How to Maximize Holiday Shopping: Earn More Points and Miles

The holiday season is one of the most expensive times of the year for many people. Between gifts, decorations, meals, travel, and other miscellaneous purchases, spending can add up very quickly. While you probably aren’t going to avoid all of those expenses, you can be a little more mindful about how you pay for them.

Holiday shopping is a great opportunity to earn extra credit card points, airline miles, and cash back. With a targeted combination of credit cards, shopping portals, and rewards programs, you can earn additional points and miles on purchases you were already planning to make.

I use several of these strategies throughout the year, but the holiday shopping season is a particularly good time to put them together. Shopping portals often increase their earning rates around major holidays, credit cards have rotating categories that can align with holiday spending, and there are plenty of opportunities to earn rewards through purchases you might not otherwise think about.

Here are some easy ways to maximize your holiday shopping and earn more points and miles fur future travel.

1. Choose the Right Credit Card for Holiday Shopping

One of the easiest ways to earn more rewards during the holidays is to pay attention to which credit card you’re using. Not every purchase needs to go on the same card, especially if you have cards that offer bonus points in specific categories.

If you’re working toward a credit card sign-up bonus, holiday shopping can also help you meet the minimum spending requirement. Rather than making extra purchases to earn a bonus, consider putting your planned holiday expenses toward that spending requirement.

Another thing to consider is whether any of your cards have rotating quarterly categories that align with your holiday spending.

For example, the Chase Freedom and Chase Freedom Flex have rotating quarterly categories that earn 5% cash back (or 5x points when combined with an eligible Chase Sapphire account). In Q4 2026, both cards offer 5x Ultimate Rewards points at grocery stores, dining, and on American Red Cross donations. The grocery category is particularly useful during the holidays when you’re buying ingredients for holiday meals, picking up food for parties, or just plain old stocking up on groceries.

The Freedom Flex also earns an elevated 7% on eligible dining purchases this quarter, thanks to its additional 3% dining benefit year-round. Both cards require activation, and the combined spending limit for the quarterly categories is $1,500. Walmart and Target are excluded from the grocery category, so make sure you understand which purchases qualify.

If you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve, you can combine the points earned on your Freedom cards with your Sapphire account. This gives you the opportunity to turn those Freedom and Freedom Flex purchases can be combined with your Sapphire points and then transferred to airline and hotel partners.

If you have multiple rewards credit cards, take a few minutes before the holiday shopping season to review their bonus categories and benefits. You might be surprised by how many of your regular holiday expenses qualify for additional rewards beyond 1-2x earnings.

2. Shop Through Online Shopping Portals

Shopping portals are one of my favorite ways to earn additional points and miles because it’s so easy and can provide a big payoff with minimal effort.

Install the browser extension, and if you’re on an eligible website, a notification will pop up to inform. Activate and shop as you normally would. The portal tracks your purchase and rewards you with additional points, miles, or cash back.

There are several shopping portals available, including:

• Rakuten
• United MileagePlus Shopping
• American Airlines AAdvantage eShopping
• Southwest Rapid Rewards Shopping

At the very least, I recommend installing Rakuten and your favorite airline portal (mine is United) to see which one offers the best return. Rates can vary significantly between retailers, and some retailers offer elevated rewards around Black Friday and Cyber Monday. There are also some retailers that are on either Rakuten or an airline portal, but not both. So if you have at least two installed, you’re likely to be able to capitalize more on your earnings.

Rakuten frequently has increased cash-back offers around major holidays and shopping events. Black Friday and Cyber Monday are particularly good times to shop, with retailers often offering significantly higher cash-back rates than they do during the rest of the year. Airline shopping portals also frequently increase their earning rates during these shopping events.

If you have a purchase you’re planning to make and can wait, it may be worth holding off until one of these events. A retailer offering 2% cash back or 2 miles per dollar could increase its offer substantially during Black Friday weekend. Checking multiple portals during these events can also help you find the best return on purchases you’re already planning to make.

Look for additional shopping portal promotions, too. The regular earning rate isn’t the only way to earn extra rewards. Some airline shopping portals offer limited-time promotions that give you additional bonus miles when you spend a certain amount within a specific time period.

For example, in early November, I received an offer through United MileagePlus Shopping to earn 5,000 bonus miles when spending $1,000 through November 20. That’s on top of the miles earned from the individual retailers.

These types of promotions can change how I decide which shopping portal to use. Let’s say Rakuten is offering 2x rewards at a retailer, but United is only offering 1 mile per dollar. At first glance, Rakuten might look like the better option because of the 2:1 offer. However, if I’m already planning to spend $1,000 through the United portal, those additional 5,000 bonus miles would make United the better choice for me.

Five thousand United miles are worth quite a bit to me, so I’d be willing to give up a slightly higher earning rate elsewhere to receive the additional bonus.

Now, if Rakuten were offering 10x and United were still offering 1x, that might change my calculation. The difference in the regular earning rates would be much larger, and I’d have to decide whether the United bonus was still worth it.

The point is to look at the total rewards you’re earning, not just the advertised multiplier. Consider how much you’re planning to spend, whether you’ll naturally meet the spending requirement, and which rewards you actually want.

Of course, never spend money you don’t need just to earn a shopping portal bonus. These offers are only worth considering when you already have purchases planned that fit within the promotion’s requirements. If you’re going to spend the money anyway, though, it’s worth paying attention to these limited-time opportunities.

Shopping portals are a way to stack your earnings. You would be earning portal rewards and credit card points on the same purchase.

For example, you could shop through Rakuten, earn 10% cash back (or the equivalent in Membership Rewards points if you’ve selected that option and are eligible), and pay with your Chase Freedom Unlimited to earn another 1.5x Ultimate Rewards points on the purchase.

Just remember that you need to choose one shopping portal for each transaction. You can’t typically click through Rakuten and an airline shopping portal and expect both to track and give rewards. Compare the rates, decide which rewards you value more, and start your shopping through that portal.

Also, make sure you activate the shopping portal offer before completing your purchase. It’s critical not to skip the terms and conditions as well. Some purchases, coupon codes, and gift cards are excluded from earning rewards.

If you haven’t used Rakuten before, check out my guide to What Is Rakuten? How Rakuten Works and How to Earn More Rewards.

3. Use United MileagePlus X to Earn Extra Miles

Another way to earn more rewards on holiday purchases is through United MileagePlus X (MPX).

MileagePlus X is an app that allows you to purchase gift cards from participating retailers and earn United miles in the process. The number of miles you earn varies by retailer.

Let’s say you’re planning to shop at a retailer that participates in MileagePlus X. Instead of paying directly at checkout, you open the MPX app, find that retailer, and purchase an electronic gift card for the amount you need.

You earn the United miles offered through MPX on that gift card purchase. Then, you use the gift card to pay for your purchase at the retailer.

You can also pay for your MPX gift card purchase with a specific credit card, earning credit card points on the transaction in addition to the United miles from MileagePlus X. Use a Chase card if you’re targeting a specific multiplier, like dining. If you use a Chase card that earns 3x on dining to buy a gift card to say, Starbucks, through MPX, you’ll earn 3x on that gift card purchase. American Express doesn’t code as the category on MileagePlus X purchases, so if you used your Amex Gold to buy a Starbucks gift card through MPX, you’d only earn 1x Membership Rewards points instead of the typical 4x on dining.

This is one of the ways I like to earn additional United miles on purchases I would have made anyway.

The app has a variety of retailers, including Apple, BestBuy, Dick’s, Disney, GameStop, Kohl’s, Lululemon, Nike, Nordstrom, and more. The available gift cards and earning rates do change periodicially, so it’s worth checking the app before you shop.

There are a couple of things to keep in mind. You’ll want to purchase the gift card for the amount you actually plan to spend, since you’ll have to manage any remaining balance. Also, check the gift card terms before purchasing, particularly for returns and online purchases.

You don’t want to buy a gift card for a retailer only to discover that it can’t be used for the purchase you had in mind.

4. Look for Opportunities to Buy Gift Cards and Earn Bonus Points

Gift cards can be another way to maximize holiday shopping, especially when you can purchase them through a retailer or credit card category that earns additional rewards.

For example, if you have a credit card offering bonus points at grocery stores (like the Freedom Flex in Q4 or Amex Gold year-round), you may be able to purchase gift cards for other retailers during a regular grocery shopping trip.

If you’re already planning to purchase a gift card for someone who loves a particular restaurant or store, see if you can buy a gift card to that store at a grocery store. I’ve seen Apple, REI, Netflix, etc. at my local grocery store in their git cards offered.

You can also look for gift card promotions throughout the holiday season. Some stores offer additional discounts, bonus gift cards, or other incentives when purchasing gift cards around the holidays.

There are a few important considerations here. Not every grocery store codes the same way, and gift card purchases may be excluded from certain credit card promotions. Some stores also limit gift card purchases or restrict which payment methods can be used.

I wouldn’t recommend buying gift cards simply to earn points. But if you already know you’ll be shopping at a particular store, purchasing a gift card to earn elevated points can be worth considering.

5. Take Advantage of Credit Card Offers and Benefits

Your credit cards may offer more than just points on purchases. Many cards have shopping-related benefits, statement credits, and other offers that can be useful during the holiday season.

Take a look through your available card offers before you start shopping.

American Express Offers frequently include deals for retailers, clothing stores, and other businesses. Chase Offers also provide statement credits for purchases at participating retailers.

These offers are often specific to individual accounts, so what you see in your account might be different from what someone else receives.

Before making a purchase, check whether the retailer has an available offer on one of your credit cards. You may be able to combine a card-linked offer with the rewards you earn from your credit card and an eligible shopping portal.

For example, if you have an Amex Offer for a particular retailer, you can activate the offer on your card, start your shopping through an eligible shopping portal, and pay with the card that has the offer attached. Just make sure the offer terms allow the combination and that you meet any minimum spending requirements.

This is also a good time to review any benefits that might otherwise go unused. Some credits expire at the end of the calendar year, while others reset on a different schedule.

If you’re going to spend money during the holidays anyway, you might as well take advantage of the benefits available to you.

6. Don’t Forget About Amazon Purchases

Amazon is one of those retailers where it’s easy to make several holiday purchases without thinking much about how you’re earning rewards.

Between gifts, household supplies, decorations, and everyday purchases, many people spend quite a bit at Amazon during the holiday season. And Amazon isn’t the easiest category to earn extra points on because it’s typically not an elevated category on most cards.

There are a few ways to maximize those purchases.

First, check your credit card rewards categories. Depending on the quarter, Amazon purchases may qualify for a rotating bonus category. For example, Amazon has appeared as a Chase Freedom and Freedom Flex quarterly category in the past few years.

Second, check whether Amazon is offering any eligible promotions through your credit card or rewards programs. In Q4, my American Express Platinum card was offering an additional 500 Membership Rewards points on purchases of $50 or more, up to 3 times.

You can also look at other opportunities to earn rewards on your Amazon purchases. Amazon has its own promotions from time to time, and you may have targeted credit card offers available.

I have a separate guide on How to Earn Points and Miles on Amazon that goes into more detail about the different ways to earn rewards when shopping there.

7. Use Fetch to Earn Gift Cards From Your Everyday Shopping

Fetch isn’t technically a way to earn points and miles, but it’s another way to get something back from purchases you’re already making. And since you can redeem your Fetch points for gift cards to retailers like Amazon, it’s worth including in your holiday shopping strategy.

If you’re not familiar with Fetch, it’s a free rewards app that lets you earn points by submitting receipts from pretty much any purchase. You can also earn additional points by purchasing featured brands and taking advantage of offers in the app. Eligible online purchases can earn points, too, through electronic receipts that you can link your email to easily have scanned into Fetch.

The process is pretty simple. After making a purchase, open the Fetch app and take a picture of your receipt. Fetch awards points for eligible receipts, with additional points available for qualifying products and special offers. You can accumulate those points and eventually redeem them for gift cards.

One of the redemption options is Amazon gift cards, which can be particularly useful during the holiday shopping season. Think about how many purchases you might be making at Amazon in the next few months. If you’ve accumulated enough Fetch points throughout the year, you can use those points to get an Amazon gift card and put it toward your holiday shopping.

You can also earn points on grocery purchases, restaurant visits, and other everyday spending. I recommend checking the app for featured offers before shopping, since certain brands and products can earn significantly more points than a standard receipt submission.

I look at Fetch as another way to offset purchases I’m already making. It isn’t going to earn you airline miles or hotel points, but earning gift cards can reduce how much money you’re spending out of pocket. And if you’re spending less on those everyday expenses, that leaves more money available for travel, right?

So, technically, you’re not earning points and miles with Fetch. You’re earning gift cards to cover some of your spending, which leaves more money for flights and hotels.

You can learn more about Fetch and download the app to start earning points on your everyday purchases.

8. Keep Track of Your Rewards and Purchases

One last thing: make sure you’re keeping track of the rewards you’re earning.

When you’re using multiple shopping portals, credit cards, and gift cards, it can get a little complicated. I recommend keeping a simple record of larger purchases, particularly when you’re using a shopping portal or working toward a limited-time spending bonus.

Take a screenshot of the shopping portal’s earning rate before you click through. Keep an eye out for confirmation emails, and check your account to make sure the purchase tracks correctly. I frequently have to submit my Instacart purchases to Rakuten for missing points, even though they have the record I’ve clicked through and I got the notification that they tracked my purchase.

For shopping portal promotions with spending thresholds, make sure you understand which purchases qualify and when the promotion ends. A purchase that hasn’t shipped by the deadline, for example, might not count depending on the offer terms.

Shopping portal rewards don’t always post immediately. Some retailers take several weeks or even months to confirm a purchase, particularly during the busy holiday shopping season.

Also, remember that returned purchases generally don’t qualify for rewards. If you earn points on a purchase and later return the item, the associated rewards will likely be deducted from your balance.

Make sure you pay attention to these details so you don’t end up expecting rewards that never actually post.

Final Thoughts: Make Your Holiday Shopping Work Harder for You

Holiday shopping is going to happen whether you’re earning points and miles or not. Between everything that comes with the season, there are plenty of opportunities to earn additional rewards.

You don’t need to use every strategy in this post, and you absolutely don’t need to open a new credit card just because it’s the holiday season. Start with the cards you already have, check shopping portals, look for available credit card offers, and see where you can earn additional rewards on purchases you’re already planning to make.

For me, travel hacking is about finding ways to travel more while spending less. Holiday shopping is another opportunity to boost my points and miles balance on increased spending. Even something like earning Amazon gift cards through Fetch can help offset purchases and leave a little more money for travel.

Those extra points, miles, and gift cards can eventually help cover a hotel stay, flights, or another trip. And that’s a pretty nice bonus from shopping you were already going to do.