Airline credit cards that offer air miles rewards or frequent flyer points for every purchase you make can be a great way to save money. But there are some ways you can maximize the benefits they offer and avoid costing yourself more money than you need to. If you’ve spent some time comparing which airline credit card is right for you then you’ll already know how many airline miles you’ll receive with each purchase you make using your card.

Keep in mind when you’re considering redeeming your points that some airlines may have blackout periods when you can’t book flights and some even have expiry dates. This means if you haven’t used any points after a specified time they may simply expire and you won’t get them back.

Here are three great ways to maximize your benefits from airline credit cards:

1. Small Business

If your business is still small and you’re keen to see it grow, you could take advantage of your airline miles to expand your business. By using your credit card to make business purchases you’ll be accumulating airline miles. When your miles have reached a specified amount, use them to book flights to different locations in search of new clients or prospective new areas to set up new branches of your business.

2. Vacation Savings

Often the biggest expense of any vacation is travel costs to get where you’re going. If you use your mileage credit card wisely throughout the year and accumulate your air miles, reward yourself by booking a vacation using your miles. Because your flight costs are covered, you’ll have extra spending money left over to really enjoy your vacation.

Many people believe that only business people need frequent flyer miles. Just because you may have accumulated your points by purchasing business related items on your card doesn’t mean those points can’t be used for personal purposes. Treat yourself.

3. Accommodation

The term ‘frequent flyer miles’ or airline miles makes most people think they need to redeem their miles by booking airline flights. This isn’t true.

Many airline credit cards also offer the option to redeem your points for hotel nights. It is possible to accrue sufficient miles to not only book your flight, but you could also book a few nights stay at a great hotel using those same miles. Airline credit cards and the rewards and incentives they offer can be a great way to offset the heavy cost of business travel – but don’t forget that you can always treat yourself with those rewards too.