It was once a simple proposition: fly with the same airline and you'd amass air miles or frequent flier miles in exchange for your brand loyalty. But as the airlines have faced financial problems, they are changing the ways these air miles can be redeemed. It adds up to added expense and the question of whether or not air miles are still a viable budget travel consideration.

Air Miles Credit Cards

Check out a few recommendations for airline-based air miles credit cards, bank-based air miles credit cards, and a comparison of terms and benefits.More »

Air Miles Fees

Here are links to the airline policies for redeeming frequent flier miles. These air miles redemptions were once quite simple. Now many such services require hefty fees.More »

New Rules for Air Miles

Have you redeemed frequent flier miles lately? Increasingly, minimum mileage payments for free tickets are insufficient for many trips, especially during peak travel periods. Budget travelers who save several years for a big trip can be disappointed when they learn they only have about half the miles they really need to fly. A two-tier system is emerging that requires, in some cases, twice as many miles for the same redemptions budget travelers have made in previous years. Check out some of the policy changes and some strategies for dealing the the new rules.More »