Quick Points: Earn American miles and Southwest points when you fill up your car with gas
Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, updated with new information and offers.
With the holidays fast approaching, many Americans are gearing up for an annual road trip to visit family both near and far.
With gas prices still higher than usual, this can be an expensive feat. However, if you have Shell, Marathon or Arco in your area or along your route, you can diminish the agony by earning bonus airline miles — in addition to the rewards you already earn with your credit card.
Every time you swipe at the pump, you can effectively contribute to a “savings account” for your upcoming vacation in the form of travel rewards. You’re going to need to fill up anyway, so you might as well earn bonus miles. Plus, your fill-ups can help you earn elite status with at least one major U.S. airline.
Let’s look at two popular programs that let you earn bonus airline miles for each gallon of gas you buy.
Double dip your airline mile earnings at the pump for little effort
American Airlines Fuel Rewards (Shell)
American Airlines participates in the Fuel Rewards program by Shell. When filling up at a Shell location, you’ll receive 2 miles per gallon of fuel. Plus, new members will earn 100 miles just for joining and completing their first fill-up at Shell.
Just note that when you opt to earn Fuel Rewards, you’ll be forfeiting your opportunity to earn cash back (between 3 and 5 cents per gallon) via Fuel Rewards. TPG estimates that American Airlines miles are worth 1.77 cents each. That means earning 2 miles per gallon is like earning 3.54 cents in value for each gallon (though it’s possible to get significantly more value from your rewards if you know how to maximize American Airlines miles). On the flip side, the miles you earn will also count toward Loyalty Points, making this even more attractive for those chasing American elite status.
Related: Here’s how I save $1,000 per year on gas fill-ups
You can sign up here to enroll your AAdvantage number in the Fuel Rewards program.
Both the Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard® and the CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard® earn 2 miles per dollar at gas stations. Use these cards to make your purchase and you’ll earn American Airlines miles even faster.
Alternatively, you can earn 3 Citi ThankYou points per dollar spent when you use the Citi Premier® Card to pay for gas. The card currently offers 60,000 bonus points when you spend $4,000 on the card in the first three months of account opening. You’ll also earn 3 points per dollar on air travel, hotels, supermarket spending and at restaurants.
The information for the CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum Select cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: How to earn miles in the American Airlines AAdvantage program
Southwest MakeItCount Rewards (Marathon and Arco)
Southwest participates in the MakeItCount Rewards program by Marathon. Filling up at Marathon or Arco will net you 1 Southwest point per gallon.
TPG estimates that Southwest points are worth 1.5 cents each. That’s not an earth-shattering return for your gas spending — though every point helps to get you closer to your next (nearly) free vacation. You can sign up for MakeItCount Rewards here and start earning Southwest points for purchases you’d make anyway.
Related: How to earn Southwest Rapid Rewards points
Pro tip: The MakeItCount program is also a partner of Wyndham Rewards if you prefer to earn hotel points. Wyndham points can be valuable if you know the best way to use them.
Bottom line
Gas prices are at all-time highs and will only continue to rise for the foreseeable future. Luckily, there are several ways to maximize your earnings on gas purchases.
The best part about the rewards discussed here is that they come in addition to any points or miles you earn with your credit card. So, make sure you have a card that offers gas spending as a bonus category. You may also be able to stack them with other gas rewards programs like Pay with GasBuddy. To learn more about other gas rewards programs, read this guide.
Additional reporting by Benji Stawski.
Top offers from our partners
How we chose these cards
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: 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.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Rewards Rate
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide, including takeout and delivery in the U.S. and at U.S. supermarkets. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.Earn 90,000 Bonus Miles50,000 Bonus MilesAnnual Fee
$250Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.670-850Excellent/Good
Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: 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.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees