How I Flew from Chicago to Los Angeles and Back for Only Five Dollars

Every now and then I fly west to Los Angeles to visit my cousin and her husband who live in Eagle Rock, (an L.A. suburb nestled next to San Marino and Pasadena). For my first trip, I "lived it up" and flew First Class, just to see what it would be like. It was nice but not all THAT and not worth the extra money, at least not for me so I looked for a better deal on my next two westbound trips and found it. My last two round trips only cost me $5 each - $2.50 out there and $2.50 for the flight back. That's right, it cost me more to check my baggage and pick up a snack at the airport than to get myself to L.A. The amazing part of all this is that I am not really a "frequent flier" but I was still able to accumulate enough miles using United Airlines "Mileage Plus Program" and following this game plan:

To make my first flight (that one I paid for!) I took out a Chase Mileage Plus Visa Credit Card and was rewarded with a bonus of 20,000 miles just for taking out the card.

I have continued to use the Mileage Plus card for my traveling expenses and certain other expenses at home, earning (and continuing to earn today) a mile for every dollar charged to the card.

After a year had passed, I received another 6,000 miles as a bonus for continuing to use the card. (I had to be remind Chase about this, it doesn't pay to be shy about these things.)

I shop at Dominick's Supermarkets (a Safeway chain) which is a partner of United Airlines in the Mileage Plus program. After I signed up for that (a few minutes over the Internet), I was able to earn a half mile for every dollar I spent in the store as long as I used my Dominick's "Fresh Savings" customer loyalty card. (By presenting my "Fresh Savings" card, I can earn miles whether I use a credit card or just plain cash to pay for my groceries.)

If I owed money on Federal income taxes, I used the Mileage Plus card to pay what I owed, getting a mile for each dollar I coughed up to Uncle Sam.

United's Mileage Plus plan offers many other ways to earn extra miles, right here on terra firma without boarding a plane at all. People can earn miles for signing up with NetFlix, for other kinds of purchasing, or even for eating dinner at certain restaurants.

Finally, I belong to MyPoints, the famous portal site which awards points for purchases made from certain merchants. MyPoints credits can be redeemed to United Airline miles.

Yes, it all adds up after a while in this win-win situation. I'm saving money when I fly and United is presumably profiting from partnering with these other businesses which make it possible for me to earn miles without actually being a frequent flier. Orville and Wilbur Wright would have been proud of us all!

For more details about the Chase Mileage Plus Visa Card, please go to www.ualmiles.com/ or "Google" a search for United Mileage Plus Card on the Internet.

Source:

United Airlines
Chase Mileage Plus Visa Program
Personal experience