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 up to 70,000 bonus miles and 500 PQPs: Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 PQPs after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles after adding an authorized user in the first three months from account opening.
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite Mastercard® (see rates and fees): Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $7,000 on purchases in 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 an additional 25,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases ($9,000 total) in the first six months of card membership.
- United℠ Business Card (see rates and fees): Earn up to 110,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQPs: Earn 100,000 bonus miles and 2,000 PQPs after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, earn 10,000 bonus miles after adding an authorized user in the first three months from account opening.
- Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card (see rates and fees): Earn 90,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases within 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 150,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- Citi Strata Elite℠ Card (see rates and fees): Earn 75,000 bonus points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening.
- American Express Platinum Card®: Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $12,000 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 $8,000 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.
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.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.