In the Backpacker’s Guide to Miles and Points I will be going over airline mileage programs—I’ll cover the quickest ways to earn miles and how to maximize the miles to help make traveling for less much easier. With careful planning and following a few strategies you can easily get a free flight or two within 6 months from now.
Backpacker’s Guide to Miles and Points Index
Part One: Introduction to Maximizing US Airways Miles
Part Two: Ways to Earn US Airways Dividend Miles
Part Three: US Airways Award Charts and Stopover Rules
Part Four: Redeem US Airways Dividend Miles with Partner Airlines
US Airways Dividends is the US Airways frequent flyer program. Typically the way to earn frequent flyer miles is by flying on a paid flight with a particular airline, and hope that you will have eventually earned enough miles to redeem a free award flight. If you only once or twice per year, it will be a little difficult to earn enough miles when you fly in consideration to what an award flight costs. If you travel often for business, it’s more likely to happen.
International round trip awards with US Airways start at 35,000 miles on economy from the US to Mexico for example, and a one way flight is half of that. A flight to Europe from the US on economy is 60,000 miles. If you wanted to earn enough miles to redeem an award whether you are a few thousand miles short or a few hundred, there are different ways that you can earn them. Here are some of the possible methods to earn miles towards an award flight with US Airways:
- US Airways Premier MasterCard Sign Up Bonus
- Dividend Dining Program
- US Airways StoreFront
Earn 40,000 Miles with the US Airways Credit Card
The US Airways® Premier World MasterCard®is one of the top credit cards to apply for if you are looking to maximize your miles with US Airways. The current offer is 40,000 bonus Dividend miles after making one purchase and paying a $89 annual fee.
Here are the exact details for the US Airways Premier World MasterCard offer:
- Earn 40,000 bonus miles after your first purchase and payment of the $89 annual fee*
- First checked bag free on eligible bags for you and up to four companions on domestic US Airways operated flights
- One companion certificate good for up to 2 guests to travel with you on a US Airways operated flight at $99 each, plus taxes and fees
- Priority boarding Zone 2 on US Airways operated flights
- Redeem miles for award travel on US Airways and American Airlines booked through usairways.com or US Airways Reservations
- Earn miles on every purchase with 2 miles for every $1 you spend on US Airways purchases and 1 mile for every $1 on purchases everywhere else
- Please see terms and conditions for complete details
Application Link: US Airways Premier World MasterCard
The 40,000 bonus miles will be earned just after your first purchase is made, so there is no minimum spend requirement. This is an easy way to earn a free flight as most credit cards require you to spend at least $1,000 in the first three months to earn the sign up bonus. There is a $89 annual fee which is not waived.
In addition to the card’s sign up bonus, you will receive two companion certificates for flights operated by US Airways and you will get a free checked bag for yourself and up to four people who are traveling with you.
Dividend Miles Dining
Dividend Miles Dining is the US Airways dining program that offers miles for eating out at participating restaurants. For every dollar you spend, you will earn 5 Dividend miles. It is not limited to just restaurants which is great because you can earn miles at bars, clubs and cafes even a few popular taco stands participate. You can find out where you are able to earn miles by searching by city.
In order to earn the miles, you first have to create a Dividends account which is free to do if you do not already have one. Once you have an account number, you can sign up for Dividend Miles Dining and set up your account by adding up to 5 credit or debit cards that you are likely to use when you go out to eat or drink.
If you have the US Airways Premier MasterCard, then you will earn an additional one mile per dollar spent because the credit card earns one mile for every non-US Airways travel related expenses. If you not have a credit card you can use a debit card and still earn the 5 points.
Dividend Miles StoreFront
US Airways has a shopping portal called the Dividend Miles StoreFront with e-stores such as Apple, Macy’s and Nordstrom’s. Each e-store advertises a certain amount of miles you can earn per dollar spent.
For instance, if you spend $40 at The North Face through the StoreFront with the 3 points/$1 offer, you would earn 120 Dividend Miles just for making the purchase through the US Airways shopping portal. If you make the purchase using a US Airways Premier MasterCard then you would earn also earn 40 miles because you earn 1 miles/$1 spent. The amount of miles you can earn through the StoreFront depends on current promotions, but if you are a few hundred miles short of an award then this could be a way to make up for those miles if you already intend to make those purchases.
Quick Recap
Earning Dividends is extremely easy with the various US Airways portals and through the US Airways MasterCard sign up bonus offer. You can earn miles by shopping, going out to eat and by getting the US Airways credit, which for the price of a latte and an annual fee can get you a free international flight.
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