RETAILERS and travel firms are offering a freebies bonanza in a desperate attempt to drum up sales during the credit crunch.

There are a wealth of free flights available, in particular if you spend on the right card. What’s more, millions of us are failing to claim the points we have already built up. There are an estimated 27m loyalty cards in Britain, with about two out of three adults owning at least one, according to the personal finance website, moneyexpert.com.

Sean Gardner of Moneyexpert said: “While these schemes are a clear incentive to buyers, we as customers do not fulfil our end of the bargain. It means providers have won twice by getting your business then not having to reward your loyalty.”

However, it is important to use the cards in the right way or you could end up paying more. With credit cards, for example, any gains made could be eroded if you don’t pay off your balance in full each month.

David Black at analyst Defaqto said: “If you don’t repay your entire balance every month you should really concentrate on choosing a card with a low interest rate instead of one offering rewards.”

Here we look at some of the top deals available where in effect you get something for nothing.

Get a free flight to Athens

The Bmibaby credit card from Citi offers an introductory free flight to any destination on its network when you spend £100 on the card within 90 days of receiving it.

There is no obligation to keep the card after receiving your free flight. However you can get a bonus free flight if you spend £3,000 or more within a 12-month period — or £250 a month. If you were going to spend that anyway, and you pay your balance off in full, it may be worth it.

Bmibaby only offers flights to Europe as well as UK destinations.

Another top Airmiles deal is offered by the Lloyds TSB Airmiles Duo American Express Card. If you apply before the end of July and spend £10 on it, you’ll automatically receive 1,500 Airmiles. This can be redeemed for two return flights to Zone 1 destinations such as Paris or Amsterdam. Again, there is no obligation to keep the card.

British Airways is also offering extra Airmiles. If you apply for a BA American Express card by tomorrow, you will get up to 3,000 Airmiles — enough for a return trip to Athens or Istanbul. You get 1,000 Airmiles when you make your first purchase and then an additional 2,000 if you spend over £2,000 on the card over the first three months. If you are planning to make a big purchase anway, it is therefore worth doing so on the BA card so you can bag the free flight.