Quick Points: Boost your United miles by shopping with the MileagePlus X app
United Airlines' MileagePlus X app is a valuable, easy-to-use tool for United flyers. It allows you to earn bonus United miles in a few different ways, but my favorite is by purchasing gift cards through the app. Here's how it works.
Related: United Airlines MileagePlus: Guide to earning and redeeming miles, elite status and more
The MileagePlus X app offers e-gift cards from over 270 merchants, ranging from restaurants to retailers.
To get started, download the app, enter your United MileagePlus information and tap the yellow "Buy eGift cards" button.
Under the "Catalog" tab, you can scroll through merchants by category or see what merchants are offering extra miles. If you're looking for a specific merchant, choose "All" and use the search box.
Once you've found your merchant, click "Continue to pay now." The next screen will tell you the minimum and maximum amounts for your gift card. You can enter any number within these limits — down to the penny — and the app will show how many miles you'll earn.
In my experience, e-gift cards become available within minutes of purchasing them. Once I decide to buy something, I can purchase a gift card for the amount I need and use it right away.
You can find all your gift cards under the "Purchases" tab. Click on one to get the barcode to scan in-store or the number and PIN to enter when shopping online. You can then mark it as redeemed to remove it from your list.
Miles earned through MileagePlus X typically post within a day or two. You can see your earnings under the "Transactions" tab.
I've found the MileagePlus X app surprisingly easy to use, and it's a huge benefit for in-store shopping or online retailers that aren't available on shopping portals.
If your retailer is on a shopping portal and MileagePlus X, you could stack the rewards. For instance, at the time of writing, MileagePlus X was offering 5 miles per dollar spent on Adidas purchases, while MileagePlus Shopping was offering 3 miles per dollar spent at Adidas — so you could earn a total of 8 United miles per dollar by shopping online through the portal and paying with a MileagePlus X e-gift card.
That's not including the rewards you'll earn on the credit card you use to purchase your gift card. MileagePlus X purchases typically code as the merchant (rather than United), so you should choose your payment method based on the merchant's category. For instance, you could use one of the best cards for dining to buy a gift card to a restaurant, or purchase an Airbnb gift card with a card that earns bonus points on travel.
Bottom line
United's MileagePlus X app is a fast and easy way to earn bonus miles. Plus, you can earn 25% more miles on e-gift cards if you hold a United Chase card — even if you don't pay with that card.
If you're considering adding a United card to your wallet, the following cards are offering these welcome bonuses:
- United Gateway℠ Card (see rates and fees): Earn 30,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- United℠ Explorer Card (see rates and fees): Earn 70,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- United Quest℠ Card (see rates and fees): Earn 80,000 bonus miles and 3,000 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- United Club℠ Card (see rates and fees): Earn 90,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Related: 4 reasons someone in your family needs a United credit card
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| 4X | 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. |
| 4X | 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. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 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.