How to Earn Points Faster with Loyalty Programs

Loyalty programs offer powerful ways to boost your points, but most people miss out. By combining credit card spending, partner retailers, and promotions, you can earn 3–5x more than basic methods. 

Choosing programs that match your habits and goals is key. This guide reveals the best strategies to turn routine spending into premium travel perks and high-value redemptions.

Understanding Loyalty Programs and How Points Are Earned

Loyalty programs operate through different structures that reward customer engagement, with points and miles acting as the main currencies for earning rewards. Various program types provide unique earning options and redemption processes.

Types of Loyalty Programs

• Points-based programs represent the most common loyalty structure. You earn points for purchases, but it can vary by program. Some allow you to earn rewards on every purchase, while others may only provide benefits on in-store or targeted items.
• Tiered programs provide escalating benefits based on your spending or activity level. Airlines frequently use this structure for their frequent flyer programs, as it allows them to offer the best perks to their top spenders.
• Partnership programs allow you to earn points across multiple brands and retailers. For example, you can earn PC Optimum points at Superstore, Esso, and Shoppers Drug Mart. 
• Paid loyalty programs require membership fees but offer enhanced earning rates and exclusive benefits. Amazon Prime is a good example of this.

What Qualifies as Points and Miles

Points act as a universal currency in loyalty programs. Most retailers give one point per dollar spent, although bonus categories can boost earnings. Many programs have a fixed value for your points, but some airlines offer fluctuating value since they use dynamic pricing.

Miles function similarly to points but are primarily used by airlines and travel-related programs. The one exception is Air Miles. Despite its name, Air Miles has become more of a general rewards program as opposed to travel.

Hybrid systems combine points and miles, allowing transfers between programs. This flexibility helps frequent travellers maximize their earning potential across different loyalty ecosystems. American Express Membership Rewards and RBC Avion are two examples of hybrid systems.

Earning qualifiers beyond purchases include account activities, bonus promotions, and interactions with partners. Many programs offer double or triple points during promotional periods.

Maximizing Points for Flights and Hotels

Airline frequent flyer and hotel programs provide varying earning rates and redemption values based on your travel habits. Selecting programs that match your home airport’s main carriers and preferred hotel brands maximizes your points-earning potential.

Selecting the Right Frequent Flyer Program

Your home airport’s airline hub determines which program offers the most earning opportunities. Air Canada’s Aeroplan will get you the furthest since Air Canada has the largest fleet. However, if you’re based in Western Canada, WestJet Rewards could be valuable. VIPorter also has good reach since they’re partnered with Air Transat and Alaska Airlines.

Consider these key factors when choosing:

• Which airline you fly the most
• What your long term travel goals are
• How easy it is to earn points via flying or credit cards

If you live in Toronto and your goal is to travel to Europe on points, then choosing Air Canada is the natural choice. 

Earning from Hotel Loyalty Programs

As a Canadian, being loyal to a specific airline or hotel chain can be more complicated. Only Marriott Bonvoy offers a co-branded credit card, making it the easiest program to stick with. American Express Membership Rewards lets you transfer points to Hilton Honors, but it’s not a very favourable exchange.

Fairmont is a brand loved by many Canadians since it began in Canada, but there’s no straightforward way to earn Accor Live Limitless points beyond hotel stays.

Earning status with hotel loyalty programs can earn you some of the following benefits:

• Room upgrades
• Bonus point multipliers on stays
• Free breakfast
• Early check-in and late check-out privileges

If the price difference is minimal, focus your bookings within a single hotel loyalty program. This concentrated approach speeds up elite status qualification and boosts your long-term points earnings.

Frequent work trips offer the fastest route to elite status. Even with discounted corporate rates, you’ll still earn full loyalty points when booking directly with the hotel.

Collecting Retail Loyalty Rewards

Retail loyalty programs can be a powerful way to rack up points through everyday purchases. Grocery chains often feature rotating bonus categories and limited-time promotions, while gas stations offer steady fuel discounts and perks through partner merchants. It might not have the glamour of travel rewards, but for many, these programs deliver real savings where it counts.

Grocery Store Loyalty Programs

Most major grocery chains only provide points on in-store or targeted offers. However, there are some chains where you’ll earn points on every purchase as long as you scan your loyalty card. 

The most common grocery loyalty programs in Canada are:

• PC Optimum: This is the loyalty program for Loblaw’s owned grocery stores, such as Loblaws, No Frills, and Superstore. Note that T&T does not use PC Optimum.
• Scene+: Empire-owned grocery stores, including Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, and FreshCo, use these points.
• Moi: At Metro grocery stores, you earn Moi points on all items. However, at Food Basics, Moi only applies to targeted and in-store promotions.

Always load digital coupons found in your grocery store apps before shopping to earn additional loyalty points. Some apps only require you to open the app for the offers to load, while others require you to load them manually.

Gas Station Loyalty Programs

All the major gas stations in Canada are partnered with a loyalty program. Some of them even have strategic partnerships where you can earn two different types of points at the same time.

It’s not worth going out of your way to a specific gas station to earn points, but it does make sense to stick to one of the following chains:

• Petro-Canada/Gas+: You can earn Petro Points, Triangle Rewards and Avion Rewards if your accounts are linked and you pay with an RBC credit or debit card.
• Parkland: With Chevron, Fas Gas, Ultramar, and Pioneer under Parkland, you can earn Aeroplan points as long as your account is linked to Journie Rewards.
• Esso/Mobil: Both Esso and Mobil allow you to earn PC Optimum points when filling up or making convenience store purchases.
• Shell: Air Miles has been the long-term partner of Shell. If you’re a CAA member, you can get additional savings right at the pump.

To maximize your earning rate at gas stations, consider using a co-branded credit card. Furthermore, these programs often feature promotions where you can earn extra points when filling up during specific periods, so stay alert to the offers in your app.

Boosting Points with Credit Cards and Sign-Up Bonuses

Credit cards provide some of the quickest ways to earn points and miles through strategic spending and welcome bonuses. The right mix of rewards programs and bonus earning opportunities can greatly speed up your point collection.

Choosing the Best Rewards Credit Cards

Select cards that align with your spending patterns and loyalty program goals. Travel-focused cards typically earn miles with airline partners, while general rewards cards offer flexible points you can transfer to multiple programs.

Key factors to evaluate:

• Annual fees versus potential rewards value
• Transfer partners and redemption options
• Earning rates for different spending categories
• Welcome bonuses

Start by comparing how different cards earn points. Some offer a flat rate on all purchases, while others reward specific categories like groceries, dining, or gas at higher rates.

Find cards that align with your favourite airlines or hotel chains. Direct partnerships make earning points seamless, while transfer partners offer flexibility across multiple programs.

If you spend heavily each month, premium cards with higher fees can be worth it thanks to elevated earning rates and perks. For lighter spenders, no-fee cards or a mix of multiple cards may offer better value

Utilizing Credit Card Sign-Up Bonuses

Welcome bonuses offer significant point boosts when you meet minimum spending requirements within designated timeframes (usually three to six months). These bonuses often represent the best chance to earn rewards quickly.

Typical bonus structures:

• 50,000 to 100,000 points for premium travel cards
• Monthly points for 12 months
• Anniversary bonuses to encourage you to keep the card.

To make the most of credit card welcome bonuses, plan your applications around upcoming major purchases or expenses so you can meet spending thresholds naturally. 

Strategic timing is essential, so stagger new applications to safeguard your credit score and ensure you can meet each card’s minimum spend without difficulty. 

Use mobile apps or simple spreadsheets to track your progress and stay on top of bonus deadlines, so no opportunity slips through the cracks.

Maximizing Rewards with Bonus Categories

Many rewards credit cards offer elevated earning rates on select categories. These categories can multiply your point accumulation significantly when used strategically.

Common bonus categories include:

• Groceries 
• Gas stations 
• Dining and entertainment 
• Recurring payments

Use category-specific cards for maximum earning potential. This will require you to remember which card to use where, but the benefits are worth it. Also, keep in mind that some cards have spending caps. If you reach those limits regularly, have another card handy so you can keep earning additional points.

Multiplying Points with Online Shopping and Retail Purchases

Online shopping portals let you earn bonus rewards alongside your credit card points, while strategic retail purchases through loyalty programs can greatly boost your earning potential.

Using Shopping Portals for Extra Points

Shopping portals act as intermediaries between you and retailers, offering bonus points or miles for purchases made through their links. One of the most popular shopping portals is the Aeroplan eStore. This allows you to earn Aeroplan points at merchants such as Dyson, Sephora, Amazon, Dell, and more.

When you shop through a portal using a rewards credit card, you earn points from both sources on the same purchase. For example, if your credit card earns 2 points per dollar spent and the portal offers you 1 point, you’re earning 3 points per dollar spent.

Earning on Everyday Retail Purchases and Services

Keep in mind that many airline and retail programs have everyday partners where you can earn additional points. Some popular merchants where you can earn extra points include:

• LCBO and Uber for Aeroplan
• Shoppers Drug Mart for PC Optimum
• Cineplex with Scene+

Many Canadian programs allow points pooling between retail and travel partners. PC Optimum points can be redeemed at Loblaws grocery store, Shoppers Drug Mart and Esso. If you collect Scene+, you can use your points at Cineplex and select restaurants.

Final Thoughts

In today’s rewards-focused landscape, loyalty programs offer much more than occasional perks; they are a strategic tool for maximizing value from everyday spending. Whether you’re earning points through travel, retail, or credit card partnerships, the key is to align your choices with your lifestyle and financial habits. 

By understanding how different programs operate, utilizing bonus categories, and timing your credit card applications strategically, you can unlock a consistent flow of rewards that surpass the basics.