Holly D. Johnson | Bankrate.com (TNS) There are all kinds of strategies you can use to earn airline points/miles, and that’s true whether you’re a frequent flier or not. You can earn airline rewards by using an airline credit card or a flexible travel credit card for all of your spending, by shopping through airline rewards portals or by joining an airline’s dining club. You can also buy airline points or miles outright if you want to rack up a stash quickly or you just need to top off your account.