Get luxury perks for your travel buck

He's not a big fan of discount airlines, such as Southwest or JetBlue, that don't have upgrade possibilities or extensive partnerships with other airlines. On the other hand, the discount carriers tend to offer free flights more quickly; if free travel to domestic destinations is your goal, rather than upgrades or international travel, they might be a fine fit.

Those just starting out might want to build their miles on a regional carrier like Alaska Airlines, Widzer said, rather than try to compete for first-class upgrades with hordes of business travelers and established frequent fliers on the big national carriers.

It's less of a problem to divide your business with hotels and rental-car companies, as rewards are typically easier to come by. Most rental-car providers have "frequent user" programs that allow you to skip long lines and qualify for easy upgrades. Some chains promise to have your car started, and the heat or air conditioning running, by the time you arrive. Typically, you can sign up online, and it's often free (or, if it's not, you can get the fee waived simply by requesting it).

Consolidation in the hotel industry means you'll have a wide variety of chains from which to choose, at all price points. The Hilton hotel family, for example, now includes nine brands, from budget-level Hampton Inns to the luxury Conrad Hotels. The Starwood chain includes Westin, Sheraton and W brands.

Shoot for elite-level status

You'll get easier upgrades, more free travel, expedited check-ins and bonus frequent-flier miles when you qualify for an airline's elite travel program. Once you achieve elite status on one airline, other carriers will typically grant you similar status just by asking.

Obviously, many casual travelers won't be able to hit the mark, because it typically requires flying at least 20,000 to 25,000 miles annually to reach an airline's lowest elite tier. (Most airlines have three tiers with increasing benefits at 25,000, 50,000 and 100,000 miles flown; miles earned through credit card purchases, hotel stays or other nonflight activity typically don't count.)

If you're close to the limit, though, you might be able to push yourself over the top by booking an extra flight or two before the end of the year.

And sometimes, airlines offer alternative methods or special deals to achieve elite status more quickly. Some allow you to count flight segments, rather than miles flown, so that short-hoppers can more easily achieve elite status. American has a little-known program that grants bottom-tier Gold elite status to passengers who rack up just 5,000 points in one 90-day period. (Points are accrued based on how much you paid for your ticket, with half a point for each mile flown on a deeply discounted economy ticket and 1.5 points for each mile flown in first class.)

Choose the right price

Some airlines make it harder for bargain hunters to get upgrades and free travel. As mentioned, instead of earning the same number of miles for the same flight, passengers who paid more for their tickets get more miles. That's the system on Delta, American, British Airlines and others. Some, like Air Canada and American, give deeply discounted tickets only half credit, so you get 0.5 miles for every mile flown.

And at many airlines, you also might not be able to upgrade a ticket at all if you've opted for the lowest fare, even if you have the miles in your account.

That's another reason why people who aren't road warriors might want to opt for a less-traveled airline with a more generous miles policy. If your airline does "tier" how frequent-flier miles are earned, you'll want to make sure you know which fares qualify you for more miles. Sometimes, the difference in price between a deeply discounted ticket earning half a point per mile and a discounted ticket earning a point per mile is just a few bucks, Widzer said.

Not sure if you've got a better-earning or upgradeable fare? Call the airline's toll-free number and ask.

Book with the travel provider

The travel world has changed considerably in just a few years. In the past, third-party travel sites like Expedia, Orbitz and Travelocity were often the way to find the best deals. Today, the third-party sites often tack on extra fees, while many airlines and hotel chains promise to offer the lowest rates only on their own Web sites.

Booking directly on the provider's Web site saves the company money and may make them more inclined to extend special privileges. For instance, I've gotten hotel chains to waive cancellation fees that would have been nonrefundable had I booked through the third-party sites.

Stay alert

Sign up for your travel program's e-mail newsletters, and check its Web sites often for new promotions and offers. When booking travel, call and ask if there are special promotions going on or faster ways to achieve preferred-traveler status. (Some airlines tack on $5 to $10 fees for fares booked over the phone, but simply asking questions won't trigger those charges.) Look for credit cards that earn you miles with your preferred providers. (See "20 credit cards that pay you back.")

And never assume luxury is beyond your reach. Widzer recounts the time he had to book a last-minute flight from Southern California to Atlanta. The cheapest economy fare was more than $1,000. On a whim, he asked about the first-class fare, because he'd heard some airlines were discounting their choicest seats in order to fill them with paying customers, rather than award-using fliers. And surprise -- the first-class fare was less than half the price of an economy ticket.

"If I hadn't asked," Widzer said, "I would never have known."

Liz Pulliam Weston is the Web's most-read personal-finance writer. She is the author of several books, most recently "Your Credit Score: Your Money & What's at Stake." Weston's award-winning columns appear every Monday and Thursday, exclusively on MSN Money. She also answers reader questions on the Your Money message board and helps middle-class families cope at Building a Brighter Future.

Updated Nov. 12, 2009

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