You may have seen or heard it. At the workplace water cooler, the holiday dinner table and just about every place else you go, proud travel hackers are boasting about scoring free flights to far-off destinations.

Ready to get in on the action? Here’s everything you need to know about how to get free flights, starting with a caveat: "Free flights” aren’t usually free. You often pay at least $5.60 each way for Transportation Security Administration fees on your ticket. For certain international flights, you'll also be on the hook for fuel surcharges, which can sometimes cost around $200 each way for economy class and more than $700 each way in business class.

Now that you know award travel means “mostly” free, here are the most reliable ways to get free flights.

5 ways to get free flights

With time, strategic spending and the right credit cards, you'll be well on your way to flying at deep discounts.

1. Earn miles or points by flying your preferred airline

Sign up for an airline loyalty program (joining is free). Every time you fly the airline, you will earn miles or points that can be redeemed for free flights.

The number of miles you earn varies by airline. Most award you miles based on the cash price of your ticket. For example, United Airlines’ MileagePlus program members earn 5 MileagePlus miles per dollar spent on qualifying tickets. Premier members of the program get bonus miles on top of that.

Other airlines, such as Hawaiian Airlines, award miles based on how far you fly. A 2,397-mile flight from San Francisco to Honolulu, for example, puts 2,397 HawaiianMiles in your loyalty program account.

You can also earn miles with your preferred airline by flying on one of its partners. For example, if you fly JetBlue, you can use your HawaiianMiles member number when booking to earn miles on Hawaiian. Or, book a flight to Paris on Air France, use your Delta Air Lines SkyMiles number when booking and you’ll earn Delta miles for your trip. Determine which airlines partner with your preferred carrier to see all your options for earning miles.

So how many miles do you need to rack up before you have enough for a free flight? That depends on the airline miles you collect, where you’re going and when. Search your preferred airline’s website for sample award bookings for your travel dates and other dates to see how award prices can vary.