"Travelling is so expensive! How on earth can you afford to travel so many times in a year Glen?"

With a bewildered look on my face I reply, "What do you mean it's expensive. I fly for free. Don't you?"

I have had this conversation so many times with friends and colleagues that I decided it was about time that I share with rest of world what I thought was obvious. ...That pretty much anyone can fly for free.

Let me explain something you probably already know, but chances are don't fully capitalize on.

Flying is FREE!

How? With Air Miles of course.

What are Air Miles you ask? Those are 'points' that most major credit card companies will GIVE you when you make purchases with your credit card.

I can hear you already. "Whoop dee doo Glen, tell me something I didn't know!"

Well, although you may have known that you can get free air miles using your credit card to redeem towards free flights, did you know most people (maybe even you) don't capitalize on this?

Did you fly for free 6 times last year? I did!

Yes, that's 6 as in 'six' times - free. And I could have flown even more but I didn't need or want to.

Now if you flew that many times or more last year you probably need not read any further. But if you didn't you need to learn how to maximize number of air miles you can squeeze out of your credit card company.

Here's how I did it.

Obtain and use a 'Gold' Credit Card

All major credit card companies offer a 'Gold' or equivalent credit card to their customers which includes several benefits including, free insurances, loss and theft protection of purchased items, and of course free air miles!

Yes, I know, they charge you a yearly fee to have a Gold card. Yup, I paid $120 last year for my Gold card and I flew six times. That means I paid a whopping $20 for each flight I took. Okay, you got me, I don't fly for free but rather at a 99.9999% discount!

More Air Mile Points, Equals More Free Travel

Maximize number of Air Mile Points you receive by using your credit card for everything! And I do mean everything.

Here are a few ways I use my card. See if you can't think of some more.

Personal Use:

It’s here that you will experience a unique and spectacular safari experience – and many would argue that you have not lived until you have cycled in Land of Giants!

Head out early morning and late afternoon - push yourself to your physical limits on ancient elephant-trodden pathways, over rough gravel, and through cool streams of water. In a land as diverse as Mashatu, you are guaranteed new mediums and trails around every corner. The panoramic vistas are enhanced ten-fold as your adrenalin courses through your veins.

Your safety is secured in hands of armed rangers who head-and-tail team of cyclists – and who remain in radio contact with a support vehicle which travels a close distance behind (and out of earshot of) cyclists at all times.