If you want to go to Europe and think flights are too expensive, stop saying that. Here’s how I paid a grand total of $183.53 for a flight from Newark to Madrid (via Dublin) and returning to JFK (via Dublin).

1. Apply for a Chase Sapphire Preferred card. There’s no annual fee for the first year, and it’s a $95 fee per year after that–but you can just cancel the card before the year is up if you don’t want a fee-based credit card.
2. Charge $4000 on the card in the first three months. I don’t usually spend that kind of money in three months. But I learned I could pay my rent via credit card, and in previous years when doing this I’ve contacted family members for help. One sister charged her new appliances to my card, another charged her LASIK surgery to my card, Dad charged some business equipment he needed, etc. (I don’t recommend this unless you have nice family members like mine who promptly paid me back.) Also note you can link your card to your Amazon account and to Paypal so anything you buy with those will help you get your points.
3. Set up on-line access to your Chase account (you’ll need this later).
4. Sign up for an Avios account (that’s British Airways frequent flyer program).
5. Once you charge your $4000, in 4-6 weeks you’ll have 54,000 Chase Ultimate Rewards points (4000 for each dollar you spent, and a 50,000 point bonus for doing it in 3 months). Actually, you’ll have more than that–they give you double points for every dollar you spend on travel and food purchases.
6. Now call British Airways. (Yes, call–their web site told me it’s not possible to do this online right now.)
7. Find out if they have seats available on the days you want to go (I booked 4 months in advance). Do not look for flights on British Airways or Iberia — the additional taxes are ridiculous ($1000 on the flights I initially wanted). Instead, ask them to look at your flight options on Aer Lingus (as of December, 2016, British Airways can book Aer Lingus flights). You’ll have to get to mainland Europe via Dublin, but for $183.53 I’m sure you can handle a layover. (While you’re there, get something you can put butter on. Their butter is unlike anything I’ve ever tasted!)
8. Once you know your flights are available, go online and transfer your Chase Ultimate Rewards points to Avios points (that’s the British Airways frequent flyer program you signed up for in Step 4). You can make this transfer in about 45 seconds while you’re on the phone with British Airways. The transfer happens immediately.
9. Book your flight. Pay your $183.53 in taxes.
10. Brag to your friends.
11. Get in touch with me and tell me about the awesome trip you just booked.

I’d recommend getting your Chase Sapphire Preferred Card through this link, because the guy who taught me how to use British Airways points on non-BA flights (Brad at RichmondSavers.com) will get a little money if you do, at no extra cost to you. It’s the least I can do for him. Oh, and if you want to get to get your whole family to Disney World for free, he’s your guy.

You can also learn a whole lot more about earning miles without leaving the ground by heading over to Chris Guillebeau’s site. His site is where I first learned about this concept (called Travel Hacking) many years ago. And it’s thanks to his site, travelhacking.org, that I earned over 200,000 miles the first year I tried all this.