Best ways to earn airline miles: From online shopping to credit cards
You may already know that you can earn airline miles by flying with a specific airline. But did you know there are plenty of additional ways to earn airline miles that you can redeem for flights, upgrades and discounts on inflight purchases?
With the right credit card, flying with partner airlines, online shopping and even dining at the right restaurants can easily earn you valuable miles.
Therefore, even if you're not a frequent flyer, it's easy to earn airline miles. Keep reading to find out some of the best ways to earn miles.
Best ways to earn airline miles from credit cards
Credit cards can earn airline miles through both everyday spending and welcome offers.
If you are approved for an airline-branded credit card, you can earn airline miles for every dollar you spend, and the card will usually offer bonus miles for spending directly with the airline. If you fly regularly, this can be an easy way to rack up plenty of airline miles that you could redeem for free or heavily discounted flights on the same airline.
Many cards also offer generous welcome bonuses to attract new and/or eligible customers. Here are some of the best welcome bonuses for airline-branded credit cards available right now:
- United Quest℠ Card (see rates and fees): Earn 80,000 bonus miles and 3,000 Premier qualifying points after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees): For a limited time, earn 100,000 bonus miles after spending $10,000 on purchases within the first three months of account opening.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card: Earn up to 125,000 bonus miles: 100,000 bonus miles after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership, plus earn 25,000 bonus miles after spending an additional $3,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership.
- United℠ Business Card (see rates and fees): Earn 100,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQP after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (see rates and fees): Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Best ways to earn airline miles from transferring points
Transferable points can be even more valuable than airline miles because of how they can be maximized. American Express, Bilt, Capital One, Chase and Citi offer rewards cards with points you can transfer to numerous airline and hotel partners.
Transferable points can be especially valuable if you want to travel in a premium cabin for the smallest number of points or miles. Instead of being limited to a single airline (and its partners), you can keep your transferable credit card points in your credit card account until you are ready to use them and then choose the best program to transfer them to based on the flights you want to take and the number of airline miles each program is charging. This flexibility is very valuable.
The best way to earn transferable points is with the right card. Here's a look at some of TPG's favorites:
- Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees): Earn 125,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (see rates and fees): For a limited time, earn 100,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- The Platinum Card® from American Express: Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary, and you may not be eligible for an offer.
- American Express® Gold Card: Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Plus, upon approval, you'll receive a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use during your first year.
Best ways to earn airline miles from frequent flying
When you fly with an airline that offers points and miles for flying with it, it is a good idea to join its loyalty program and add your number each time you fly.
The airline will award you miles for each eligible flight, which you can redeem for future flights or, depending on the program and airline, discounts on inflight purchases like Wi-Fi and beverages.
If you fly regularly, you may earn elite status in your program of choice, making your travel more convenient and comfortable with benefits like additional checked baggage, priority check-in and boarding, first-class upgrades, and lounge access.
Best ways to earn airline miles from shopping portals
Shopping portals allow you to earn bonus points and miles for the online shopping you might be doing every day. You're still purchasing the same items directly from the merchant, but because you started at the shopping portal, you'll earn bonus points.
While some portals will only offer 1 point per dollar spent with many retailers, it's not uncommon to see offers of 10 or more points per dollar spent for select retailers. If you have a large online purchase coming up, this can earn you a huge haul of rewards.
To earn airline miles from shopping portals:
- Select your loyalty program of choice.
- Ensure you are a member of that loyalty program.
- Download the optional Google extension to be notified if you shop with a retailer offering points through the portal.
- Shop through the portal rather than going directly to the retailer. This can be the hardest step to remember in your haste for some retail therapy. You may wish to set the shopping portal of your favorite airline program as your homepage on your internet browser so you never forget to start there.
- Shop as normal on the retailer's site. You're not required to pay with a cobranded credit card if you don't want to.
- Wait for the points to arrive; this can take several weeks.
Related: The beginners guide to airline shopping portals
Here are some popular airline shopping portals:
- Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Shopping
- American Airlines AAdvantage eShopping
- Delta Air Lines SkyMiles Shopping
- JetBlue TrueBlue Shopping
- Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Shopping
- United Airlines MileagePlus Shopping
Best ways to earn airline miles from stacking deals
Combining shopping portals with a rewards credit card allows you to double dip, earning more miles for every purchase.
Also, look out for additional offers from airlines and credit card issuers. They may offer additional cash back or bonus miles when spending on a specified card with a particular retailer. This means you could triple-stack your points earning, getting you closer to your dream redemption, by first shopping through a shopping portal, then purchasing from a retailer with a bonus offer from a card issuer, and then paying with a points-earning credit card.
Related: Use a shopping portal aggregator to maximize your online purchases
Best ways to earn airline miles from dining
Most airline loyalty programs offer a dining rewards program, allowing you to earn extra points or miles.
Before you can use a dining rewards program, you have to sign up for the program online and then register at least one credit or debit card with the program. Then, you'll automatically earn rewards through the dining program when you use your card to pay for eligible charges at participating restaurants, bars and clubs.
Here are some of the best airline dining rewards programs:
- Alaska Mileage Plan Dining
- American AAdvantage Dining
- Delta SkyMiles Dining
- Free Spirit Dining
- JetBlue TrueBlue Dining
- Southwest Rapid Rewards Dining
- United MileagePlus Dining
Related: Airline and hotel dining rewards programs: Which is best for you?
Bottom line
There are many ways to earn airline miles, even if you are not a regular traveler.
While all the programs, cards, airlines and options can seem overwhelming, it is a good idea to start by considering which airline you want to focus on and joining its loyalty program. Then, you can start plotting ways to increase your rewards balance, one step at a time, by adding your loyalty number to flights operated by that airline or a partner airline.
Also, consider a credit card that either earns rewards in that program or rewards that can be transferred to that program. You can also maximize your travel with shopping portals and by stacking offers.
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