No Credit Card? No Problem… Here’s How You Can Earn Miles and Points
Miles and points enable you to travel the world even if you can’t afford it otherwise. Or it makes it cheaper even if you have the means. Credit cards are certainly one of the best way to earn miles and points quickly. First is the signup bonus, which gives you a large chunk of miles or points for completing a certain amount of spending within a few months of getting the card. Then, you can also earn points and miles for using your credit cards for purchases, especially on your favorite airline or hotel.
But what if you do not have a card for the miles you want, or you don’t want to get new credit cards. That’s what this post is about. Here’s some ideas!
Shopping Portals
Shopping portals are probably the first thing that comes to mind when looking to earn miles and points. You go through the shopping portal to purchase something online and you earn points. Sometimes these portals also offers extra bonuses, which make earning miles even easier. And it is for things that you would already buy. Make sure you compare earning rates, and see if just simple cashback could be a better option.
- Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Shopping
- American Airlines AAdvantage eShopping
- Amtrak Guest Rewards
- British Airways Avios eStore
- Chase Ultimate Rewards
- Choice Privileges Mall
- Delta Air Lines SkyMiles Shopping
- Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles Online Mall
- JetBlue Airways ShopTrue
- Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Shopping
- United Airlines MileagePlus Shopping
Dining Programs
Dining programs are similar to shopping portals, but they reward you for dining out. If a restaurant participates in the Rewards Network, which serves most airlines and hotel dining programs for example, you will earn points.
- Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan Dining
- American Airlines AAdvantage Dining
- Delta Air Lines SkyMiles Dining
- Hilton Honors Dining
- IHG Rewards Club Dining
- JetBlue Airways TrueBlue Dining
- Orbitz Rewards Dining
- Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Dining
- Spirit Dining
- United Airlines MileagePlus Dining
- Also check out Amex Offers that can earn you Membership Rewards points at some restaurants
Share Your Opinion
You can also earn miles and points for filling out surveys, leaving reviews and other similar activities. Some of these might be time consuming, so decide for yourself if it’s worth the time.
- e-Miles
- e-Rewards
- Alaska Airlines: The Opinion Terminal
- American Airlines: e-Rewards
- JetBlue Airways Points for Surveys
- Southwest Airlines e-Rewards
- United Airlines Opinion Miles Club
Use Your Rewards Program Number
Whether you’re flying or staying at a hotel, always use your rewards program number for that airlines or hotel. You can earn miles for every flight or stay, and those add up. If you book with the same brand over and over you can also earn a higher status which gives you even more miles or points.
Partner Earning
Airlines and hotel chains let you earn miles and points for purchasing or booking with some of their partners. JetBlue or Delta for example will give you miles for booking Lyft rides. You can earn Southwest miles when you book hotels, car rentals etc. Check the list of partners for your favorite brand, and maybe you find something that will earn you miles for what you already do.
Bank Accounts
We sometimes post bank bonuses on the site. Most of these bonuses give you cash, but there’s also a few that give you miles and points and even let you earn them in the long terms by using your debit card. Citi usually has checking bonuses for American Airlines miles and ThankYou points. UFB Direct lets you earn 1 mile for every $3 spent.
Buy Points
Buying miles or points is not not my favorite option, but it could make sense sometimes, especially if there’s a promotion going on. It’s a way to get miles quickly, and could help you reach the number of necessary miles or points for a redemption.
Conclusion
Credit cards and spending are the best ways to go, but also keep these other options in mind. If you do not want, or can’t a get a new card, then you only have the options listed above.
Let me know of any other options that we have not mentioned.
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the old king of travel rewards cards. Right now
bonus_miles_full
Learn more about this card and its features!
Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.
e-Miles stopped providing points opportunities last year even though the web page is still there. e-Rewrds is still kicking but hasn’t had an enrollment period for new members in a while. MyPoints has United miles and Hotels.com, American, Southwest, and Delta gift cards as reward redemption options. Swagbucks has Hotels.com, American, Southwest, and Delta gift cards as reward redemption options. Prize Rebel has Southwest and Delta GC as redemption options. There are also survey rewards programs for Hilton, IHG, Wyndham, BA and Flying Blue
not wanting to push the competition, Mark, but 5 AA miles for every comment offered daily on Award Wallet + point giveaways on other travel blogs helps!
(sorry, DDG!)