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