How I Scored Two Free International Flights

This past year, I had the opportunity to study and work abroad in Europe and Asia. My travels took me from San Francisco to Hong Kong, and Tokyo to Toronto, and one of the best parts was, both international flights were absolutely FREE!

I managed to save $2,000 on flights, and I can help you do the same. It’s perfectly legal and very easy to do. I researched rewards plans extensively and created a step-by-step guide for securing free international flights quickly and painlessly.

STEP 1: Choose the right air miles provider

Air miles providers partner with credit card companies to incentivize customers to spend. The more transactions card users make, the more rewards they earn. After comparing a number of rewards plans, I determined that the top two air miles providers are the well-known Aeroplan and Air Miles. Both providers allow you to put your miles towards a wide selection of international flights. With a lower threshold at which customers can redeem their points, Aeroplan is ultimately the superior provider.

With Aeroplan flight rewards, here is a breakdown of flight destinations and the miles required for each:

• Fly to Europe (Section 1): Starts at 25,000 Aeroplan miles

• Fly to Europe (Section 2, such as Germany): Starts at 30,000 Aeroplan miles

• Fly to Asia: Starts at 37,600 Aeroplan miles for destinations such as Hong Kong and Tokyo

Step #2: Maximize Welcome Rewards

Now you may be thinking, how could anyone manage to accumulate 25,000 Aeroplan miles so quickly? After all, the average Aeroplan mile is earned from every $1 spent. Luckily, Aeroplan Welcome Rewards provide you with bonus mileage when you sign up!

There’s plenty of ways to earn Welcome Rewards, including hotel bookings and online transactions. However, the best way to earn maximum Welcome Rewards is by using your credit card. The top Aeroplan credit cards start off with a bonus of 15,000 Aeroplan miles.

The following is a list of the top three Aeroplan credit cards for personal use. While annual fees apply to some, they often come with various perks, such as free travel insurance, rebate promotions, and in-kind prizes. Regardless, the annual fee is a small price to pay for the hundreds or thousands of dollars you will save on flights from earning air miles.

• American Express Gold Rewards Card - Welcome bonus: 25,000 Aeroplan miles

• TD Aeroplan Visa Infinite - Welcome bonus: 15,000 Aeroplan miles

• CIBC Aerogold Visa Infinite Car - Welcome bonus: 15,000 Aeroplan miles

Click here to learn more about these cards, their annual fees, benefits, eligibility requirements, and more.

STEP 3: Maximize welcome rewards

From there, simply maximize your rewards based on your travel destination. Select a credit card with a Welcome Rewards package that’s right for you, and use your card for as many transactions as possible. For instance, trying to hitch a free ride to Europe? Sign up with the American Express Gold Rewards Card - it’s that easy!

Want a step by step example of how I did it? Check out our next blog for an example of how I got my two free flights.

Written by Newton

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Confused about the process? Email us at youngdumbandabroad@gmail.com or fill out the contact form on our Home page. Newton would be happy to share his insights about earning free flights!