There are countless ways to earn airline miles and hotel points — and some ways are easier than others. Did you know that you can rack up points and miles without spending money? Yes, we’re being serious.
In this article, we’ll show you how to earn points and miles without spending any money or opening credit cards. All it takes is time, an internet connection and a frequent traveler account.
We are referring to earning points and miles by completing surveys.
How to earn points and miles by completing surveys
Survey companies compensate major travel providers by providing a commission when they refer individuals willing to participate in surveys. As a result, hotel and airline loyalty programs can motivate their members to complete surveys in exchange for points and miles.
These surveys encompass a wide range of topics, from politics to marketing, and they ask participants various questions.
For instance, American Airlines even grants elite-qualifying Loyalty Points for survey completion. This implies that it is theoretically possible to attain AAdvantage status without spending money or flying. However, each survey typically takes 15 to 30 minutes, and the number of AAdvantage miles earned per survey is generally less than 50. Consequently, it is not a viable path to earn AAdvantage status.
Real-life examples
Curious about the process, I enrolled in American Airlines’ Miles for Opinions program. Upon completing my initial survey, AAdvantage members are rewarded with a bonus of 250 miles.
Adding my AAdvantage number to the landing page proved to be a simple task. Subsequently, I was directed to a page where I encountered an array of personal questions.
I was not particularly enthusiastic about divulging personal demographic information. As a result, without answering those questions, there were no surveys available for me to participate in, which ultimately prevented me from earning any miles. Therefore, instead of succumbing to the pressure of revealing deeply personal details, I decided to end my endeavor for the day.
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Nevertheless, a user willing to answer these questions would likely be presented with a survey to complete.
Related: 6 quick and easy ways to earn Loyalty Points before the end of the American elite year
What travel providers allow you to earn miles through surveys
The following travel providers partner with survey companies, allowing you to earn points and miles with their respective loyalty programs:
- Alaska Airlines
- American Airlines
- Celebrity Cruises (Power Up Points, lets Captain’s Club members earn toward status for completing surveys)
- Hilton
- JetBlue
- Southwest Airlines
- Spirit Airlines
- United Airlines
- Wyndham
For a more in-depth guide on how to earn points and miles for surveys with each of these programs, see this guide.
The rewards can sometimes be paltry. One TPG writer was able to earn about 195.5 Alaska Mileage Plan miles per hour. Based on our latest valuations, that’s only $3.51 per hour spent completing surveys.
However, sometimes, you can score a generous sign-on bonus for completing your first survey.
In this case, a user received a 10,000-point Hilton welcome bonus by just filling out one survey. That’s worth $60 per TPG valuation — which might be more worth your while.
On Nov. 8, another TPG staff member received an email from JetBlue, stating that they could earn “400 TrueBlue points when you sign up for Jet Opinions and complete your first online survey.” Additionally, you’ll keep earning TrueBlue points with each additional survey. If you want to add a few extra points to your bank, this could be an easy way.
Related: The award traveler’s guide to Hilton Honors
Bottom line
Earning points and miles without having to spend any money is appealing. However, you’ll likely need to be comfortable answering personal demographic questions to earn points and miles through surveys.
Additionally, beyond the occasional welcome bonus, you won’t get much in terms of a return on your time investment.
Still, it’s worth considering as a way to earn a quick bump in points and miles, particularly American Loyalty Points.
