How to earn more points and maximize elite status benefits by double dipping
Here at TPG, we're all about maximizing every dollar you spend. Often, you can accomplish that by using the best credit card to enjoy the highest return for a specific purchase. But sometimes, you can go a step further.
Enter "double dipping," or the practice of earning two different types of points on a single transaction. Taking advantage of double-dipping opportunities will help you accelerate your points-earning — bringing you that much closer to your dream award trip.
Below, we've outlined some of our top double-dipping opportunities that you can (and should) work into your everyday points practices.
Use online shopping portals
One of the simplest ways to double dip is to use shopping portals for your online purchases. These third-party sites partner with various retailers to give you points, miles or cash back when you click through their links. This is in addition to the points and miles you earn from putting the transaction on your credit card. So, you earn one bonus from the portal and another from your card.
No matter what type of points you're trying to earn, there's likely a portal out there that will suit your needs. Several airlines and hotel chains have their own portals, as does Chase Ultimate Rewards. Meanwhile, Rakuten allows you to receive your earnings in the form of American Express Membership Rewards points as an alternative to its usual cash back. You can even earn a one-time $30 bonus by joining Rakuten and spending $30 in the first 90 days.
Not sure which portal to use? Try using a shopping portal aggregator such as Cashback Monitor to compare earning rates across numerous portals for a given retailer.
Join restaurant rewards programs
Dining out can be a lucrative activity by itself, with cards such as the American Express® Gold Card offering 4 points per dollar on worldwide restaurant purchases. But it's also an opportunity to double dip using airline and hotel dining rewards programs.
Once you register, participating restaurants will automatically award you points or miles when you pay for a meal with a linked credit card. Once again, these earnings are on top of the points or miles you net just for purchasing with your credit card.
There's just one key thing to remember: Each of your credit cards can only be registered for one dining program, so you can't earn through two airline or hotel programs for a single purchase.
Related: How to earn 1,000 Southwest points the next time you dine out (or order in)
Earn more with Uber and Lyft
Whether you use Uber or Lyft, you can make your rides more valuable by linking certain rewards accounts to earn points on every ride.
With Lyft, you have several choices when it comes to earning bonus points or miles, though you must select one of the following as your designated loyalty rewards partner:
- Bilt Rewards: Earn 2 points per dollar on Lyft rides, plus 3 additional points per dollar when you pay with your Bilt Mastercard® (see rates and fees).
- Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan: Earn 1 mile per dollar on all Lyft rides in the U.S. and Canada.
- Delta Air Lines SkyMiles: Earn 1 mile per dollar spent on all U.S. Lyft rides, or 2 miles per dollar on all U.S. airport rides.
- Hilton Honors: Earn 3 points per dollar on Lyft economy, luxury and extra-seat rides. Earn 2 points per dollar spent on shared Lyft rides.
Note that Chase also partners with Lyft. So, in addition to selecting one of the above programs, you can use an eligible card — like the Chase Sapphire Reserve or Chase Sapphire Preferred Card — to earn up to 10 points per dollar spent on the platform. Sapphire Reserve cardholders also enjoy complimentary Lyft Pink All Access for two years.
Meanwhile with Uber, you can link your Marriott Bonvoy account and earn the following:
- 6 points per dollar on Uber Eats restaurant and grocery orders of $40 or more delivered to a hotel in Marriott's portfolio
- 3 points per dollar on rides with UberXL, Uber Comfort, Uber SUV and Uber Black
- 2 points per dollar on all other Uber Eats restaurant and grocery orders above $40.
Make sure you're also using a credit card with a great return on travel purchases; for instance, the American Express® Green Card, which offers 3 points per dollar spent on travel and transit purchases, including ride-hailing services.
The information for the American Express Green Card 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: Frequent Uber or Lyft passenger? These credit cards are for you
Rent with Airbnb
Make your Airbnb stays more valuable by booking them through Delta Air Lines' or British Airways' online portals. Simply choose a program and click the booking button on its dedicated Airbnb page to rack up extra miles. You'll earn 1 mile per dollar if you go through Delta SkyMiles and 3 Avios per dollar if you book through British Airways Executive Club. So, expensive Airbnb bookings can quickly add up to award flights.
Like with Uber and Lyft, make sure to pay with a travel credit card that earns a bonus on vacation rentals to maximize your points-earning.
Related: 12 tips for choosing the perfect beach house rental
Earn bonus United miles with MileagePlus X
This app provides endless double-dipping possibilities for those looking to rack up United miles. It awards you bonus miles for buying electronic gift cards through the app, which you can later use online or in person at shops and restaurants. This is particularly great for merchants not included in popular bonus categories on credit cards.
The deal is even sweeter for those with a cobranded United credit card, like the United Explorer Card. If you link your United card to the app, you'll earn a 25% mileage bonus for every gift card you buy, whether or not you use that card to pay for the purchase.
The best part? With MileagePlus X, you can actually take things to the next level for a triple dip. Simply buy a gift card through the app — earning points from the app and points for the transaction on your credit card — and then use that gift card to make an online purchase while utilizing a shopping portal.
Related: Here's why it matters which card you use to pay in the United MPX app
Leverage the American Airlines and Hyatt partnership
American Airlines and World of Hyatt have a partnership offering reciprocal points-earning opportunities to elite loyalty program members. Hyatt elites can earn 1 bonus point per dollar spent on qualifying American flights. American elites can earn 1 bonus point per dollar spent on qualifying Hyatt stays — all on top of the points and miles they'd normally earn when flying American or staying at a Hyatt.
Luckily, it doesn't take much to nab Hyatt elite status. Just take out the World of Hyatt Credit Card for automatic Discoverist status to participate.
Related: Everything you need to know about World of Hyatt
Give RewardsPlus a go
Long before Hyatt and American joined forces, United and Marriott partnered to offer their members elevated benefits and bonus points through the RewardsPlus program.
With this program, United Gold (or higher) elites automatically receive Marriott Bonvoy Gold elite status, while Marriott Titanium and Ambassador elites automatically receive United Premier Silver status. Of course, it's relatively easy to get Marriott Gold status with credit cards — including The Platinum Card® from American Express or the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card. As a result, top-tier Marriott elites get the better end of this deal. Enrollment is required for select benefits.
In addition to reciprocal elite benefits, all members enjoy extra miles when transferring Marriott points to United, regardless of status. While most (but not all) of Marriott's transfer partners receive a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points transferred, United members get 10,000 bonus miles for transferring 60,000 points. That means you can effectively convert 2 Marriott points to 1 United mile.
Leverage retail loyalty programs
While they won't get you first-class tickets or luxury hotel stays, many sports retailers, restaurants, office supply stores and pet supply stores offer loyalty programs that you can maximize when purchasing. Most of these programs give you rewards in the form of future discounts (e.g., spend $100 and get a $5 coupon) on top of the standard earnings you'd get from using your credit card.
If you're not familiar with these programs, you can check out our list of the nine most underrated loyalty programs.
Related: The best credit cards for buying clothes
Credit card offers and discounts
Applying for a new credit card typically comes with a large number of points or miles as a welcome bonus (after you meet the minimum spending requirement, of course). However, once you've opened a card, there are a number of other ways to earn bonus rewards or unlock discounts on everyday purchases.
Most of the major issuers offer a program along these lines, including:
These are targeted to each individual cardholder, and you typically must activate them before making a purchase. You also may find several obscure merchants with whom you have no intention of doing business. However, by frequently checking your online accounts, you may be able to find some good opportunities for bonuses or savings.
Here's just a sampling of the offers that TPG staffers currently have on their cards:
- An Amex offer to earn 5 extra American Express Membership Rewards points per dollar spent, up to 1,000 points
- An Amex offer to earn 50% back on purchases with Dropbox
- Multiple Chase offers to earn 10% back when you spend $100 with multiple Marriott brands — including Autograph Collection, SpringHill Suites and Renaissance Hotels
- A Citi offer to earn 5% back on Lyft rides
You can also stack these with many of the other "dips" on this list to create a double dip or triple dip. For example, stack an Amex Offer at a nearby restaurant with a dining rewards program or an online purchase with a shopping portal.
Bottom line
There are plenty of great ways to rack up points and miles quickly, but everyday spending often gets overlooked as one of them. There are many concrete things you can start doing today that will unlock a world of rewards for tomorrow.
With these double-dipping efforts as a part of your overall strategy, you'll build your account balances and get that much closer to your next award trip.
For rates and fees of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.
For rewards and benefits of the Bilt Mastercard, click here.