Shopping Portals
What Are Shopping Portals (and How You Can Earn Points With Them)
This is one of my favourite topics, shopping portals.
They are the easiest way to earn lots of points on things you are already buying anyway, groceries, travel, gifts, even coffee pods.
If you have never used them before, don’t worry. In this post, I will walk you through exactly what they are, how they work, and how to make sure you never miss a single point again.
What Are Shopping Portals?
Shopping portals are online platforms that reward you with points or miles when you make purchases through their links.
Instead of going straight to a retailer’s website, you go through the portal first, and you earn points for every pound spent.
For example, if you want to buy something from Boots or Sainsbury’s, instead of typing the store’s name directly, you log in to your Avios eStore, Nectar eShops first, find the retailer there, and click through.
That extra click makes all the difference, because now you are earning points or miles for a purchase you were going to make anyway.
The Main UK Shopping Portals
If you are based in the UK, the most popular shopping portals are:
Avios eStore – earn Avios on hundreds of retailers
Nectar eShops – earn Nectar points, which you can transfer to Avios or Virgin Red
Shops Away & Virgin Red – earn Virgin Points
Each portal works in a similar way, but the rates and partners vary.
screenshot from the Virgin Red Website
Exploring the Avios eStore
Let’s take the Avios website as an example.
When you visit the site, hover over “Collect Avios” and click on “Shopping Online.”
Here, you will see current promotions like:
3,000 Avios when you spend £99 at The Wine Flyer
Avios on LeShuttle bookings (the Eurotunnel to France)
Up to 10–20 Avios per £1 when booking through Avios Hotels (powered by Expedia)
Bonus Avios for car rentals with Avis and Budget
There are over 2,000 retail partners, from Sainsbury’s and The Gym Group to airport parking, Nespresso, and GetYourGuide for tours.
So whatever you are shopping for, homeware, travel, tech, or gifts, there is probably a partner store waiting to reward you.
How Long Do Points Take to Arrive?
There is no exact rule, every retailer is different.
Some post your points within 7 days, while others can take up to 90 days, especially travel or insurance brands.
That is why it is so important to read the terms and conditions on each offer before you buy.
Pro Tip: For expensive purchases, take a screenshot of the offer and checkout. It is your proof in case your points do not appear later.
Save these in a folder on your phone or computer. It takes seconds and can save you hundreds of points.
Why You Should Track Your Shopping Portal Purchases
Shopping portals are amazing, but they are not perfect. Points can take a long time to post, and sometimes they do not show up at all.
If you do not track your purchases, you will quickly forget what you bought, which portal you used, or how many points were promised.
That is why I recommend creating a Shopping Portals Tracker, all our Fly Smart Accelerator students have this, but you can create yours and track details like:
Date of purchase
Store name
Portal used
Amount spent
Expected points
Expected posting date
Status (Pending, Posted, or Missing)
It might sound like a lot at first, but once you get used to it, it becomes second nature, and it protects your points better than anything else.
My Personal Experience
When I first started earning points in the UK, I did not even have a credit card.
Everything I earned came from shopping portals and the Nectar program at Sainsbury’s.
That is how I managed to bring my mum to visit us here in the UK for nearly a month, and I only spent around £50 out of pocket.
So yes, this works. Trust me.
Pro Tips to Maximise Your Points
Always read the portal’s terms before buying.
Add purchases to your tracker the same day (or week).
Take screenshots of every offer, especially on big purchases.
Set reminders to check if points have posted after the deadline.
Chase missing points within 90 days if they do not appear.
Final Thoughts
Shopping portals are one of the easiest ways to multiply your points without changing your spending habits.
It is all about staying organised, tracking your purchases, and making that one extra click before checkout.
Most people forget to do it, and that is why they miss out.
Now that you know better, you will never leave points on the table again.
From now on, you are not just shopping, you are earning your next flight.
