Frequent Flyer Programs: 2 Quick & Easy Steps to Earning 100,000 Airmiles

20 Jan 2012 ⋅ by The Travel Abstract ⋅ in Blog, Brokerage Accounts ⋅ 38 Comments

Cool Van on a Kibbutz in Israel

Updated: In two simple steps you will earn 100,000 miles for opening brokerage account!

You can compound your earning capabilities without needing to spend money or tie up funds in separate accounts.

The American and United Airlines signup bonus offers are for NEW customers only and you can only be a new customer once. So you will need to choose which Airlines’ frequent flyer miles are more valuable to you

The Delta Airlines signup bonus offer is for existing account holders and can be applied for once you decide on the American or United offer.

I decided to go with American Airlines over United Airlines because of their nonstop JFK-EZE service; an important route for me.

So by the end of this deal I will have 50,000 AAdvantage frequent flyer miles and 50,000 SkyMiles frequent Flyer miles! I think that is a good deal for not having to spend a single $1.

YMMV.

100,000 Miles for opening brokerage account

Step 1:

Open a new Fidelity brokerage account to be eligible to earn 50,000 miles with American Airlines or United Airlines.

AA offer expires September 30, 2012 and UA offer expires October 1, 2014

Complete $100,000 in cumulative deposits. The trick is that this is not a one-time $100,000 deposit. That would be too rich for my blood.

Recycle your funds. Do you have $5,000 or $10,000 in your checking account that you won’t need for the next month? Then start churning those deposits until the cumulative reaches $100,000.

For example:

Deposit $25,500. Wait up to 7-10 business days for first time deposits to clear.
Withdraw all but $500 of your funds.
Redeposit $25,000, wait for funds to clear.
Withdraw $25k and repeat process until you reach $100,000 in cumulative deposits.
Mileage typically posts on the Sunday following meeting the $100k requirement.

-OR-

Step 2 (must complete Step 1):

Earn 50,000 Delta Skymiles frequent flyer miles for a signup bonus offer fom opening Fidelity brokerage account.

Expires February 14th, 2013.

You already have the $100,000 in cumulative deposits.

Here are the steps:

After receiving 50k American or United miles enroll in Delta offer. The Delta offer is for existing customers so remember to complete the new customer promo’s in Step 1 first.
The account you opened in Step 1 qualifies for the Delta offer.
Since you already achieved $100k in deposits from Step 1 you do not need to touch any money for this offer.
Wait until the Sunday after enrolling for Delta SkyMiles to post.

Now that you have so many airmiles in two different miles programs why not get some hotel rewards action with Hilton.

written by The Travel Abstract

Head of Travel Swagger Squad at The Travel Abstract Headquarters

http://www.deltapoints.com deltaGOLDflyer

love this. hummm…. well done. if only the US mint was still around we could do this so EZ. hum….. shall we look at AMEX gift cards to fund maybe. must look at this!
- Anonymous
  
  Yea. It worked really well for me. 100,000 miles in only a couple of weeks time.
  
  I also hear you can triple dip the same account for some big Gift Card action after doing AA/UA and DL.
  
  I wish we could use AmEx GC to load up the account. Let me know if you can hack into the mainframe!
Anonymous

AA cards do not earn lifetime miles anymore.
- Anonymous
  
  Thanks for pointing that out. I can’t believe I missed that.
  
  I guess I need to let go of the past…
  - Mdalton81
    
    Miles earned from credit card spend on AA’s new Executive/World Elite CC actually do still earn lifetime miles till Dec 2012.
    - Anonymous
      
      True. I misread the comment. The miles earned from the Promo discussed in this post do NOT earn Million Miler status.
      
      While the Citi AA World Elite MC does, if it was activated before Nov. 30 2011, for all of 2012.
      - Mdalton81
        
        Posts online seem to indicate the Nov 30 date isn’t vital.
Markgough228

Is the Delta skymiles still for existing miles? The link states you earn 50,000 when you open and fund a nonretirment brokerage account
- Markgough228
  
  Ah, it’s in the fine print. Well done! Re: Delta: “Prospective customers who currently do not have a Fidelity retail
  account, and existing customers who add new money to a nonretirement
  brokerage account, are eligible”
  - Anonymous
    
    I suggest going for United or American Airlines first and then you can get Delta SkyMiles soon after.
    
    You can’t do this in reverse. It needs to be in that order or you risk the dbl dip.
    - Larry
      
      Looks like the Delta offer expires Feb 14. No time left to churn deposits in the AA or United account.
      - Anonymous
        
        While this is true in the past this offer has been recurring.
        
        It may be going away for good but I very much doubt it. I think Fidelity will be updating the landing page soon and have a new expiration date.
        
        For example the version of this offer I enrolled in expired back in 2011.
        
        YMMV
BothofUs2

Home equity line of credit works well as a source, if you have one available
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Stuart

Does anyone know if this is still current? Noticed this little nugget in the T&C ”Your Fidelity account must remain open with the qualifying funding for six months… “
- travel_abstract
  
  This usually calls for leaving your account open with Fidelity and nothing more. Many people got their miles by cycling the same cash through their accounts so that would not even be possible.
  
  I know I withdrew all but a couple hundred after receiving all of my AA/DL miles. Then I withdrew everything a couple months later. But I kept the account open.
  
  Some ppl liked to leave a couple hundred in but others emptied theirs immediately. Fidelity is not too bad it is TD Ameritrade you should worry about.
  
  YMMV.
  - Stuart
    
    Sounds good, thanks. Do you know if there is a way to transfer/withdraw money without a fee?
    - travel_abstract
      
      Electronic Transfers from your bank.
      
      I have Ally and was never charged a penny for any transfer.
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http://paddyinba.blogspot.com/ Quickroute

Loving this bonus hack – Will likely go with United now they have EWR-EZE direct
- travel_abstract
  
  Yup. That is a great new option for NYC area airports.
  
  You are halfway to a biz class ticket.
  
  Are you planning a return to BsAs soon?
http://paddyinba.blogspot.com/ Quickroute

yes – planning on year end trip
- travel_abstract
  
  You miss the Humid BsAs summer?
  
  I’ll be down there around than too.
  
  Let me know and maybe we can grab some Quilmes and stoke up the parilla.
  - http://paddyinba.blogspot.com/ Quickroute
    
    sounds good – ping you closer to the time – my cholesterol is almost back to normal now that I only eat steak once a week instead of 5-6 times
    - travel_abstract
      
      Ok so maybe we will stick to something light and have lomo de cerdo.
Stuart

Appears the second dip loophole has been closed. I got UAL miles but then got rejected from delta offer due to restrictions on 1 bonus signup per 12 months. Therefore recommend you choose your first option wisely as will likely be your only one.
Shari

I don’t know if they’ve changed the offer terms since this blog post was made but per the offer terms listed today, there are some key DIFFERENCES to note:

1. It is not just for new Fidelity customers. (“This promotional offer is only available to new or existing Fidelity brokerage account customers opening or depositing new assets into a joint or individual nonretirement Fidelity Account”)

2. They appear to want you to keep the full amount in your Fidelity acct for 6 months. (“Your Fidelity account must remain open with the qualifying funding for six months from the date that the qualifying assets are first received in the eligible account.”)
Glenn

What is their definition of a “New Customer” ? I had a fidelity 401K from an old employer (more than 3 years old). I never contributed anything to it and never really used it. so if I opened a new NON 401K account, would I be considered new customer? Also is there any mandatory Lock-in period after you transfer funds into the account? say 6 months that you cannot take funds out of the account if you want to earn the Bonus Miles? Please Let me know. Thanks.
- http://www.thetravelabstract.com The Travel Abstract
  
  @ Stuart I agree. Since April they changed the language to 1 per individual per rolling 12 months.
  
  @ Shari Very good point about all the changes in the T&C’s. I am not sure they have closed their laundry problem but it looks like it may be ending.
  
  @Glenn 401k and other retirement accounts are not eligible for any of those promo’s. Only brokerage and non-retirement accounts can earn the miles.
  You are right about holding your cash in Fidelity for 6 months after qualifying for the mileage. Good Luck!
Glenn

So would we able to recycle funds as you suggest in you blog posting? i.e. Deposit $25,500 – Withdraw $25,000 after 10 days and then deposit again until you achieve $100,000 in Deposits? I don’t mind keeping $10,000 in account for 6 months? but if it requires me to keep $100,000 in account for 6 months, then I will be hesitant. Please let me know your opinion as to whether I can recycle funds to achieve the $100,000 in deposits? Thanks a lot and lover blog.
Tine

Yea, we definitely need to know what they mean by “qualifying fund”. If it means keeping $100,000 in the account for 6 months, I may pull all my money out. I already have $70,000 in the account since I opened it last week, but would be very hesitant to keep my $100,000 in the account for 6 months for a mere 50,000 AA miles (which I value at $800-850).
hal

Is this deal gone? I deposited $35000 last week and have just removed it. Haven’t seen any points yet. Should I waste anymore time by re-depositing it?
http://www.thetravelabstract.com The Travel Abstract

@Glenn Sorry to inform you that the terms have changed since I posted this article back in January. Cycling funds is no longer valid. I would also suggest that you do park the money for six months unless you are willing to take the risk of being hounded by Fidelity.

@Tine. That ROI is probably about the same as parking your money in a regular savings account. I am not a financial advisor and you should be careful with your money.

@Hal It should not be dead. To help figure this out we need more information. Did you cycle the funds? which promo did you enroll in? Are you existing or new account?
- hal
  
  I opened a new brokerage account, my first, with that deposit. Joined the United offer. after the money cleared, i just withdrew it. 35000. Am I wasting my time re-depositing it trying to get the 50000 miles? No points have posted. I don’t want to leave any money with them. Thanks
  - hal
    
    if the recycling doesn’t work anymore, the deal is done for me and I’d like to close the account. What do you mean that fidelity is going to hound people for closing accounts?
    - http://www.thetravelabstract.com The Travel Abstract
      
      @Hal In the T&C’s it says to allow 6-8 weeks for miles to post. I know the current average is more like 4-5 weeks for United miles.
      But if you reached that through cycling the money I am not positive you will get any miles. But let me know. I mean if you are cycling money, get the miles and then empty your account it will raise some flags. It appears the easy deal is dead and you need to be more straight-edged.
      - hal
        
        In other words, deposit that amount , leave it in for 6 months, and you will get the miles. No recycling. I guess it was nice while it lasted. I stumbled on it too late. Thanks

Frequent Flyer Programs: 2 Quick & Easy Steps to Earning 100,000 Airmiles

100,000 Miles for opening brokerage account

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Frequent Flyer Programs: 2 Quick & Easy Steps to Earning 100,000 Airmiles

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