Fly Free: Frequent-Flier Miles Secrets

Although airlines have tightened up in recent years (US Airways and United recently stopped awarding the standard 500-mile minimum for their shortest flights), there’s no reason to stop earning points the traditional way. The more committed you are to one carrier, the better you’ll be treated: American gives its Platinum Elite members a 100 percent mileage bonus on all flights; Gold members are awarded a 25 percent mileage bonus.