Flying is expensive and it seems to just be getting worse. Airlines now charge for carry-ons, food and even using the bathroom. To put it simple the airlines are looking to ring every dime out of your not so deep college pockets. Being an international kid, I have spent a significant amount of my life in airports and up in the air flying, scrunched between men with neck braces or the nightmarish crying baby. Over the years I have learned the secrets of how airline travel works and how you really can get the absolute most out of every penny you spend flying. There is a way to make the sting of clicking "purchase ticket" a little easier. Earn a trip to visit your family or whisk the misses away on a weekend getaway just by going out to eat, buying a round at the bar or reading a book.

I am a loyal Delta Sky Miles members and my friends, loyalty pays off. Delta has recently become the world largest airline, with more connections to places you have never heard of. Delta will get you there in style with their spanking new planes that are all fitted with WiFi, DirectTV and more movies than Blockbuster. But this is just where it begins.

Step 1: Become Loyal- Go to www.skymiles.com and simply click apply for your sexy new card that will quickly become you’re pride and joy as you climb the ranks from being that last row traveler to Million Miler. Yep this card is your friend, with benefits. Make sure to use it and use it often. It will always answer your late night calls. With your plain and simple Sky Miles card you will start to earn miles for flying with Delta (or code share partners), booking hotels or renting cars with Delta partners or buying something from duty free. Sounds simple, but you will be shocked how many places you can use this bad boy and how many people don't take full advantage. You will see a list of different places you can collect basic miles on the Sky Miles website.

Step 2: Be rewarded- Go to www.skymiles.rewardsnetwork.com Here you will create an account where you can connect your Sky Miles number that you just received and ALL of the credit card or debit card numbers. Don’t worry. Its safe. Now browse through the site and check out all the places you can eat in your town and get SkyMiles for doing so. That’s right, you don’t even have to do anything! Just enter your credit card and everything else is automatic. There is even an app for that, which tells where the closest SkyMiles dining partner is located. Here is an example for you: 

Last night I went to a grungy club called Sanctuary (don't judge me, I was taken there against my will and mingled with way too many Jersey Shore look-a-likes for my taste) and I hit the bar. Hard. Last thing I remember is ordering a Jaeger Bomb and a fuzzy cab ride home. The next morning I wake up and found a receipt in my pocket for $38 and $29. I also found an e-mail in my inbox, a message from Sky Miles Dining, "Congratulations on earning 67 sky miles last night at Sanctuary". Brilliant! I just got drunk and earned sky miles. What more could you want? How about furniture to pimp out your dorm? Wouldn’t that be great if you could not only earn miles drinking, eating and being offensive, but also by furnishing your dorm? Well my friends, your fantasy just became reality.

Step 3: Shop till you drop- go to www.skymilesshopping.com Here you have to create your profile yadda yadda yadda (I think we all know how to create profiles by now, if you don't, ask your grandma to help you become a bit more tech savvy) and start shopping. Find furniture, school books and more and reap the rewards.

Now, last and certainly not least;

Step 4: Hit up www.deltaskymilescard.com. We all know now that your hitting up college, you will be looking for a credit card to “Build Credit”. So while your “building credit” you might as well earn some of those miles that will get you something in return. So go ahead, sign up and at least get an awesome clock/calculator for trying. Just make sure you learn self control with a credit card, take that advice or learn the hard way.

If you are looking to quickly rack up those Sky miles for a free flight to Vegas this spring break, or you just really miss your mommy and want to get home quick and cheap make sure you get the most out of your college spending habit by signing up and taking advantage of all these sick opportunities.