United Airlines is beta-testing a a new way to earn bonus miles when shopping at brick and mortar stores or for online purchases.
MileagePlus X mobile app lets you earn extra miles for every dollar you spend at participating merchants.
If used strategically, the new app can enable triple or even quadruple stacking of bonus MileagePlus miles.
Many readers take advantage of bonus cash back or miles by doing their online shopping through portals like FatWallet, or the United MileagePlus Shopping portal. With MileagePlus X, you can now earn extra points when paying for in-store purchases.
The bonus points range from 2-4 extra points for purchases from national retailers such as Lowe’s, Sears, Gap, AMC Theaters, and restaurants chains, up to to 20-24 points for purchases at local restaurants, spas, beauty shops, exercise studios, entertainment, nightclubs, and other activiites.
Earn Bonus Points Up To Four Ways With MileagePlus X
Here’s how it works. The app indicates participating businesses near your location, and the amount of miles you can earn.
At the register, customers enter the total dollar amount of their purchase via the app, and purchase a digital merchant gift card.
The cashier scans the barcode to complete the digital gift card purchase. Award miles instantly appear in members’ accounts in addition to any miles the customer may earn purchasing the digital gift card with a MileagePlus Credit Card from Chase.
Chase United® MileagePlus Credit Card holders earn a 25% bonus on the miles for purchases made through MileagePlus X.
The MileagePlus X app can also be used for online purchases with many merchants. While you are checking out, use the MileagePlus X app for the amount due and enter the gift card number and PIN that is generated to pay with a gift card at the merchant’s web site.
The Considerable Downsides to MileagePlusX
Because you are purchasing and paying with a gift card, many of the consumer protections of credit cards, such as extended warranty and loss replacement do not apply to these purchases.
Your ability to return items will also be limited, most likely to store credit.
The MileagePlus X Triple Dip
If you use your MileagePlus credit card, your purchases will earn:
- traditional mileage for using your MileagePlus credit card
- miles for paying with MileagePlus X
- a 25% cardmember bonus.
The 25 percent cardmember bonus does not apply to authorized users of the credit card.
How to Do The MileagePlus X Quadruple Dip
If a merchant is included in both MileagePlus X and the MileagePlus Shopping portal, use your MileagePlus credit card within MileagePlus X, and then pay for your purchase online with the gift card number and PIN from MileagePlus X after clicking through to the merchant at MileagePlusShopping.com.
Have you received an email inviting you to test the MileagePlus X app? What has your experience been? Please share in the comments!
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Unfortunately, I didn’t receive the invitation email. So when I tried to log in mileageplus X, I was told it’s still under testing. I have to wait…
Bummer. I expect they will make the app publicly available soon.
Hi, Fishing,
Could you please clarify “The 25 percent cardmember bonus does not apply to authorized users of the credit card.”
thanks,
Sam
Only the primary cardholder is eligible for the extra bonus. If you are an authorized user on someone else’s credit card, you can’t get the bonus.
And I originally deleted this unread, saw the X and figured it was some Uber thing. 😉 Thanks for the great analysis. I recovered the email and will consider using it.
Seems like a way to get a few extra miles when doing holiday shopping.