Targeted MileagePlus members eligible for bonus miles when checking in and checking a bag on the United app
Editor's Note
Mile Play has been a popular way for United Airlines customers to earn extra MileagePlus miles when traveling on the airline.
Historically, Mile Play offers have several requirements: Register, book a flight that meets your specific offer's requirements and work toward bonus miles before your offer's expiration.
Now, in conjunction with existing Mile Play offers set to expire Dec. 15, United has launched an entirely new type of Mile Play offer. In our 25 surveyed MileagePlus accounts (with various United status levels), our tests indicated that this new Mile Play offer is only available to targeted Premier 1K customers; however, we've received reports that other MileagePlus members have been targeted, too. To see if you're eligible, click here.
This time, however, targeted members are being rewarded for completing certain tasks in the United app. Let's take a closer look.
A new Mile Play style
As mentioned, United has long had Mile Play offers that require you to spend and fly after registering. Here are some of the offers that TPG staffers received when United launched its last Mile Play offers in October:
- 2,500 bonus miles after you book and take one trip with a fare of $200 or more.
- 2,500 bonus miles after you book and take one trip with a fare of $225 or more.
- 4,100 bonus miles after you book and take two trips, each with a fare of $150 or more.
- 7,000 bonus miles after you book and take three trips, each with a fare of $100 or more.
- 5,000 bonus miles after you book and take four trips, each with a fare of $100 or more.
However, United's newest Mile Play offers consist of two components:
- Check in for your flight on the United app.
- Use the Bag Drop Shortcut or check a bag online.
My offer provides 600 bonus miles for checking in for a flight online and 1,000 bonus miles for checking a bag using Bag Drop Shortcut; the shortcut is United's new way to drop your bag off after making your checked luggage selections in the United app or on united.com. The terms of my offer state that I must start my trip at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Denver International Airport (DEN) or San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and use the Bag Drop Shortcut at one of these three airports.
If I complete both activities by Dec. 7, I'll earn 800 bonus miles, bringing in 2,400 bonus miles (worth $29.04 at TPG's valuations).
TPG's Zach Griff, also a Premier 1K member, received a similar offer to mine with the same Dec. 7 expiration date; however, his offer didn't have the Bag Drop Shortcut requirement.
Zach's offer consists of 400 bonus miles for checking in for a flight on the United app and 800 bonus miles if he checks a bag online. If he completes both components, he'll receive 600 bonus miles, bringing the total to 1,800 bonus miles (worth $21.78 at TPG's valuations).
Related: Quick Points: How to earn extra miles with United Mile Play promotions
Bottom line
United has an entirely new Mile Play offer currently available to targeted MileagePlus members. Rather than earning bonus miles through new reservations that meet specific spending requirements, United customers can earn miles on existing reservations through activities they likely would have done anyway.
It's possible that MileagePlus members located in Chicagoland, the Denver area and the San Francisco Bay area may be targeted for offers like mine with the Bag Drop Shortcut. Otherwise, you might find offers that are more like Zach's.
To see if you're eligible for this newest iteration of United's Mile Play, head to the registration page with your MileagePlus number.
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 2X miles | 2 miles per dollar on every purchase |
| 5X miles | 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel |
| 10X miles | 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
The Capital One Venture X Business Card has all the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit. (Partner offer)Pros
- The Capital One Venture X business card has a very lucrative welcome offer.
- In addition, the card comes with many premium travel perks such as an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel.
- Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free.
Cons
- The card requires significant spending to earn the welcome offer.
- Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles: 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200k miles when you spend $150k in the first 6 months
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month
Rewards Rate
| 2X miles | 2 miles per dollar on every purchase |
| 5X miles | 5 miles per dollar on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel |
| 10X miles | 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Business Travel |
Intro Offer
Earn 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200K miles when you spend $150K in the first 6 monthsLIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus milesAnnual Fee
$395Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.740-850Excellent
Why We Chose It
The Capital One Venture X Business Card has all the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card has to offer and more. It offers an incredible welcome bonus and requires an equally impressive spend to qualify. In addition, the card comes with premium travel perks like annual travel credit. (Partner offer)Pros
- The Capital One Venture X business card has a very lucrative welcome offer.
- In addition, the card comes with many premium travel perks such as an annual $300 credit for bookings through Capital One Business Travel.
- Business owners are also able to add employee cards for free.
Cons
- The card requires significant spending to earn the welcome offer.
- Another drawback is that the annual travel credit can only be used on bookings made through Capital One Business Travel.
- LIMITED-TIME OFFER: Earn up to 400K bonus miles: 200K miles when you spend $30K in the first 3 months, and an additional 200k miles when you spend $150k in the first 6 months
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, everywhere—with no limits or category restrictions
- Earn 10X miles on hotels and rental cars and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Business Travel
- With no preset spending limit, enjoy big purchasing power that adapts so you can spend more and earn more rewards
- Empower your teams to make business purchases while earning rewards on their transactions, with free employee and virtual cards. Plus, automatically sync your transaction data with your accounting software and pay your vendors with ease
- Redeem your miles on flights, hotels and more. Plus, transfer your miles to any of the 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Every year, you'll get 10,000 bonus miles after your account anniversary date. Plus, receive an annual $300 credit for bookings made through Capital One Business Travel
- Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®. Enjoy access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and Priority Pass™ lounges, after enrollment
- Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
- This is a pay-in-full card, so your balance is due in full every month