10xTravel is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. All values of Membership Rewards are assigned based on the assumption, experience and opinions of the 10xTravel team and represent an estimate and not an actual value of points. Estimated value is not a fixed value and may not be the typical value enjoyed by card members.
Getting extra points out of every dollar spent is the bread and butter of the points and miles hobby. That’s what makes the United MileagePlus X app the perfect complement to your points strategy.
By taking advantage of the app, you can earn extra United miles—as well as double dip on your earnings by paying with a credit card—at select merchants and partner retailers.
Here’s a complete guide to maximizing your rewards with the United MileagePlus X app.
Meet United’s MileagePlus X App
The United MileagePlus X app offers the opportunity to earn additional points on every dollar spent shopping with select retailers and dining at specific merchants. You can also purchase eGift cards and make hotel reservations in the app, all while earning extra miles. It’s available on both iOS and Android, ensuring that no points and miles enthusiast is left out.
The app is another wing of the United MileagePlus program that makes earning miles even easier.
How Does the United MileagePlus X App Work?
To get started, head to your app store and download the United MileagePlus X app. You’ll then log into it using your United MileagePlus details. That way, all the miles you earn will automatically post to your United account.
Once you’re logged in, you’ll have a wide range of options displayed on your home screen for earning miles: dining, shopping, eGift cards and hotels.
You can take advantage of the app’s “Nearby” search tool, which enables you to find merchants in your area. Alternatively, you can access the full list of merchant offers by selecting the “Catalog” feature.
The United MileagePlus X app enables you to purchase eGift cards with more than 270 merchants as well as dine and earn with over 20,000 restaurants. By doing so, you’ll earn United miles on your spending, simply by going through the app.
Each gift card has a points multiplier attached to it—such as 3X miles per dollar spent—which will indicate the number of miles you’ll earn. You can then select the price of the gift card based on what you’re planning to purchase and how many miles you want to earn. For instance, a $100 gift card that earns 3X miles per dollar spent will earn you 300 United miles.
Once equipped with your eGift card, you can use it for online and in-store purchases with your chosen merchant. You could even buy one through the app while waiting in line in the store. The cashier can either scan it or manually enter the barcode to redeem it.
Earning Miles With the United MileagePlus X App
Understanding Earning Rates
The amount of miles you can expect to earn with the MileagePlus mobile app varies depending on the merchant and the current offer.
You can earn anywhere from 0.5X to 10X miles per dollar spent.
It’s best to check the app frequently, particularly if you know where you’ll be shopping throughout the day or upcoming week. That way, you can maximize your chances of finding the best point multipliers.
Combining Credit Card Rewards With the App
You can double dip on your earnings by completing your purchase using a travel rewards credit card. For instance, if you used the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card to buy a $100 gift card that earns 3X miles per dollar spent with a specific merchant, you’d earn 200 Capital One miles (2X miles per dollar spent) in addition to the 300 United miles.
Alternatively, you could use a credit card’s bonus categories to unlock even greater point multipliers. For instance, the Chase Sapphire Reserve® earns 3X points on dining, including eligible takeout and delivery services. If you buy a $150 gift card for a participating restaurant using your Chase Sapphire Reserve card, you could earn 450 Ultimate Rewards points on top of the United miles earned with the gift card.
Exclusive Benefits for Chase United MileagePlus Cardholders
You can boost your earnings on the United MileagePlus app even further by being a co-branded United card holder.
You’ll receive a 25% mileage bonus on eGift cards simply by holding any co-branded United credit card—you don’t even need to use it as a payment method.
This perk can amount to significant bonuses. For example, if you bought a $200 gift card with a points multiplier of 10X miles per dollar spent, you could turn 2,000 miles into 2,500 miles.
Maximizing Rewards With the United MileagePlus Shopping Portal
The United MileagePlus X app also gives you access to the United MileagePlus shopping portal. Here, you can find more than 1,100 retailers with whom you can earn extra miles.
You can earn up to 10X miles per dollar spent with participating merchants as well as up to 10,000 miles for certain subscription services.
You can get creative and use a United MileagePlus gift card through the shopping portal, while paying with a credit card that categorizes the purchase as a bonus spending category. If you’re a United co-branded card holder, that would allow you to quadruple-dip on your earnings.
Earn Miles on Last-Minute Hotel Deals
The United MileagePlus X app also enables you to browse through a range of last-minute hotel deals. You’ll be able to earn miles on every one of these deals.
You can book the entire stay through the MileagePlus X app and can even access reviews from within the app.
Example of Maximizing Earnings With the MileagePlus X App
To emphasize the value of the United MileagePlus X app, let’s run through a final example, demonstrating your earning potential.
Let’s say you buy a $200 gift card that earns 5X points per dollar spent at a specific retailer. That purchase alone will earn you 1,000 United miles. However, if you’re a United credit card holder, those 1,000 miles will receive a 25% boost, turning them into 1,250 miles.
But the earnings don’t stop there.
If you’re in luck, you might be able to find an offer with the same merchant when using the United MileagePlus shopping portal—let’s say 3X points per dollar spent. That would work out to an extra 600 United miles, giving you a total of 1,850 miles.
And because you were smart and used a card with a competitive non-bonus spending category rate to complete your purchase, you’d earn additional points with your credit card. Let’s say you charged the purchase to your Capital One Venture Rewards card—this would net you an extra 600 Capital One miles.
In total, your initial $200 payment—which you would’ve made anyway—has now gained you 1,850 United miles and 600 Capital One miles. That’s the power of the United MileagePlus X app.
FAQs: Using the United MileagePlus X App
Can I use the app internationally?
No, you can’t use the United MileagePlus X app while abroad. It features offers with merchants based in the United States, and in particular those nearby your current location.
Your app store also needs to be set to the U.S. to download it.
Are there any fees for purchasing gift cards through the app?
No, there aren’t any additional fees for purchasing gift cards through the United MileagePlus app. What you pay equates to the value of the gift card 1:1.
How often do the bonus earning rates change?
Bonus earning rates can change on a daily to weekly basis, depending on the merchant and any other current deals on offer. You can enable push notifications in the app so you never miss out on an offer.
What should I do if my purchased gift card doesn’t work?
In the event that a merchant doesn’t honor your gift card, you should contact United through the app by selecting the “Contact us” option in the “Buy eGift Cards” section.
Other Airline Loyalty Programs With Shopping and Dining Rewards
United stands out as the only airline loyalty program with a dedicated app for earning miles on gift cards, shopping, dining and more. However, other airlines do offer both shopping portals and dining programs.
Enrolling in these programs is an excellent way to earn extra miles on everyday purchases with the airlines you fly the most with.
By simply taking a few extra steps, your original spending can earn a much greater return. In the end, that works out to more point-funded travel adventures.
Take Your Mile Earnings Further
It’s the little things in life that are important. And while a little app may seem insignificant in the grand scheme of points and miles, the United MileagePlus X app could well be the difference between having enough miles for your next dream trip or being a few thousand short.
Download it today, set up your account and start shopping and earning for your next award trip.
New to the world of points and miles? The Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card is the best card to start with.
With a bonus of 75,000 bonus points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. , 5x points on travel booked through the Chase TravelSM Portal and 3x points on restaurants, streaming services, and online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), this card truly cannot be beat for getting started!
Editors Note: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
10xTravel is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more. All values of Membership Rewards are assigned based on the assumption, experience and opinions of the 10xTravel team and represent an estimate and not an actual value of points. Estimated value is not a fixed value and may not be the typical value enjoyed by card members.
Editors Note: Opinions expressed here are author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included within the post.
bonus cash back
after you spend $6,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening
miles
once you spend $4,000 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.
bonus points
after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.
Membership Rewards® Points
after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
