes like transferring points to the wrong program or missing a redemption window.

Key Takeaways

• You will need a rewards credit card, an airline account, or both — and they are usually separate accounts you manage independently.
• Miles and points expire or can be forfeited if your account goes inactive, so check your program's rules before opening an account.
• The real value of a mile or point varies wildly depending on what you book and when, so learning to compare redemption rates is more important than chasing the highest earning rate.
• Most programs let you transfer points between family members or pool them toward a single ticket, but the rules and fees differ by program.
• Booking directly through the airline website or app usually gives you the most control and the clearest picture of what you are redeeming.

Step 1: Decide Whether to Use a Credit Card, Airline Account, or Both

A rewards credit card is the fastest way to accumulate miles or points if you spend regularly. You earn points on every purchase, and those points land in either an airline account (if the card is co-branded with an airline) or a separate points program (if the card is issued by a bank or credit card company). Co-branded cards like the United Airlines Chase card deposit points directly into your United account. Bank cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred deposit points into a Chase account that you can then transfer to airline partners.

If you do not want a credit card, you can still earn miles by flying with an airline and opening a free frequent flyer account. You will earn miles slower, but you will not pay an annual fee. Some people use both: they open a rewards card for everyday spending and a free airline account to track miles earned from flights.

Before you choose, check whether the program has an annual fee, what that fee is, and whether you will use the card enough to justify it. A card with a $95 annual fee needs to deliver at least $95 in value through bonus categories, travel credits, or other perks to break even.

Step 2: Understand the Expiration and Forfeiture Rules

Miles and points can disappear if you do not use them. Most airline programs expire miles after three years of account inactivity — meaning no flights, no credit card spending, no transfers, and no redemptions. Some programs are stricter; others are more lenient. A few programs do not expire miles at all, but they are rare. Before you open an account, read the program's policy on your airline or credit card website.

Inactivity is the most common reason people lose miles, but some programs also close accounts or forfeit balances for other reasons — like if you do not log in for a set period or if you violate the program's terms. The safest move is to set a calendar reminder to use or transfer your miles at least once every two years, even if it is just a small redemption or a transfer to a family member.

Step 3: Learn How to Compare the Real Value of a Redemption

A mile or point is not worth a fixed amount of money. Its value depends entirely on what you book. A mile might be worth 1 cent when you redeem it for a domestic economy flight on a busy route, or it might be worth 2 cents when you redeem it for a premium cabin seat on an international flight. The same mile can be worth 0.5 cents if you book a flight that was cheaper to buy with cash.

To compare redemptions, divide the number of miles required by the cash price of the ticket. If a flight costs $300 in cash and requires 30,000 miles, that mile is worth 1 cent. If the same flight costs $600 and requires 30,000 miles, that mile is worth 2 cents. Before you redeem, check what the ticket would cost if you bought it outright. If the mile value is less than 1 cent, you are usually better off keeping the miles and buying the ticket with cash or a credit card bonus.

Step 4: Set Up Your Accounts and Verify Your Information

Once you have chosen your program, open your account on the airline or credit card website. You will need your name, address, email, and phone number. If you are opening a credit card, the card company will run a credit check. If you are opening a free airline account, there is no credit check — just basic information.

After your account is open, log in and verify that your name, address, and email are correct. This matters because airlines use this information to match your account to your boarding pass at the airport. If your name does not match exactly, you may not be able to use your miles for a redemption or board a flight. Some programs also let you add a middle initial or suffix at this stage, so do that now if it applies to you.

Step 5: Link Your Credit Card to Your Airline Account

If you opened a co-branded credit card (like a United card), your miles will deposit automatically into your United account. If you opened a bank card (like Chase Sapphire), you will need to link your card to your airline accounts so that the points you earn post to the right place. You do this in your airline account settings, usually under a section called "Link Credit Card" or "Earning Partners."

You can link the same credit card to multiple airline accounts if you want to split your points across programs. For example, you could link a Chase Sapphire card to both your United and Southwest accounts, and then choose which program gets the points each time you use the card. Check your card's rules to see if it allows this — some cards require you to pick one airline at signup.

Step 6: Know the Rules for Transfers, Pooling, and Family Accounts

Most programs let you transfer miles to a family member or friend, but the rules vary. Some programs charge a fee per transfer; others charge a percentage of the miles transferred. Some programs let you transfer for free if the recipient is a household member. A few programs do not allow transfers at all.

Many programs also offer "pooling" or "household" accounts, where multiple people can combine their miles toward a single redemption. This is useful if you want to book a family trip but no single person has enough miles. The rules for who can join a pool and how to set one up differ by program, so check your program's website before you invite family members to contribute.

Step 7: Bookmark the Redemption Tools You Will Use

The easiest way to redeem miles is through your airline's website or app. Log in to your account, search for a flight, and select "Book with Miles" instead of paying with cash. The website will show you how many miles the flight costs and let you complete the booking in a few clicks.

Some people also use third-party tools to search for award availability across multiple airlines or to compare redemption rates. These tools can be helpful for research, but they cannot actually book your flight — you still have to go to the airline website to complete the redemption. Bookmark your airline's website and app so you can get there quickly when you find a flight you want.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use a credit card to earn miles?

No. You can open a free airline account and earn miles by flying with that airline. A credit card is the fastest way to accumulate miles if you spend regularly, but it is not required. Some people use both: a free account for miles earned from flights and a credit card for everyday spending.

What happens if I do not use my miles for a long time?

Most airlines expire miles after three years of inactivity. Inactivity usually means no flights, no credit card spending, no transfers, and no redemptions. Check your program's specific policy before you open an account. The safest move is to use or transfer your miles at least once every two years.

Can I combine miles from different airlines?

Not directly. Each airline program is separate, and you cannot merge miles from United into American, for example. However, some credit card programs (like Chase) let you transfer points to multiple airline partners, so you can split your earning across programs. You can also transfer miles to a family member's account if the program allows it.

Is it better to book a flight with miles or with a credit card bonus?

It depends on the redemption rate. Calculate what one mile is worth by dividing the cash price by the number of miles required. If a mile is worth less than 1 cent, you are usually better off keeping the miles and using a credit card bonus or cash to buy the ticket. If a mile is worth more than 1.5 cents, redeeming is often the better choice.

Can I transfer my miles to someone else?

Most programs allow transfers, but the rules and fees vary. Some charge a flat fee per transfer; others charge a percentage of the miles. Some allow free transfers to household members only. Check your program's transfer policy on its website before you try to move miles to another person.