NEW YORK (Money Magazine) - Have you tried to get a free airline ticket lately? You may have gotten nothing but turbulence from your customer service rep.

Beleaguered airlines, citing financial woes, have instituted program changes that have made booking award travel more difficult.

Starting in May, American Airlines travelers looking for unrestricted frequent-flier award tickets have to fork over 50,000 miles instead of 40,000.

In March, Northwest ruled that non-elite frequent fliers could no longer upgrade to first class on certain discount domestic fares. And good luck finding the flight you want -- these days, the airlines allocate fewer award seats on popular flights.

For frequent-flier members, many of whom are road-weary business travelers, the bumpy ride has added a layer of fear that their loyalty programs will go the way of the dinosaur. With bankruptcies in the news -- so far this year, three U.S. airlines have been in Chapter 11 -- even seasoned travelers may feel the urge to use up their miles.

What's a frequent flier to do? First, relax a bit. For all the talk about money troubles, the airlines are making big bucks from these programs: They sell millions of miles a year to partners like financial institutions and retailers. (Air Canada's Aeroplan pulled in over $600 million last year.)

Recent precedent is on your side -- US Airways emerged from bankruptcy in March with its miles program intact and improved. Thanks to a new deal with United, US Airways frequent fliers can now fly to Hawaii.

Unfortunately, the airlines will still come up with ways (and rules) that make it harder for you to earn miles and redeem them. Sky warriors, take heart -- here are some ways to help you wring the most out of your miles.

Go elite. Elite status in any miles program -- like Premier on United or Gold AAdvantage on American -- has its perks: You get first-in-line priority for free upgrades, and you have an easier time scoring award tickets; plus you earn a 25 to 100 percent bonus for every mile you fly -- fly 500 miles and you'll get an extra 125 to 500, depending on your elite-status level.

You have to fly at least 25,000 miles in one calendar year to earn elite status -- you can't spend your way in by charging $25,000 on your affinity-miles credit card. But American offers a fast-track program: If you fly 5,000 miles in 90 days, you can earn Gold status -- easy enough with one cross-country trip. Fly 10,000 miles in 90 days and earn Platinum status. Enroll in the Gold Challenge program before you fly (800-882-8880).

The trick to being one of the elite is clocking the miles year after year. Miss the 25,000 benchmark by even 500 miles in any one year, and you lose your elite status. If you find you're short a few hundred miles for elite status one year, opting for a connecting flight instead of a nonstop may double your miles.

Leverage into other programs. Once you've got elite status with one program, apply for similar status with another. American, Continental, Delta, Northwest and United will automatically enroll you in the elite level of their programs -- as long as you're already a member -- if you fax or mail them recent proof of your status with a competing airline and a request to match it. "No one publicizes it," says Matthew Bennett, publisher of travel tipsheet FirstClassFlyer.com. "But it works."

Know what your miles are worth. For many frequent fliers, miles are a sweet reward for business travel. Milking them for all they're worth, then, is key.

That said, what are they worth? The airlines consider each mile you've earned to be worth about 2 cents, so spending 25,000 miles to get a $500 (or more) seat is a good deal. But some airlines charge a premium -- say, 40,000 miles -- for last-minute award travel.

That would boost the "price" of your free award ticket to $800. Is it worth it? It's really up to you to decide. The same goes for all the other stuff for which you can cash in your miles: Hilton HHonors, for instance, will let you redeem 40,000 points for one night at a premium hotel.

According to the 2 cent rule, that adds up to an $800-a-night stay -- not necessarily a great way to put points to use. But as a Starwood Preferred Guest, you can trade 2,000 miles for a 120-minute AT&T calling card or 5,000 miles for a $75 Saks gift certificate -- arguably a fair trade for a small number of miles.

Hit other resources. Most airlines are part of travel alliances, so consider a partner airline if you're looking for better flight options. (Lufthansa, a United partner, flies from New York City to London too.) If you're just shy of an award ticket, most programs let you purchase a block of miles -- up to 15,000 -- for a small premium of about 2.5 cents each.

If you're serious about cashing in, stay in the know. Tough times (and summer) mean major cross-promotions and discounted award travel. Free sites: www.firstclassflyer.com; www.frequentflier.com; www.flyertalk.com; and www.privilegeflyer.com.