Earn Up to 10 Bonus United Miles Per Dollar with the MileagePlus X App
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here – United MileagePlus Explorer Card
United's MileagePlus X app is running a Back to School promotion and offering double miles on purchases at certain stores. The end date isn't posted for this promotion, so it might not last for long. For now, the following merchants are participating in the double-miles promotion:
- AMC Theatres — 10 miles per dollar spent (normally 5x)
- Banana Republic — 10x
- Dell.com — 4x
- GameStop — 8x
- Gap — 10x
- JCPenney — 6x
- Nike — 10x
- Old Navy — 10x
- Sears — 6x
- Toys R Us — 6x
- ULTA Beauty — 8x
At 10 United miles per dollar spent — and TPG's latest valuation of 1.5 cents per United mile — you're getting a sweet return of 15 cents per dollar spent at some merchants.
If you aren't already using the United MileagePlus X app, now's a great time to start earning lots of bonus miles. Since it launched in 2014, the app has grown a loyal fan base but has been struggling to be widely adopted. So, you're not alone!
Here's how it works: Download the iOS app from the App Store or the Android app from Google Play. Then, at participating merchants, use the MileagePlus X app to buy an electronic gift card — typically right before you check out. Once the app charges your credit card, it'll generate a bar code that the cashier will scan to pay for your purchases.
While United surely wants you to use a MileagePlus-branded credit card, you can link any of your credit cards to the app. When it comes time to check out, you can select from your list of linked cards. The purchase should be assigned the same merchant code that the store has, although that may not always be the case — while some MileagePlus X users haven't received the proper category bonus, sometimes this can work in your favor.
MileagePlus Explorer Card cardholders get a 25% bonus on any earnings through the app — even if you don't use the Explorer Card to make the purchase. That'll bring your bonus up to 12.5 miles per dollar for some purchases. If you don't have the MileagePlus Explorer Card already, if you sign up now you can earn 30,000 bonus United miles after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months.
Along with the bonus on the MPX app, the card's travel perks are especially nice when flying on United: free checked bags, priority boarding, two free lounge passes per year and expanded United award availability — earning this card a "keep" rating on TPG's credit card inventory.
Have you used the MileagePlus X app?
TPG featured card
at Capital One's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 5X miles | Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| 2X miles | Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day |
Pros
- Stellar welcome offer of 75,000 miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening. Plus, a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use in your first cardholder year upon account opening.
- You'll earn 2 miles per dollar on every purchase, which means you won't have to worry about memorizing bonus categories
- Rewards are versatile and can be redeemed for a statement credit or transferred to Capital One’s transfer partners
Cons
- Highest bonus-earning categories only on travel booked via Capital One Travel
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
- Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
- Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
- Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
- Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Top rated mobile app