Of course you should surf the web with your credit card in your hand! ...plus some boots

If you are an American Airlines AAdvantage member and like most of us, greedily hoard your earned miles while fantasizing about future dream vacations, this will be of some use to you.

AA has a LOT of retail partners. Each retailer is willing to give you a certain number of miles for each dollar you spend online, IF you arrive on their site via the AAdvantage shopping page.

There's everything from Gap, Old Navy, Home Depot, and Barnes & Noble to wine, chocolate, DirectTV, Netflix, and, ahem...Zappos.

Step 1: go to this link - AAdvantage eShopping

Step 2: find the site you want to shop and click it. (There's a link in the left column that says "see all merchants.")

Step 3: you will have to sign in to your AAdvantage account on the way to the shopping experience. That's a good thing. That means they will automatically apply your points as soon as you've completed your purchase.

Remember: You always have to come through that page first on your way to EACH merchant, EVERY time. As far as I know, there's no way to call them up and beg for points if you forget and just go directly to the retailer's site.

BONUS: If you check out and pay using an AAdvantage credit card, you can earn points again on the same purchase.

I have not yet caved to the compulsion to buy the coveted boots. It feels so indulgent. Should I?
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