| For many people, the process of getting | | | | Northwest Airlines - Detroit, Minneapolis |
| started with earning loyalty rewards can seem | | | | St. Paul, Memphis |
| too hard. To help people just starting out I | | | | |
| am providing this simple walkthrough guide. | | | | United Airlines - Chicago, Denver, San |
| This guide is designed for people resident in | | | | Francisco, Washington DC |
| the USA and is not suitable for people living | | | | |
| elsewhere. The order of steps is important - | | | | US Airways - Charlotte, Philadelphia, |
| so please follow them in the order given..As | | | | Baltimore, PittsburghOnce you have signed up |
| a basic rule I advise people to join all the | | | | for your primary airline it is probably best |
| free programs available so that you can claim | | | | to sign up for all the other programs listed. |
| any available points - worst case scenario | | | | This will allow you to easily take advantage |
| you will have wasted a few minutes of time, | | | | of partnerships that other airlines may have |
| best case you will be eligible to claim an | | | | as well as giving you access to special deals |
| award you wouldn't otherwise have | | | | etc.See link at bottom of page for info on |
| received.Step 1: Decide on your preferred | | | | specific promotions.Step 3: Sign up for |
| reward type.This is relatively easy - there | | | | restaurant rewardsSince all the restaurant |
| are 3 main rewards types:Airline or Hotel | | | | programs are all administered by the same |
| programs - earn miles or points redeemable | | | | company (Rewards Network) you will need to |
| for travel awards. | | | | join the program of the preferred company |
| | | | chosen in steps 1 & 2. The restaurant |
| Cashback programs - receive cash as your | | | | programs offer either airline miles / hotel |
| award. | | | | points or cashback.See link at bottom of page |
| | | | for info on specific promotions.Step 4: Sign |
| Points program - redeem points redeemable | | | | up for offline shopping rewardsRegister for |
| for a variety of awards, usually giftcards | | | | the following programs which will |
| and similar products.Step 2: Select your | | | | automatically provide you with points or |
| preferred airlineUnfortunately there is no | | | | cashbacks when you shop at various retail |
| easy way to streamline this step. Here is | | | | stores.Also check to see if your local |
| some assistance:Look at the specific amount | | | | supermarket offers rewards points (and sign |
| of miles needed for your goal reward. For | | | | up for the program if they do).See link at |
| flights within the US and to Canada and | | | | bottom of page for info on specific |
| Mexico virtually all the US airlines require | | | | promotions.Step 5: Sign up for free email |
| the same amount of miles, however for flights | | | | rewardsRegister for the following programs. |
| to more exotic locations that amount of miles | | | | They will send you emails which you earn |
| needed can vary - for example to fly from | | | | points for reading. If you uncomfortable |
| anywhere in the Continental USA to Sydney, | | | | using your normal email address setup a free |
| Australia requires 60,000 United Airlines | | | | account with hotmail or yahoo (but make sure |
| miles, 80,000 American Airlines miles, and an | | | | you check your email regularly and click on |
| incredible 100,000 Continental, Delta or | | | | the confirmation links to earn your points / |
| Northwest Airlines miles. If there is no | | | | cashback).See link at bottom of page for info |
| clear difference in the miles required then | | | | on specific promotions.Step 6: Check out |
| it is usually best to select an airline with | | | | earning opportunities from select |
| a major local presence in your area. Below is | | | | utilitiesMany telephone and other utilities |
| a quick summary of major US airlines domestic | | | | companies offer rewards to new customers. See |
| hub locations:Alaska Airlines - Anchorage, | | | | link at bottom of page for info on specific |
| Portland, Seattle | | | | promotions.Step 7: Sign up for online |
| | | | shopping rewardsSign up for any of the points |
| Aloha Airlines - Honolulu | | | | and cashback based programs you haven't |
| | | | already signed up for. This will ensure you |
| America West - Phoenix, Des Moines, Las | | | | can easily take advantage of any offers, and |
| Vegas | | | | will have less hastle when shopping |
| | | | online.See link at bottom of page for info on |
| American Airlines - Chicago, Miami, Dallas | | | | specific promotions.Step 8: Check you are |
| Fort Worth | | | | earning the best rewards available with your |
| | | | Credit or Debit card.See link at bottom of |
| Continental Airlines - Cleveland, Denver, | | | | page for info on specific promotions.Step 9: |
| Honolulu, Houston, Newark | | | | Begin earning rewardsNow that you are all set |
| | | | up you can start earning rewards for most of |
| Delta Airlines - Atlanta, Cincinnati, Dallas | | | | your activities.Andrew Cram is a loyalty |
| Fort Worth, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando, | | | | marketing expert. He maintains a large amount |
| Salt Lake City | | | | of resources on his website including links |
| | | | to register for each of the programs |
| Hawaiian Airlines - Honolulu | | | | mentioned in this article. |
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