Frequent flyer programs are the way to go when you’re looking to save money on your trips, as well as get free flights in the future.  It never hurts to sign up for one, even if you don’t do a lot of flying.  What you’re going to find out is that many of them on the market are free.

If you’re curious on how you can sign up for one, I wanted to give you some tips and pointers on how you can sign up for one and what you should look out for.  Since every airline out there has a type of program that you can take advantage of, it’s important to know how to compare and which one you should take advantage of.

Which airline are you loyal to? The first thing that you’re going to want to look out for is what airline you fly with.  If you’re really not loyal to one, you may want to look at your major airlines at your local airport.  It never hurts to sign up for more than one program, as you will find again, it won’t cost you anything to join.

Compare the plans: Every airline is going to have a different type of format when it comes to giving out miles.  Are you going to get a point per mile?  How many miles does it take to get a free airline ticket?

The best thing to do is compare about 5 plans and write down which one is going to do what for you.  You may find that upgraded plans are going to cost you some money, but if you do a lot of flying, it may be worth it.

Consider getting an airline credit card: The best way to take full advantage of your frequent flyer miles is by getting an airline credit card.  By tying your credit card and account together, you can really take advantage of your points.  The cool thing about a credit card is that you’re going to get miles for every dollar spent no matter what!

Get with a program where miles don’t expire: One thing I hate about some airlines is that the miles are going to expire. You will want to find a plan that allows you to keep your miles forever.  If you do find a program where the miles expire, you may want to look elsewhere.

In the end, you’re going to want to find a program that is going to give you free travel the fastest.

Below are links to the top 5 frequent flyer programs by airline…