For many people, gathering reward miles is merely a small added bonus.
They don't look for rewards, but happily accept them when the opportunity arises, accumulating enough every year to get them some small trinket from the company catalogue.
But for a select few, collecting reward miles is nearly a second job - and it almost pays well enough to qualify.
These days, reward miles are not just for airline purchases.
With rewards being available on your credit card purchases, and more available from select retailers, a cautious and selective shopper could likely pick up a few miles on nearly every transaction they perform, from paying bills to buying groceries.
Some "super milers" take this to the extreme, shopping only at mile-providing locations, and doubling up on the rewards whenever possible.
They clip coupons, stay only at participating hotels, and use reward-earning credit cards for every purchase, and they immediately pay off the balances.
A recent case even saw some "super milers" buying coins from online mints with reward cards, and then using the purchased coins to pay the owing balance on the transaction, in essence providing themselves with free miles.
Why go to all this trouble? Super milers can use these accumulating bonuses for all sorts of goodies, from the obvious free flights and upgrades on seat selections, to other bonuses, including items from mile catalogues, free hotel stays and upgrades, and other savings that can provide for free vacations or home items.
For those who go the extra mile for an extra mile, these points are better than cash.
Their value does not fluctuate based on market conditions, nor do they have to pay to store their points.
And since the points can now be used for so many purposes, they have a life completely outside of the airline industry - some super milers will never use their points for a single flight-related upgrade.