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United Airlines' MileagePlus X app enables earning bonus miles through gift card purchases

United Airlines' MileagePlus X app enables earning bonus miles through gift card purchases
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Matt Moffitt Managing editor | The Points Guy

United Airlines' MileagePlus X app provides an opportunity for its users to accumulate bonus miles through various methods, with purchasing gift cards being a notable option. The app features e-gift cards from over 270 merchants, spanning both restaurants and retailers.

To begin using the app, users need to download it and input their United MileagePlus details. By selecting the "Buy eGift cards" button, users can browse merchants by category or search for specific ones under the "Catalog" tab. Upon choosing a merchant, users can proceed to payment, where they are informed of the minimum and maximum gift card amounts. They can specify any amount within these limits and see the corresponding miles they will earn.

E-gift cards generally become available shortly after purchase. Users can access their gift cards under the "Purchases" tab and use them in-store or online by scanning a barcode or entering a number and PIN. Once used, they can mark the card as redeemed.

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Miles earned through MileagePlus X usually post within one to two days and are visible under the "Transactions" tab. The app is particularly beneficial for purchases at stores not listed on shopping portals but allows stacking rewards if both options are available.

For example, MileagePlus X offered 5 miles per dollar spent on Adidas purchases while MileagePlus Shopping offered 3 miles per dollar spent at Adidas during this period. Combining these could yield 8 United miles per dollar when shopping online via the portal with a MileagePlus X e-gift card.

Additionally, rewards from credit card payments apply based on merchant categories rather than United itself. Therefore, choosing payment methods should consider this categorization—for instance, using dining-specific reward cards for restaurant gift cards or travel-specific ones for Airbnb.

The app also offers increased mile earnings of 25% on e-gift cards for holders of United Chase cards regardless of payment method used. Several United credit cards offer elevated welcome bonuses until January 29:

- The United Gateway℠ Card offers 30,000 bonus miles after spending $1,000 in three months.

- The United℠ Explorer Card offers 60,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 in three months.

- The United Quest℠ Card provides 70,000 bonus miles plus additional qualifying points after spending $4,000 in three months.

- The United Club℠ Infinite Card grants up to 95,000 bonus miles following specified conditions in three months.

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