Will My Flight Earn Miles If I Pay with a Gift Card?
TPG reader Brian sent me a message on Facebook to ask about earning miles:
"If I use American Airlines gift cards to cover part (or all) of my fare, will I still earn AAdvantage miles on my flight?"
In order to maximize your flight rewards, it's important to know which fares are eligible to earn miles. Generally, any flight paid for with cash will qualify, but airlines offer a variety of payment alternatives (like Delta's Miles + Cash option), and it's not always clear how fares purchased through these methods are classified. As airline-branded gift cards have gained popularity in recent years, Brian wants to know whether they count as a cash equivalent. Fortunately, the answer is yes.
Just about every airline sells electronic gift certificates in one form or another, but several carriers (including American and Southwest) offer physical gift cards that you can also find on the rack at major retailers, grocery stores and gas stations. These gift cards are treated like cash when you use them to buy airfare, so you'll earn both redeemable miles and credits toward elite status whether your gift card covers the entire purchase or only part of it.
The same goes for airline vouchers (at least the ones that specify a dollar amount), as well as fares purchased with flexible or fixed-value points from a credit card loyalty program like Chase Ultimate Rewards or Citi ThankYou Rewards. So long as you book an eligible fare, you'll earn rewards for your flight.
One thing to watch out for is that gift cards tend to come with a number of restrictions. For example, American Airlines gift cards can't be redeemed toward upgrades or Admirals Club access (either memberships or one-day passes). Southwest explicitly limits gift cards to passenger travel and excludes incidentals like baggage fees and in-flight purchases. On the plus side, American and Southwest gift cards have no fees or expiration date, so you can use them when it best suits your travel plans.
Finally, keep in mind that the AAdvantage program will soon shift to a revenue-based earning system, so your mileage will be tied directly to how much you spend. That means you can figure out what sort of return you'll get from redeeming a gift card based on your elite status level.
For more on earning miles with American Airlines, check out these posts:
- Earning American Airlines AAdvantage Miles Without Flying
- Which Card Is Best for AAdvantage Awards After the Devaluation?
- 21 Ways to Earn Airline Miles that You Might Not Know About
If you have any other questions, please tweet me @thepointsguy, message me on Facebook or send me an email at info@thepointsguy.com.
[card card-name='Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ MasterCard®' card-id='221410949' type='javascript' bullet-id='1']
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees