Here's how to collect free miles (and save) with Christmas gifts
Points and free miles are the bread and butter for a serial accumulator. Pocketing more points than the [...]
Turkish Airlines
Qatar Airways
Points and free miles are the bread and butter for a serial accumulator. Pocketing more points than normal without spending one euro more than you plan to spend is the basic rule of this game.
In this article:
These weeks are the ones, arguably, where you spend the most of the year. Gifts for friends and family, but also personal shopping for dinners and suppers so here's how choosing the right promotions can help you kill two birds with one stone, or at least put a handful of extra points in your pocket to save on your next vacation.
Taking advantage of cashback on shopping
The best bonuses
American Express holders can access Amex Offers via the app, or on the website, and browse dozens and dozens of offers dedicated to shopping, leisure and travel. The beauty of these promos is that part of the expenditure made is immediately returned, but the accumulated MR points are the full ones.
From everyday shopping (online and in physical stores) to rentals and hotels, you can find almost anything in these offers. Promotions that are in addition to those already provided on a basic basis such as the €300 to spend in restaurants for Platinum customers.
Free miles with shopping
I have repeatedly explained how in the right stores it is possible to get bonus miles with shopping, an example is the Fidenza Outlet Village, a participating Bicester Collection property with 9 locations in Europe and 2 in China, where you can turn euros spent into miles/points from a variety of loyalty programs for free.
Until December 31 will be able to take advantage of a bonus that gives 3 points for every euro spent in Turkish Airlines' Miles&Smiles program and Qatar Airwys' Privilege Club (thus indirectly in British and Iberia's avios, since the programs are linked).
A classic example of killing two birds with one stone is the Fidenza Village offer for American Express customers. If activated it gives immediate cashback of up to €140 on a €700 spend. Here's a simple calculation:
You spend 700 euros in the stores of Fidenza, but 140€ is returned by Amex. You pocket 700 MR points and 2100 avios points. The cheapest ticket to fly from Milan to London with British Airways costs only 7500 avios points and 1 in taxes.
In conclusion
These are the small activities you do on a daily basis that if planned carefully can help you accumulate (effortlessly) points to use for vacations around the world.