Marriott Bonvoy
There’s a lot going on with Marriott and aviation brands this month. Between now and September 2, Marriott Bonvoy members who book a stay of at least two nights in select suites at participating Marriott hotels in New York City like The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad or The New York EDITION are eligible for a free roundtrip Blade helicopter transfer from New York-JFK or Newark airports.
Additionally, Marriott Bonvoy and United MileagePlus have a loyalty partnership with an extra bonus to reward summer travel. Select elite status members in either program (Marriott Bonvoy Titanium and Ambassador members or United Premier Gold, Platinum, 1K and Global Services members) can register for this special offer and receive 750 Marriott points for each eligible United flight flown through the end of August. For each Marriott stay, travelers will earn 500 MileagePlus miles. Combine the two and take a United flight to or from a Marriott stay and earn a one-time bonus of 350 United miles and 350 Marriott points.
Ways to get extra airline miles
Get miles from back-to-school shopping
If you are planning to do your back-to-school shopping online, consider making purchases using an airline’s online shopping portal to get miles with everything you buy. This can net a lot of extra miles in the process, and many portals are offering seasonal bonuses.
United MileagePlus Shopping has the longest-lasting and most valuable promotion, offering 500 miles for spending $150; 1,500 miles for spending $350; and 2,500 bonus miles for spending $600 between now and August 12. Alaska Airlines’s shopping portal has its own deal through August 5; American has a shopping bonus offer through August 8; and Delta’s lasts through August 9.
Air France-KLM Flying Blue
A new month means new Flying Blue Promo Rewards, Air France-KLM’s regular promotions and discounts on select routes between North America and Europe. For August, travelers can save 25% on economy class award redemptions between Detroit or Toronto and Europe on Air France; or between Houston or Boston and Europe on KLM. If you need to top up your Flying Blue account, transfer them from your Citi ThankYou Rewards account, if you have one. The two have a 25% bonus transfer if you move your credit card points to your Flying Blue account, e.g. 1000 points become 1250 miles. This promotion lasts until August 17.
American Airlines AAdvantage
AAdvantage miles can take you farther than just destinations on its Oneworld route map. Members of American Airlines’s loyalty program can now redeem miles to buy concert, theater, and sports events tickets via AAdvantage Events. You can pay with miles or a combination of miles and cash. When paying cash for tickets, members will also earn AAdvantage miles and Loyalty Points that can help you earn elite status.
Ways to get more credit card points
American Express
The American Express Gold Card is about to get better—but also pricier—when it completes updates to the card this fall. Its annual fee will go from $250 to $325 per year, but the card will also receive a series of new annual statement credits, in addition to its existing $10-per-month Uber credit and dining credit. New for the card: a $7-per-month statement credit to use at Dunkin’ and $100 in Resy credits per year.
Additionally, American Express cardholders with access to Centurion Lounges have several new airport lounges to look forward to this summer at Washington DC Reagan National and Mexico City International. Also, a new lounge will open in Newark by 2026.
Citibank
In news for travelers who love their Citi ThankYou Rewards: The credit card family now has a new partner in Virgin Red. Members of Virgin Red can redeem points for everything from virtual masterclasses and insider experiences to cruise vacations.
Chase
As ever, Chase Freedom Flex credit cardholders can still activate their rotating bonus category earnings for the third quarter of the year. Between now and September 30, cardholders can earn five Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent at movie theaters, at gas stations and on select live entertainment purchases (up to $1,500 in spending). Also, through September 30, travelers who have the United Gateway Card from Chase can activate their own special offer to earn 5x MileagePlus miles for up to $1,000 spent at grocery stores, gas stations, and restaurants.
