Now that we’re in the midst of the holiday season, you’ve hopefully already found the perfect gifts for your loved ones.
But if you haven’t, the American Airlines AAdvantage shopping portal is offering increased earnings (10 miles per dollar) at many merchants — including Best Buy, Saks Off Fifth and even Marriott.
Here are some of our favorite deals currently in the AAdvantage shopping portal.
What is the AAdvantage shopping portal?
Online shopping portals offer the opportunity to earn bonus points, miles or cash back at numerous online retailers simply by going through the portal. This is in addition to whatever rewards you earn on the credit card you use for the transaction
Whether it’s a small purchase like ordering photos from Walgreens or a significant one like buying a new MacBook, using a portal allows you to earn extra rewards — though many merchants have exclusions (like certain Apple devices).
It’s also worth considering using a shopping portal for essential items like contacts. You might not typically think about earning points on such purchases, but ordering from 1-800 Contacts via the American Airlines AAdvantage portal could earn 1 mile per dollar spent. Not only is this convenient, but the rewards can add up over time and potentially contribute to your next vacation — all by simply ordering what you need online through the portal.
Increased mileage earnings at select merchants
Numerous well-known merchants are currently providing exceptional earning rates, surpassing any we’ve seen before. While it may take a few weeks to receive your miles, your earnings will be retroactively applied to the date of purchase. This allows you to utilize the Loyalty Points you accrue through your shopping purchases now to count toward achieving AAdvantage status by Feb. 29, 2024.
Additionally, if you have accumulated 60,000 or 100,000 Loyalty Points, American’s Loyalty Choice Rewards will grant you a 20% or 30% bonus (respectively) on your Loyalty Point earnings. In other words, if you have surpassed 100,000 Loyalty Points since March 1, purchases from a merchant offering 10 miles per dollar would actually earn you 13 miles (and Loyalty Points) per dollar.
You can refer to the entire list of merchants here, but these are a few of our favorite current offers:
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- Bestbuy.com: Up to 10 miles per dollar
- Lands’ End: 10 miles per dollar
- Lenovo: 10 miles per dollar
- Magazines.com: 25 miles per dollar
- Marriott International: 10 miles per dollar
- Neiman Marcus: Up to 8 miles per dollar
- Nike: 10 miles per dollar
- Saks Off Fifth: 10 miles per dollar
- Sam’s Club: Up to 10 miles per dollar
- Samsung: 10 miles per dollar
- Viator: 9 miles per dollar
Just make sure you carefully review the terms and conditions for your merchant. For example, you can’t earn through the AAdvantage shopping portal on Marriott reservations booked on member-exclusive offers or specially negotiated rates for rooms booked or upgraded and paid for using Marriott points. Additionally, you can’t earn through the AAdvantage shopping portal at Ritz-Carlton Destination Club, Design Hotels, Bulgari, W Hotels or Autograph Collection properties. The complete terms are available here.
Which credit cards should you use for online shopping?
Some of the best credit cards for online shopping include the following:
- Chase Freedom Unlimited: 1.5% cash back on all purchases (and if you’re not currently a cardholder, you can apply here to earn double cash back on everything you spend in the first 12 months)
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: 2 miles per dollar on all purchases
- Blue Cash Preferred® Card from American Express: 6% cash back at U.S. supermarkets on up to $6,000 per year in purchases (then 1%); 6% cash back on select U.S. streaming subscriptions; 3% cash back on transit including taxis, parking, tolls, trains and buses; 3% cash back at U.S. gas stations; and 1% cash back on other purchases
- U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa Signature® Card: 5% cash back on your first $2,000 in combined eligible purchases each quarter on two categories you choose. The categories include everything from TV, internet and streaming services to gyms, fitness centers, department stores and select clothing stores. Cardholders can also earn 5% cash back on prepaid air, hotel and car reservations booked through the Rewards Center and 2% cash back at gas stations, grocery stores and restaurants.
The information for the U.S. Bank Cash+ has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Bottom line
If you’re looking to do some online shopping as a last-minute way to qualify for American status, the current offers on the AAdvantage shopping portal are highly appealing. Even if you don’t have enough time to wait for your item to ship, you can consider curbside pickup as your preferred delivery method — that’s what I’ve done in the past with Apple Store purchases through the AAdvantage shopping portal and have still earned the miles and Loyalty Points.
Now is a great time to check out the merchants and place an order if you find something that meets your needs.
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