Airline Shopping Portals: The Easiest Way to Stack Points
✈️ How to earn airline miles and credit card points on the same purchase—without spending anything extra.
These points really add up
How to earn airline miles and credit card points on the same purchase — without spending anything extra.
Airline shopping portals are still one of the most underrated ways to earn extra rewards. If you’re already shopping online, you could be earning bonus airline miles on top of the credit card points you’re already earning. And when you stack portals with credit card multipliers, welcome offers, and seasonal bonuses, the rewards add up fast.
This guide breaks down how airline shopping portals work, how to stack them with your credit card strategy, and my updated workflow for earning the most points with the least effort.
👉 Want to turn these perks into actual travel? Check out How I Book Award Travel — my step‑by‑step guide to booking flights and hotels with points.
Just so you know: this post contains affiliate links and personal referral links. If you make a purchase or sign up through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only share tools and services I personally use and love. Thank you for supporting No Point Left Behind — it truly means the world.
⚠️ Quick Update: My New Portal Strategy
My stacking system has evolved, and this is the workflow I use today:
Rakuten → earns Amex Membership Rewards
Rove Miles → earns travel miles when Rakuten doesn’t have the store
Cashback Monitor → compares all portals if the first two don’t offer anything
This is the exact same workflow I use in my Travel Hacking Weekly Routine — simple, fast, and consistent.
I still use airline portals, but they’re no longer my starting point. They’re now part of my Cashback Monitor check, which shows me when an airline portal is offering the highest payout.
🧠 What Airline Shopping Portals Are
Airline shopping portals are websites run by major airlines that give you bonus miles for clicking through their portal before you shop at participating retailers.
You’re not paying more. You’re not changing how you shop. You’re simply earning extra miles for a purchase you were already going to make.
Most major airlines have portals, including:
United MileagePlus Shopping
Delta SkyMiles Shopping
Alaska Mileage Plan Shopping
Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping
JetBlue TrueBlue Shopping
Each portal partners with hundreds of stores — everything from Nike to Sephora to Home Depot.
💳 How to Stack Airline Portals With Credit Card Points
This is where the magic happens. When you shop through an airline portal, you earn:
Airline miles from the portal
Credit card points from your card
Bonus points if your card has a category multiplier
Extra miles during seasonal portal bonuses
Even more rewards if you stack with Amex Offers, Chase Offers, or Citi Merchant Offers
You’re essentially earning two (or more) types of rewards on the same purchase.
🛒 Example Stack
Let’s say you buy $100 worth of clothes at Athleta.
Click through Alaska Mileage Plan Shopping at 5 miles per dollar → 500 Alaska miles
Pay with your Chase Sapphire Preferred → 100 Chase points
Use a Chase Offer for 10% back → $10 back
Hit a portal bonus (like “Spend $150, get 500 bonus miles”) → extra miles
One purchase. Four layers of rewards. No extra cost.
👉 Learn more in My Credit Card Strategy Guide
🛍️ When to Use Airline Shopping Portals
Airline portals run seasonal promos that make stacking even sweeter. The biggest ones usually happen:
Back‑to‑school
Black Friday / Cyber Monday
Mother’s Day / Father’s Day
Valentine’s Day
Holiday shopping (Nov–Dec)
Random “Spend X, Get Y Bonus Miles” promos
These bonuses often add 500–2,000 extra miles on top of your regular earnings.
🏆 Which Airline Portal Should You Use?
The best portal depends on:
Which airline you fly most
Which miles you’re trying to build
Which portal is offering the highest payout today
Because payouts change constantly, the smartest strategy is:
👉 Always check Cashback Monitor before you shop.
This is where my new workflow comes in:
⭐ My Updated Portal Workflow
Start with Rakuten
If not available, check Rove Miles
If neither has an offer, check Cashback Monitor
If an airline portal is highest, use that one
This keeps things simple while still maximizing your earnings.
💎 Why I Love Flexible Points
I personally love transferable (aka flexible) points — like the ones I earn through Rakuten (mine is set to Membership Rewards) and Rove Miles. Having options means freedom. I never know where I’ll end up next, so I like keeping my points flexible until I’m ready to book. Whether it’s a cruise, a quick weekend getaway, or a spontaneous flight deal, these programs give me the flexibility to choose the best redemption when the time comes.
👉 Learn more in My Travel Hacking Weekly Workflow or Rakuten Amex Points Guide
🔔 How I Keep Up With Rakuten Increases
I use TrackRak, so I never miss when Rakuten bumps up cash‑back rates on my favorite brands. It quietly watches for increases and sends alerts — which means I don’t have to refresh portals or chase deals. It’s one of those Lazy Girl tools that keeps my earning effortless.
👉 Learn more in Lazy Girl’s Guide to TrackRak or Rakuten Big Week Strategy
🔥 Stores That Often Have High Payouts
These retailers consistently offer strong bonuses:
Nike
Adidas
Macy’s
Sephora
Ulta
Home Depot
Lowe’s
Groupon
Sam’s Club
Under Armour
These are great for stacking with credit card multipliers and bank offers.
💡 Pro Tips to Maximize Your Earnings
Log in before you shop — no credit if you forget the click‑through
Use the airline portal browser extension so you never miss a bonus
Stack with Amex Offers, Chase Offers, or Citi Merchant Offers
Use the right card (travel cards for travel stores, category cards for multipliers)
Screenshot your click‑through in case miles don’t post
Avoid coupon codes not listed on the portal — they can void your miles
🧳 Real‑Life Example: How I Stack for Travel
When I’m planning a trip, I often buy:
New travel outfits
Sunscreen + toiletries
Travel bags
Cruise accessories
Electronics
Gifts
Every one of these purchases goes through my updated workflow:
Rakuten → Rove Miles → Cashback Monitor → Airline Portal (if highest)
Then I stack with:
My Citi Strata Premier (3x grocery stores)
My Chase Sapphire Reserve (travel + online shopping offers)
My Amex Offers or Chase Offers
Seasonal portal bonuses
This is how I earn thousands of extra miles every year without changing my spending.
📝 Final Thoughts
Airline shopping portals are one of the easiest ways to earn more rewards without spending more money. And with my updated workflow — Rakuten → Rove Miles → Cashback Monitor — it’s even simpler.
Your strategy might look different, and that’s okay. I share mine to help you figure out what works best for you so you can leave no points behind.
About the Author — Julie Davis
Julie Davis is the creator of No Point Left Behind, where she teaches travelers how to earn more points, spend less, and make every trip count. A former homeschool teacher turned full‑time travel‑hacking mom, Julie has taken 12–15 trips a year since 2019—almost all booked on points and miles.
She’s known for her Lazy Girl Travel Hacking™ approach: simple systems, flexible points, and easy stacking wins anyone can follow. Her personal strategy starts with Rakuten, then Rove Miles, then Cashback Monitor, and she uses tools like TrackRak to catch rate increases on her favorite brands. Julie loves transferable points because they give her the freedom to book whatever trip comes next—whether that’s a cruise, a weekend getaway, or a spontaneous flight deal.
When she’s not traveling with her husband Brandon, their sons Tanner and Finn, or her parents (the unofficial mascots of the blog), she’s writing guides that help readers travel smarter without overthinking it.
Want simple stacking tips that actually make sense? Come hang out in my Travel Hacking Moms Facebook Group — it’s where I share easy wins, answer questions, and help you earn more points without overthinking it. Join us here → Travel Hacking Moms Group
