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