United MileagePlus X App

As Chicagoans that fly out of O’hare, we take United Airlines flights more often than not. Because of this, we’re big fans of the United MileagePlus X app, which allows MileagePlus members to earn miles when they shop at participating retailers. Our favorite feature of the app is that it allows us to buy gift cards for regular purchases and earn miles while doing it.

You can use these gift cards in stacks with other rewards programs to maximize earnings. Even if you aren’t based out of a United hub, United is a member of Star Alliance. MileagePlus miles can be used to fly with partners like Air Canada, Lufthansa, TAP, Turkish Airlines, and more.

So how can you begin using the app and start accruing miles?

First, you will need a United MileagePlus number. Creating an account is free, so we recommend you create an account with all airline providers and hotel chains you may use at some point. Once you have an active United MileagePlus number, you will sign into the United MileagePlus X app with that number, automatically linking your account. Any purchase made through the United MileagePlus X app will then load the earned miles automatically onto your United account. The most of the purchases we’ve made through the United Mileage Plus X app are loaded onto our United account instantly, but there can be a waiting period.

Which credit cards should you use?

You can load any credit cards to your account. If you are a United MileagePlus cardholder, you earn a 25% bonus on all purchases made on the app, even when you don’t use that card, as long as you have one that’s connected to your United MileagePlus account. When purchasing with Chase cards through the MileagePlus X app, the purchases will code as the category of the purchase, e.g. Starbucks is dining so that gift card will earn you 3x Chase points. When we’ve used our American Express Gold, we noticed it is coded as travel, so be mindful of which card will earn you the most points.

How can this look?

I decide to buy a $25 Starbucks gift card through the app. I use my Chase Sapphire Preferred for 3x points, earning me 75 Ultimate Rewards points on the purchase. Right now, Starbucks is worth 2 miles / dollar on the MileagePlus X app, though the amount can fluctuate. So I will earn 50 miles on United for purchasing a Starbucks gift card. Because I have a United card, I will earn an additional 12 miles (25% of the mileage total of 50), giving me 62 total miles through the MileagePlus X app. Note that I didn’t use the United card, I just have one tied to my United account, so I automatically get the 25% multiplier.

Here are just a few of the retailers on the app where you can get gift cards:

• Adidas – 5 miles / dollar
• Apple – 2 miles / dollar
• Chipotle – 0.5 miles /dollar
• Domino’s Pizza – 2 miles / dollar
• Gap – 4 miles / dollar
• Home Depot – 1 mile / dollar
• Home Goods – 3 miles / dollar
• J. Crew – 4 miles / dollar
• Michaels – 4 miles / dollar
• Nordstrom Rack – 1 mile / dollar
• Old Navy – 4 miles / dollar
• Panera – 2 miles / dollar
• REI – 4 miles / dollar
• Starbucks – 2 miles / dollar
• T.J. Maxx – 5 miles / dollar
• Under Armour – 5 miles / dollar

Have you ever tried the United MileagePlus X app? Let us know your thoughts and feel free to ask any questions!