Finding Tickets

• If you're looking to use your frequent flier miles on an airline ticket, you'll get the best value if you spend the miles on a flight that would normally cost more than $300. First, do a search for flights using an Internet flight aggregator, such as Kayak or TripAdvisor. Note flights available on airlines affiliated with your frequent-flier miles and check if you have enough miles to qualify. To get the best deal, talk to an airline reservations agent. This may mean paying a small fee. Ask the agent about any eligible partner flights, possible connections, and stopovers. If possible, book in advance. Airlines have a so-called "331 day" rule, based on an industry estimate of the earliest date a flight can be booked before travel. However, that's not a realistic time frame for most travelers. Instead, look for fares at least least a month in advance.
  
  

Credit Cards

• Use a credit card affiliated with an airline or a credit card that works with the frequent-flier programs of several airlines. These programs may have small fees. Avoid generic "reward points" cards, which often require the traveler to earn a very large number of points to qualify for free flights.
  
  

Non-Flight Items

• Airline miles may expire before they can be cashed in for air travel miles. They may also not add up to an upgrade or free ticket. In these cases, use the miles for affiliated gifts, such as restaurant meals and hotel discounts.
  
  Avoid buying more award miles. Purchasing 10,000 award miles through a frequent-flier program can often be more expensive than just buying a ticket outright.