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Top 10 Mileage Earning Methods
As more and more people participate in frequent flyer programs, the programs have created new and varied ways to earn miles. Below we list the 10 most popular methods that people use to earn miles. These methods account for 99.5% of all miles earned.
- Flying (43%)
While it might seem that frequent buyers are outnumbering frequent flyers, flying is still the #1 way to earn miles.
- Credit Card (19.7%)
Very, very popular. And this doesn't take into account all of the miles that people earn with American Express and Diners Club, since we are only able to count those miles when they are redeemed.
- Elite Bonuses (10.6%)
Though small in numbers, elite members earn significant additional miles as a result of their status.
- Telephone -- including wireless (9.3%)
The interesting thing here is that many of the miles earned are from the "signup" bonuses, which can average 5,000-25,000 miles.
- Flight Bonuses (6%)
These include the double and triple miles bonuses, as well as the bonus miles that airlines give to their members.
- Hotels (4.9%)
Hotels have their own programs, and a sizable number of members still collect hotel points rather than airline miles from their hotel stays.
- Shopping (3.1%)
This may be the fastest growing category. With programs like ClickRewards, as well as the emergence of several frequent flyer affiliated online shopping malls, look for this one to skyrocket.
- Car Rentals (1.4%)
This used to be much higher, almost 8%. But when car rental companies reduced the number of miles members earn to the dollars they spend on the rental car, this number tumbled.
- Personal Financial (.9%)
Also among the fastest growing categories with home mortgages, insurance, stock trading and car purchases contributing to the growth.
- Flowers (.6%)
Not everyone trades stocks online, but most everyone has bought flowers to earn miles. The average number of miles isn't great, but the number of people doing it is very high.
