How to Get Airline Miles Without Flying

Airline miles aren’t just for frequent flyers. In fact, some of the most experienced travelers earn thousands of miles every month without setting foot on a plane. If you’re just starting out in the world of travel rewards, this article will show you how to collect airline miles through everyday activities — no passport or boarding pass required.

Whether you’re in São Paulo, Lisbon, Berlin, or New York, there are plenty of ways to earn miles using your daily spending habits. And the best part? Many of these methods are free or already part of your routine.

Why Earning Miles Without Flying Matters

Flying has always been the traditional way to earn miles, but in recent years, airlines and banks have created loyalty ecosystems where almost anything can generate points. This is especially valuable for:

• People who don’t travel often
• Families planning big trips
• Students or freelancers building credit
• Anyone looking to save money on international airfare

Earning miles without flying allows you to take control of your travel goals regardless of how often you fly.

1. Use a Travel Rewards Credit Card

One of the fastest ways to earn airline miles is through a co-branded or travel rewards credit card. These cards give you points or miles for every purchase and often come with welcome bonuses of 20,000 to 100,000 miles when you meet a minimum spending requirement.

Examples by Region:

• Brazil: Smiles Visa, Latam Pass Itaucard, TudoAzul Itaucard
• Europe: TAP Miles&Go, American Express Membership Rewards (Portugal, France), Revolut (with travel perks)
• U.S.: Chase Sapphire Preferred, American Express Gold, Capital One Venture

💡 Tip: Choose a card that aligns with the airline you plan to fly most often.

2. Shop Through Airline Portals

Many airlines offer online shopping portals where you can earn bonus miles by purchasing from well-known brands.

How it works:

1. Log into your frequent flyer account
2. Access the airline’s shopping portal
3. Click the store (e.g. Apple, Nike, Amazon)
4. Complete your purchase
5. Earn 2–10x miles per dollar/euro/real spent

Examples:

• Smiles Shopping (Brazil)
• AAdvantage eShopping (U.S.)
• Flying Blue Shopping (Europe)

This method is great for back-to-school shopping, electronics, clothing, and more.

3. Sign Up for Loyalty Promotions

Airlines regularly offer bonus miles for signing up, completing surveys, downloading apps, or engaging with partner services like:

• Online banks
• Insurance quotes
• Streaming services
• Hotel loyalty programs

Stay subscribed to newsletters from Smiles, Latam Pass, TAP, and others — promotions often appear weekly or monthly.

4. Transfer Points from Partner Programs

Some rewards programs allow you to transfer points into miles — sometimes with up to 80% bonus.

Common partners:

• Credit card programs (e.g. Membership Rewards, Livelo, Esfera, Pontos Caixa)
• Hotel programs (e.g. Marriott Bonvoy, Accor Live Limitless)
• Retail loyalty programs (e.g. Pão de Açúcar, Shell Box)

Always check transfer ratios and promotions. For example, transferring 10,000 Livelo points to Smiles might get you 20,000 miles during a promo.

5. Book Hotels and Car Rentals with Airline Partners

Many airline programs reward you with miles when you book hotels or rent cars through their platforms or through partnerships with companies like:

• Booking.com
• Rocketmiles
• Hoteis.com
• Localiza, Movida, Hertz

Look for deals that say: “Earn 1,000 miles per night” or “Triple miles for weekend rentals.”

6. Participate in Dining Programs

In the U.S., the U.K., and some parts of Europe, airlines offer dining reward programs.

Example:

• AAdvantage Dining (USA)
• MileagePlus Dining
• Miles & More Restaurants (Germany)

By registering your card and eating at participating restaurants, you earn miles automatically.

🍽️ This is a great passive way to earn miles if you dine out regularly.

7. Subscribe to Streaming or Magazine Services

Some airline programs offer miles when you subscribe to partner services, like:

• Magazines
• Newspapers
• Streaming services
• Meal delivery kits

Check current campaigns in your airline’s app or website — these are often short-lived but lucrative.

8. Refer Friends and Family

Referral programs can reward you with bonus miles when someone signs up using your invitation code. This is common with:

• Airline credit cards
• Shopping apps (like PicPay in Brazil)
• Bank rewards platforms (like Livelo, Esfera)

9. Combine Strategies for Maximum Impact

Smart travelers combine multiple techniques. Example:

• Use your credit card to shop through an airline portal
• Earn both credit card points and bonus airline miles
• Transfer credit card points during a bonus promotion
• Redeem those miles for a discounted international flight

This is how many people travel in business class while paying economy prices — or nothing at all.

What You Should Avoid

• Buying miles without a clear plan: It’s rarely worth it unless there’s a promo
• Letting miles expire: Always track expiration dates
• Spending more just to earn miles: It’s only worth it if the purchase is something you’d already make
• Using miles for poor-value redemptions: Avoid gift cards or merchandise unless it’s an emergency

Tools to Track Your Progress

• AwardWallet – Tracks miles across programs
• Points.com – Check conversion rates and balances
• Airline apps – Set expiration reminders
• Google Sheets – Manual method to track your earnings and strategies

Final Thoughts: You Don’t Have to Fly to Go Far

Earning airline miles without flying is not only possible — it’s the smartest way for beginners to start. With just a few tools and habits, you can build a stockpile of miles while living your normal life.

Whether you’re in Brazil earning miles through Livelo and Smiles, in Portugal using TAP’s co-branded card, or in the U.S. building points with Amex or Chase, your daily spending can be transformed into free travel — all it takes is strategy and consistency.