How To Score Bonus Miles For Your Back To School Shopping

Americans spend 26.5 billion dollars on Back To School shopping, according to the National Retail Federation. That's around $600 per child. You may spend less, but whatever you do spend, why not let those purchases pay for your next vacation? Now, we are talking, right?
I call it "leveraged spending". I know, it sounds like a boring financial term, BUT, let me show you how it can help you get your next vacation for almost FREE. And I bet that doesn't sound boring. 

Here's how it works: 
Several airlines like Southwest, Alaska and United offer shopping portals. A portal is like an online shopping mall. Lots of retailers are in that mall and offer discounts to the airline's customers. Easy. The discount is in the form of miles on that particular airline. Now, every once in a while, the airline will sweeten the deal and offer bonuses. 

Let's take a look at the Back to School bonus offers:

Southwest is offering 
250 bonus points if you spend $125
900 bonus points if you spend $300
2,000 bonus points if you spend $550


United is offering 
500 bonus miles if you spend $150
1,500 bonus miles if you spend $350
2,500 bonus miles if you spend $600 (the national average)

Alaska is offering
300 bonus miles if you spend $150
750 bonus miles if you spend $300
1,500 bonus miles if you spend $600 (the national average)

These deals get even sweeter because some of the typical back to school shopping retailers are offering their own increased miles for purchases. So you can essentially double dip. You earn bonus points from the retailer and then a bonus from the airline if you spend the required amount. Check this out:

Always check cashbackmonitor.com to see what each retailers is offering. 
Using shopping portals is easy. 

1. follow the airline portal link above
2. login with your airline loyalty account information
3. click on the retailer you would like to shop with 
4. the website will track your purchase and your account will be credit in 4-6 weeks

*Warning, do not open multiple tabs or you may lose the tracking. 

You do not have to spend the entire amount in the same purchase to get the bonus or even at the same retailer. You do have to spend by August 18th, 2019. 
You can also choose to buy online and pick up at the store to save on shipping. 

Also remember to use the right credit card for your purchases. Some cards will reward with extra points/miles for shopping at office supply stores, gas stations, grocery stores etc. Then you are triple dipping, woohoo!  

Happy shopping and watch the miles add up!