Airlines That Offer Rewards For Your Little Adventurers
This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. Please see our full disclosure for further information.Are you a family that loves to explore new places? Do you find yourself daydreaming about exciting new destinations while keeping an eye on your travel budget? If so, you’re in for a treat! In this blog post, we’re going to explore the wonderful world of airline rewards points and discover how your kids can join in on the excitement. So, fasten your seatbelts and get ready for an adventure filled with savings and loads of fun!
The Magic of Airline Rewards Points
Let’s start with the basics. Airline rewards points are airlines that offer loyalty programs to their passengers. These programs allow travelers to earn points or miles for every flight they take, which can then be redeemed for free or discounted flights, upgrades, and more.
Now, you might be wondering if these programs are only for adults. The good news is that many airlines, including some of the big players like Air Canada, Delta, United, and American Airlines, offer programs that allow kids to earn points too. So, when you’re planning your family vacation, you can also plan on racking up points that will make your future adventures even more affordable.
Airlines That Let Kids Earn Points
1. Air Canada: Air Canada’s Aeroplan program allows kids to earn points, and there’s no specific age requirement to start earning. As long as your child has their own Aeroplan account, they can begin accumulating points from a young age. Parents can set up accounts for children, making it easy to track their points and plan family trips together.
Typically, Aeroplan points expire after 18 months of inactivity. To keep your points from expiring, you can engage in any eligible activity within this time frame, such as taking a flight, using an Aeroplan-affiliated credit card, or making a purchase through their partner network. The key is to ensure there is some points-earning or spending activity in your Aeroplan account every 18 months to keep your points alive.
2. Delta: Delta’s SkyMiles program is also open to kids of all ages. From infants to teenagers, everyone can earn SkyMiles when they fly with Delta. Young children may not earn as many points as adults, but every mile counts, and it can add up over time.
Delta’s SkyMiles don’t expire, which is a relief for families. You can take your time to build up those miles, knowing they will be there when you’re ready to use them.
3. United Airlines: United’s MileagePlus program is quite flexible, and there’s no minimum age for kids to start earning points. Children can accumulate miles just like their parents, and these miles can be used for future family vacations. United also offers family accounts, allowing parents to easily combine points.
United’s MileagePlus miles also don’t expire, as long as you have account activity at least once every 18 months such as buying miles.
4. American Airlines: American Airlines’ AAdvantage program is kid-friendly as well. Children of all ages can earn AAdvantage miles for their flights. There’s no specific age requirement, making it accessible for even the youngest travelers. Similar to the other airlines, you can set up a family account to pool all your miles together.
American Airlines’ AAdvantage miles typically don’t expire either, as long as there’s at least one earning or redeeming activity in your account within an 18-month period.
5. British Airways: British Airways has its Executive Club program, and it’s a great option for families. Kids can start earning Avios (the program’s points) at a young age, and there’s no specific age restriction. British Airways offers a family account feature, allowing parents to pool their Avios with their children’s earnings, making it even easier to reach those exciting travel rewards together.
In the British Airways Executive Club program, Avios points will expire if there is no activity in your account for 36 consecutive months. However, earning or redeeming even a small number of Avios will extend the expiration date, so it’s relatively easy to keep them active.
These airlines are inclusive and encourage families to participate in their loyalty programs, regardless of the age of the child. So, whether you have a toddler or a teenager, they can start earning points and contributing to your family’s travel adventures right away. It’s never too early to begin the journey of accumulating travel rewards!
We’ve had our accounts with these airline rewards programs for a while now, simply because we don’t limit ourselves to just one airline when we travel. We’ve found that having accounts with multiple airlines gives us more flexibility and opportunities to earn points.
For instance, we have accounts with Air Canada’s Aeroplan, Delta’s SkyMiles, United Airlines’ MileagePlus, and American Airlines’ AAdvantage. This allows us to take advantage of various routes, schedules, and fare options when planning our family trips. Each airline has its strengths, and by diversifying our loyalty, we’ve been able to maximize our benefits.
Benefits of Kids Earning Points
Let’s talk about how kids earning points can be super awesome for families when it comes to travel. It’s like a fun adventure with a bunch of cool benefits!
Learning Stuff: First up, when kids get into earning and handling points, it’s like a sneaky way to learn about setting goals, budgeting (that’s managing your money), and making choices that lead to rewards. These skills aren’t just handy for travel; they’re useful for life!
Being Responsible: Earning points is a bit like having a superpower, but it also requires responsibility. Kids can become super responsible as they keep track of how many points they earn, plan what rewards they want, and decide how to use those points wisely. Being responsible is a fantastic skill to have.
Family Fun: When kids join in on earning points, it makes family vacations even more exciting! It’s like a special family mission to earn enough points for an amazing dream trip. This brings the family even closer and makes memories that last forever.
Saving Money: Here’s a cool part: Kids can help their families save money. As they gather points, families can use them to get free flights, hotel stays, or other travel stuff. This means more family trips and adventures without breaking the bank. Yay for savings!
Awesome Memories: When kids contribute points, it’s like they’re a big part of the adventure. Using their hard-earned points to visit places they’ve always dreamt of creates memories that stick around forever. It’s like a treasure chest of unforgettable moments.
Money Smarts: Earning points also helps kids learn about money. They can understand things like saving, making a budget, and why getting rewards is so cool. This knowledge will come in super handy when they grow up and start managing their own money.
Travel Motivation: Imagine this: Kids get all motivated to explore new places because they know their efforts lead to epic adventures. It makes them super excited about travel, discovering new spots on the map, and learning about different cultures. Who knew earning points could be so motivating?
Loyalty Lesson: Loyalty is a big word, but it’s all about sticking with something you like. When kids earn points with airlines or hotels, they learn why it’s cool to stick with the same ones. This loyalty lesson can apply to other stuff in life too!
Choices Galore: Here’s a bonus – rewards programs often let kids use their points for more than just flights. They can get hotel stays, rental cars, or even cool stuff to buy. So, it’s not just about travel; they can choose rewards that match their interests and needs.
So, there you have it! Kids earning points isn’t just about travel; it’s about learning, bonding, saving, and making awesome memories together. It’s like a fantastic family adventure that keeps on giving!
Family Sharing Points
Imagine this: you, your spouse, and your kids are all earning points from your flights. Now, with family sharing points, you can bring all those points together in one big pot. It’s like having a family piggy bank for travel rewards! This feature is a game-changer for parents who want to maximize their points and make travel more affordable.
Here’s how it typically works:
Family Accounts: Some airlines allow you to create a family account, where you can link your and your children’s accounts. This enables you to combine points, making it easier to reach redemption thresholds.
Transfer Options: In some cases, you can transfer your child’s points to your own account, giving you more flexibility in booking flights and other rewards.
Booking Together: When you’re ready to redeem your points for a family vacation, you can book all your tickets together, ensuring that your family sits together on the plane.
I absolutely love the family sharing points feature! Instead of each of us having separate piles of points, we can combine them into one big pile. That means faster trips to our dream destinations and more time spent together as a family.
Tips for Maximizing Your Family’s Points Earning Potential
To make the most of your family’s points-earning potential, consider these tips:
Sign Up for Family Accounts: Take advantage of family account options offered by airlines to combine your points and reach rewards faster. It’s like putting all your points in one big treasure chest, making it easier to unlock amazing rewards sooner.
Keep an Eye on Kids’ Bonuses: Look out for extra special deals that give your kids bonus points for their flights. Airlines often run these promotions during school holidays and summer vacations.
Use Co-Branded Credit Cards: Some airlines team up with credit card companies to offer special cards that let you earn points on everyday purchases. These cards often come with bonus points for signing up and can be a great way to boost your family’s points balance.
Plan Ahead: Plan your family trips strategically to maximize your points. Look for routes and airlines that offer the best points-earning opportunities.
Set Point-Earning Goals: Encourage your kids to set goals for their points earnings. It could be a fun competition within the family to see who can earn the most points for the next vacation.
Don’t Forget Cash Back Rewards: Here’s a bonus tip!! You can also earn rewards by using credit cards that give you cash back. Want to know more about this? Head over to my blog post CANADA’S BEST TRAVEL CREDIT CARDS FOR BIG SAVINGS ON YOUR NEXT VACATION
Bottom line
The world of airline rewards points isn’t just about saving on travel; it’s about embarking on an incredible adventure with your family. While it may take some time to accumulate points, the benefits are definitely worth it. Remember, these rewards can teach your kids valuable life skills, bring your family closer together, and make your dream vacations a reality. So, don’t be discouraged by the time it takes to earn points – every point brings you one step closer to unforgettable adventures.
I’d love to hear about your experiences with family travel and earning points! Have you started your own rewards journey with your kids? Share your thoughts, stories, and tips in the comments below. Your comments could inspire and help other families embark on their own rewarding travel adventures.
I hope this post has helped you discover the exciting world of family travel with rewards points. So, fasten your seatbelts, get ready for some fantastic journeys, and happy travels to you and your family!
READY FOR A FAMILY ADVENTURE? FLY ANYWHERE AND BOOK YOUR FLIGHT NOW!
0