The beginners guide to airline shopping portals
Editor's note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with the latest information.
Newcomers to the points and miles world often think that the only way to earn loyalty with an airline is by flying frequently or using their travel rewards credit card.
There are many ways to earn points and miles, and one of the easiest is through online shopping portals. Shopping portals reward you with points and miles (and status, in the case of American Airlines) without leaving your home.
It boosts your points alongside flying and credit card earnings and offers the opportunity to double or even triple dip. While there are shopping portals that offer cash back and hotel points, we will focus on airline shopping portals.
An introduction to online shopping portals
Online shopping portals offer the opportunity to earn bonus points and miles by shopping at various online retailers. When combined with a rewards credit card, the rewards become even more lucrative.
The points can accumulate whether you're making small purchases like ordering photos or significant ones like buying a new MacBook Air. One practical example is when ordering everyday necessities such as contacts. Starting through an airline's shopping portal, like AAdvantage eShopping, you can earn 5 miles per dollar spent at ContactsDirect.com.
Say you're spending $500 a year on contacts. Here's what you could be earning:
- $500 at 2 miles per dollar on everyday spending with the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card equals 1,000 Capital One miles (worth $18.50 based on TPG's valuations)
- $500 at 5 miles per dollar spent on ContactsDirect.com through the American Airlines shopping portal equals 2,500 American Airlines AAdvantage Loyalty Points and miles (worth $35 based on TPG's valuations)
Now, you've racked up 3,500 bonus miles by saving time and preordering your contacts.
Related: Your guide to maximizing shopping portals for your online purchases
How to use airline shopping portals
Here's how to optimize your purchases through these portals to maximize your earnings.
Step 1: Pick an airline
All major airlines have shopping portals available, so choosing an airline you frequently fly with is important. You can refer to our latest valuations for the most valuable airline miles. Also, as mentioned, American Airlines AAdvantage eShopping purchases earn status-qualifying Loyalty Points and redeemable miles.
Most carriers only credit redeemable miles for shopping portal purchases, so you might want to go with American to earn AAdvantage elite status.
Step 2: Sign up for the airline's loyalty program
Before earning miles, you must have an account with your chosen airline. Setting up an account is a straightforward and crucial step in the process.
Step 3: Download the Google extension (if you want)
Shopping portal extensions are browser add-ons or plug-ins that allow users to easily access and activate rewards while shopping online. By downloading the plug-in, you will be notified with a pop-up if a site you're shopping on offers points. All you have to do is click "activate."
These extensions often provide a seamless shopping experience, allowing users to take advantage of bonus offers and earn rewards while making online purchases.
Step 4: Shop through the link
To earn points, go directly to your preferred portal and shop from there.
Here are some of the more popular airline shopping portals:
- Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Shopping: Earn bonus miles at over 1,100 retailers.
- American Airlines AAdvantage eShopping: Earn bonus miles at over 1,200 sites.
- British Airways Executive Club eStore: Earn bonus Avios with over 1,100 brands.
- Delta Air Lines SkyMiles Shopping: Earn bonus miles at over 1,000 stores.
- JetBlue TrueBlue Shopping: Earn bonus points at hundreds of stores, and shop in flight for bonus points at Amazon.
- Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Shopping: Earn bonus points at more than 1,100 retailers.
- United Airlines MileagePlus Shopping: Earn bonus miles at over 1,100 stores.
Depending on the portal, it can take several weeks for the miles to be credited to your frequent flyer account.
Tips and reminders
Here are some important things to remember when using shopping portal extensions or sites:
- If using a plug-in, activate the points when prompted to ensure you don't miss out on earning them.
- When using a shopping portal site, click the provided link and purchase on the opened page. Avoid navigating away and returning later, as it may deactivate the bonus.
- Enable cookies in your browser for the retailer's site, allowing the portal to track your purchases and award bonuses accordingly.
- Only use promotions or promo codes found on the portal, as using others may make the purchase ineligible for bonus points and miles.
- Consider using a shopping portal aggregator like Cashback Monitor to compare earning rates across different portals. This lets you quickly determine which portal offers the best return for the specific merchant you are shopping with.
These tips can help maximize your rewards and ensure a smooth shopping experience through shopping portals.
Bottom line
Online shopping portals are an excellent way for all types of travelers and online shoppers to easily increase their points and miles. You can start earning bonus miles without needing a credit card approval. If you have a travel rewards credit card, it's a perfect chance to double dip and maximize your rewards.
Additional reporting by Jordyn Fields and Liz Hund.