OK, so you’ve caught the travel bug, but your bank account is still recovering from last year’s holiday splurge.
What if we told you that you could start collecting points for free flights just by spending on everyday things like your weekly grocery shop, a cheeky pint down the pub, or even picking up a new outfit for that big night out?
Sounds too good to be true, right?
Well, it’s not – welcome to the world of airline shopping portals, where everyday spending could turn into your next holiday upgrade.
What’s All This About Airline Shopping Portals?
Airline shopping portals – they’re basically the savvy shopper’s secret weapon. Airlines like British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, and others have teamed up with thousands of high-street stores and online retailers, so you can rack up air miles with pretty much every purchase. No more waiting for that once-a-year flight deal; every online shop could be your ticket to a free or discounted flight, just by buying the stuff you already planned to get!
The intention here is not to become a shopaholic trawling QVC at 3am for another home bargain, and not to spend any more than you currently are today, but simply to think of every buy as a potential point earning event.
There are over 2,000 retailers on the list, both online and in physical stores. So, whether you’re stocking up on your groceries Sainsbury’s, grabbing new tech from Currys, or updating your wardrobe at ASOS, you’ll be collecting points for your next getaway without even thinking about it.
Yes, please!
But How Do I Actually Start?
This is the easy bit.
To get going, all you need to do is look for the ‘Collect Points’ or ‘Shopping’ portals on the airlines website.
You will need of course to be a member of the airlines point earning club, like the British Airways Executive Club for example.
Let’s continue using British Airways as an example. Once you’ve got your account sorted, you can head straight to the shopping portal and browse through the list of partner retailers.
Just click through the portal to the store you want to shop at, and voilà – you’re earning points with every purchase you make. It’s that easy!
The Everyday Stuff You Can Earn Points For
You’d be amazed at the number of places you can earn points at. From your morning coffee to the big-ticket items you’ve been eyeing for months, here are just a few examples:
- Groceries: Yes, you can earn points on your weekly supermarket shop! Although the partnership between Avios (British Airways Points) and Tesco broke down, Sainsbury’s is still on the list. It’s possible to convert Tesco Clubcard points to Virgin Atlantic Flying Club Points but since the introduction of dynamic pricing it has made collecting and redeeming Virgin Points so much harder, so we tend to cover British Airways on Flyveri.
- Tech: Planning to update your phone or buy a new laptop? Earn points with retailers like Apple, Currys, and John Lewis.
- Fashion: Don’t forget to shop for your new outfit at stores like ASOS, Marks & Spencer, H&M and Next – while you’re looking great, you’re also looking after your flight points.
- Fitness: Got a gym membership or are you after some new sports gear? Places like Sports Direct and even fitness brands like Nike are part of the game.
- Hotels & Travel: When booking your next staycation or city break, you can earn even more points! Hotels.com and Booking.com are all part of the airline portals – and can be in fact be one of the most lucrative ways to collect points, if done right.
And the best bit? The more you shop, the more points you can collect. Some portals even offer double or triple points on special promotions. So, be sure to keep an eye out for those limited-time deals that give your points balance a proper boost.
Flyveri Pro subscribers will receive real time alerts when flash point earning sales take place.
Spend Smart, Earn More
Now, you’re probably thinking, “Alright, I’ve got this noted down. Shop, earn points, and rack up free flights. But how can I get even more points without doing much extra work?” The key is smart spending. Here’s how:
- Use the Portal Before Anything Else: Don’t just pop over to your favourite store’s website – make sure you’re going through the portal first! It’s like getting VIP access to a point-earning club, so don’t skip this step.
- Stack Points Where You Can: Some credit cards are partnered with airline programmes too. Use a credit card that earns bonus miles for every purchase and combine it with your shopping portal points for even faster progress.
- Sign Up for Newsletters: Many retailers send out exclusive offers to their subscribers. Often, these include extra bonus points for certain purchases, which can add up quickly.
- Take Advantage of Special Offers: Airlines frequently run flash sales where they offer extra points for specific stores. So, if you’re planning on shopping at one of those retailers, make sure you do it while the offer’s live!
How Fast Can I Get Enough Points?
The speed at which you can collect enough points for a free flight really depends on a couple of things: how much you’re spending and which airline’s programme you’re using.
Use your FREE Personalised Plan to give you an estimation of how long it will take you to collect the points needed based on your flight goal and your monthly spend – each visitor is different, and we can’t be exact with everyone, but this will give you a very good guide and approximate time frame.
As an example, someone with a goal of a free Economy Class flight to Paris, and a monthly spend of £1,000, could be taking to the skies within 10 months!
And if you’re really serious about it, those extra premium points can quickly take you into Business or First Class territory – hello, luxury travel!
Our Flyveri Pro membership can help get you on track to a free Business or First Class flight sooner than you think!