Do your research and you might be surprised what type of offers one can find. These days most loyalty programs offer many additional ways to earn points aside from just staying a hotel or booking a flight. Shopping at the mall , filling your gas, dinner outings and things you will spend money on anyway , why not get points on. For example United/ American /Delta /Alaska and many more offer mileage shopping programs. All you have to do is register your credit card with them directly. When ever you swipe your card at participating restaurants or stores you will be earning points.
For the people who worry about how long it takes to rack up the miles/points and worry they will expire by the time they actually can use them.Well lets say you were having dinner at a restaurant that offered 5 miles per dollar the total bill was $100 . Not only, did you earn 500 miles with out really trying but you also just extended the life of your miles expiration date because now there is a transaction on the account. Most plans will expire their miles or points if there is NO transaction within 18 moths. Even acquiring points/miles will extend the time you have to use them.
Wether you go to the actual store or do it online the rewards are the same. With promotions with Loyalty programs at times offering upto fifteen miles per dollar spent. This method of earning miles can rack up the balance fast if timed around the biggest promotions. On the holiday season you can really cash in. order your big gifts items from the stores offering the most rewards.
It is common for credit cards to be linked to loyalty programs. Get a card to the program best suited to your lifestyle. Capitalize on a introduction offer (which almost all cards offer) like getting anywhere between 20,000 to 100,00 bonus points/miles upon opening the card and charging a certain amount on it (rules vary). This is also a good way to double dip. For example if you get a mileage based Visa Credit Card and revisit the previous example of dining at the restaurant that offered 5 miles per dollar and spend $100 for dinner. then not only the 500 miles came from the offer but in fact will be a total of 600miles because you also charged the restaurant bill on the card ($100), thus another 100 miles. Double dip when you can. It could be very rewarding if timed right.