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Apple Spends $150 Million on Flights With United Every Year

Jan. 14, 2019
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2 min read
CHINA-APPLE-INTERNET-CENSORSHIP
Apple Spends $150 Million on Flights With United Every Year
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Apple spends $150 million annually with United Airlines, according to a leaked photo from an internal United source.

The data from the leaked signage was verified by a United representative, who also said that the information was confidential and had been intended for internal employee use only.

"This information was provided to United employees as part of a limited pilot project focused on San Francisco to highlight the importance of our corporate relationships and was not intended to be shared publicly. The project has since been discontinued. A small group of customers were mentioned by name on this material and each has been contacted directly and we are working to address their concerns. The material has been taken down, and moving forward we will review and further restrict sharing of internal customer information to a strictly need-to-know audience."

Other noteworthy statistics on the leaked signage stated that the routes between San Francisco and Shanghai is the airline's "#1 market for Apple," representing $35 million in annual revenue and 25% of the company's annual spending. Part of that cost is comprised of 50 business-class seats per day on flights between Shanghai and San Francisco. The other nine destinations rounding out Apple's Top 10 list include Hong Kong, Taipei, London, Seoul, Singapore, Munich, Tokyo Haneda, Beijing and Tel Aviv.

The vast majority of Apple's products are manufactured in China, and the Asia destinations allow the tech giant's employees to keep a close eye on its supply chain partners. Meanwhile, London is Apple's largest non-manufacturing destination.

But don't expect to find Apple CEO Tim Cook on board your next United flight. Cook flies private at the request of Apple's board, according to Business Insider, and spent $294,082 on private air travel expenses in 2018.

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According to the data, Apple beats out its next closest competitors by more than $100 million per year. Internet giants Facebook and Google, as well as healthcare company Roche, spend more than $34 million per year with United Airlines. Well-known consulting companies primarily fill out the $12-17 million bracket, while Intel, Visa and Chevron each spend between $10-12 million annually.

Featured image by AFP/Getty Images

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Why We Chose It

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  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 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.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.