Quiet loyalty partnerships—often just a one-time account link—can funnel thousands of extra points into your balance without changing your habits.
Here’s a pro travel tip: When you find the bonuses you have been missing out on, it’s important to celebrate what you now have and not dwell on the math of what you lost.
Deep in the settings on my Uber app, a casual account link to Marriott Bonvoy would have racked up a serious stash of points from all my ride-shares (and yes, I’ll admit, food deliveries). It was a fresh reminder that no travel loyalty program exists without friends.
From lodging to rental cars to shopping to ride shares, these team-ups, some as simple as link-it-once-and-forget-it-forever, will get you both discounts and point boosts with a few simple clicks. Fodor’s asked savvy travelers for tips to amplify the points you earn every year without adding hassle to daily life.
For the Ride Share Regulars: Catch Rides and More Miles
Kaitlyn Rosati, founder of the solo travel blog No Man Nomad, has mastered the value of Uber and Lyft rides. “As a Delta loyalist, I’m a big fan of the Uber and Delta partnership, where all you have to do is connect your SkyMiles account with your Uber account,” says Rosati. “There’s actually a QR code on the Delta website to make it easy.”
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It’s a new partnership; Delta switched from Lyft to Uber in April of 2025. Riders can earn 1 mile per dollar on Uber Eats, 1 mile per dollar on airport rides, 2 miles per dollar on premium rides, or 3 miles per dollar on Uber Reserve. Uber also partners with Marriott Bonvoy with the same rewards structure.
Lyft still partners with Alaska and Hawaiian Airlines and Hilton Hotels, rewarding 3 points per dollar for most types of rides. Lyft members can only connect with one program at a time.
INSIDER TIPStreamline travel points management with Bilt Rewards. Lyft connects to this reward program, and points can be transferred to high-value travel partners.
For the Shoppers: Everyday Purchases to Massive Miles
Most major travel brands have a shopping portal. Simply pull up the airline or hotel rewards’ website and click into the store of your choice, where dollars spent translate to extra points in the travel brand’s program. Melissa Conn, travel content creator, loves how American Airlines’ e-shopping runs lucrative promos, and the points count towards status and milestone rewards. “AA also has a tool called SimplyMiles that works with any Mastercard to give you extra points for useful retailers like Kroger, Amazon, and more.”
United’s Mileage Plus X app makes in-store purchases easy with immediately usable gift cards. “It allows you to purchase an instant gift card while you’re standing at the register to rack up lots of points,” says Conn.
INSIDER TIPThis is the perfect opportunity to “stack” points. “For instance, I recently shopped at DSW and used the app to buy myself a $100 gift card [to use on the purchase],” describes Conn. “Buying the gift card earned 400 points plus another 100-point bonus for using a United credit card, and that’s on top of the 100 points I earned on the credit card itself!”
For the Foodies: Cooking Up More Points
Whether you dine out or in, there are ways to earn. Uber Eats benefits from the Delta and Marriott Bonvoy partnership. But almost every major airline also has a dining portal, and this is one of the simple link-once-and-live-your-life methods. For example, I linked one of my credit cards to the United Mileage Plus dining platform almost a decade ago and have left it untouched since. I watch the points roll in every month, often at places I dined without realizing they were part of the portal’s partnership.
You can’t link the same credit card to more than one portal. My home airport is a hub for Southwest and United, so I have one card linked to Southwest and one to United.
INSIDER TIPThis is another great opportunity to stack. For instance, a United Explorer Chase credit card earns 2 points for every dollar spent on dining. Since I’ve linked it to the dining portal, if the restaurant participates, I earn an additional round of bonus points, up to 5 times the dollar spent.
For the Airbnb Afficionados: Home Stays Have Point Possibilities
Amena Bakali’s family of five often fits better in vacation rentals, and this points and miles coach doesn’t miss a click when it comes to earning with Delta Airlines as well. “The catch with this partnership is that Delta points can’t be earned after booking your Airbnb.” Make sure to book your property through the Delta link to earn 1 point for every dollar spent. British Airways and Qantas also link to earn on Airbnb stays.
For Vrbo fans–or those who want 3 travel points for every dollar spent–United’s Mileage Plus program offers booking through United’s page.
INSIDER TIPBook through the airline’s link to the vacation rental site, not through Vrbo or Airbnb. Make sure you’ve entered the airline’s rewards number and that the member’s name matches the lodging reservation.
For Luxe-Stay Lovers: Every Airline Has a Hotel Friend
All the major players in the nearly $12 trillion tourist industry have a partner, and even though they may switch it more often than “Love Island” couples, they’re also never left alone. Marriott Bonvoy is the most prolific, hooking up with dozens of airlines, but Choice Hotels also works with a strong range. Southwest Airlines partners with an impressive range, including Marriott Bonvoy, Choice Hotels, Best Western, Hyatt, MGM Resorts, and Radisson Hotels.
Whatever route you take, don’t wait. “Early on, I made the mistake of waiting too long to link my Hyatt & American Airlines accounts,” says Bakali. “There are reciprocal benefits. You can use AA loyalty points to unlock varying levels of Hyatt status; you can choose AA perks at select levels of qualifying nights with Hyatt.”
INSIDER TIPIf you prefer not to be tied to one brand of properties when traveling, you can visit your favorite airline’s rewards site. Most have a broader hotel booking search engine that will also link up to more points earned.
For the Caffeine Lovers: From Frappes to Flights
Whether your caffeine fix is a flat white or a tongue-twisting specialty, your daily drip can get you on the road to your dream destination faster. Once again, Delta shows up, pairing with Starbucks to earn SkyMiles for every $25 reload on the coffee powerhouse’s app. Link your accounts to earn points and earn double stars with Starbucks on days you travel with Delta.
Marriott Bonvoy also has offers for members who link accounts with Starbucks, including earning double stars at participating hotels and special weeks to earn points with Marriott.
“It always amazes me how something as small as a daily Starbucks drink can add up over time,” says Meko Rooks, creator of Travel With Meko, with over a decade of experience maximizing points. She uses her company’s card for her go-to iced caramel macchiato and often treats coworkers. With her Starbucks account connected directly to her Delta SkyMiles, she saved points and took her daughter on a mommy-and-me dream trip to Paris.
“It was so special knowing that daily coffee runs turned into the chance to give her a dream vacation and memories we’ll never forget.”
INSIDER TIPMiles with Delta are earned in $25 reloading increments, not at a one-to-one ratio. For example, reloading $49 will earn the same as $25–25 SkyMiles.
For Everyday Bill-Payers: Fuel More Points
If you live in one of the 25 states that receive electricity and natural gas from NRG, there are miles to be had through your utilities. United MileagePlus offers a sign-up bonus for each line, introductory pricing, and 2 miles for every dollar spent paying your bills.
Meena Thiruvengadam, travel writer and founder of Travel with Meena, jumped on this when NRG had a 20K United miles bonus to link her electric service. “They explained I’d get additional miles monthly without increasing my utility costs. I know I can get a one-way flight between Europe and the US for 30K miles, so it seemed like a no-brainer.
American Airlines matches the NRG partnership (and Reliant in Texas) as well as a direct partnership with Shell gasoline, earning 3 miles for every gallon of gas purchased.
