How To Earn Miles When You Shop With United’s MileagePlus X App

Airline shopping portals have been around for well over a decade. You can use these portals to earn miles when you shop online — just click through the portal before you make a purchase and you earn rewards to use for free flights.

But did you know United has an app that acts as a shopping portal and can be used when shopping in stores?

The MileagePlus X app lets you earn MileagePlus miles when you purchase gift cards from popular merchants. Gift cards are available immediately in the app, so you can buy the gift card while you’re in line at a store and waiting to pay. How many miles you’ll earn depends on where you’re shopping, with some popular merchants offering 10 or more miles per $1 you spend. Further, the app gives you easy access to United’s shopping portal, dining program, and hotel booking platform.

Let’s look at how to use MileagePlus X to earn more United miles on your everyday shopping.

How To Earn Miles With United MileagePlus X Gift Cards

The main way to earn United miles with MileagePlus X is to purchase gift cards in the app. The app supports over 270 popular merchants, including Apple, Best Buy, Home Depot, REI, Uber, and Walmart. Gift cards to many chain restaurants are also available in the app.

You can download MileagePlus X on the App Store or Google Play.

You earn miles with MileagePlus X based on how much you spend on gift cards. The number of miles you earn per $1 varies from merchant to merchant, starting at 0.5 miles per $1. For example, at the time of writing, the rate for Petco was 5 miles per $1, Cold Stone Creamery was 4 miles per $1, and Home Depot was 1 mile per $1.

Purchase a gift card by tapping on the merchant you’d like to buy one with. Enter your denomination and select a payment method. You can pick from any credit or debit card linked to your United account. Tap Pay Now, and you’ll receive then your gift card. You can also send the gift card to a friend or family member on this screen.

For most merchants, MileagePlus X gives you a gift card number and a barcode that’s scannable at the register. This makes it easy to use the app for online and in-store purchases.

I’ve used MileagePlus X gift cards to earn thousands of United miles over the years. I’ve also never experienced delays between paying for a gift card and having it available for redemption, so there’s no awkward waiting for a gift card to load while you wait to pay at a big-box store.

Even better, miles earned with MileagePlus X are immediately posted to your United account. This can be helpful if you’re just a few miles away from booking a specific award ticket with your United miles. For example, if you’re 200 miles short of a business class ticket to Europe, consider buying a $100 Starbucks gift card to add to your Starbucks Rewards account. Starbucks gift cards currently earn 2 miles per $1 on MileagePlus X.

This way, you’re not forced to buy a small amount of miles directly from United. Instead, you can prepay a purchase you’d make anyway and get the miles you need immediately.

When Not To Use the MileagePlus X App

This sounds great, but there are times when you may not want to use MileagePlus X. First, MileagePlus X gift cards are nonrefundable. So, if you purchase a $500 computer with a Best Buy gift card you bought through the app, you get a Best Buy gift card if you return it. Only use MileagePlus X when you’re sure you won’t return your purchase.

Further, using MileagePlus X could also make you ineligible for purchase protections offered by your credit card since you’re buying a gift card with your credit card, not a physical product. This is why I do not use MileagePlus X for big-ticket purchases, even if I lose out on a handful of bonus points.

Earn Bonus Miles With Your United Credit Card

Those with a United MileagePlus co-branded credit card issued in the U.S. get a 25% bonus on points earned when purchasing MileagePlus X gift cards. For example, if a gift card purchase earns 100 miles, United cardholders earn 125 miles. Ensure your United credit card is linked to your United account so you earn the bonus on your next purchase. Only primary cardholders are eligible for this benefit.

United℠ Explorer Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

With priority boarding privileges, no foreign transaction fees and more, MileagePlus members will definitely enjoy their partnered card.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

United℠ Explorer Card

With priority boarding privileges, no foreign transaction fees and more, MileagePlus members will definitely enjoy their partnered card.

Welcome Offer

Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

50,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$600

Annual Fee

$95

APR

20.99% - 27.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

You travel United all the time, but you have heard that there could be ways to make your travel experiences even better, including priority boarding, free bags, and more miles.

You should consider the United℠ Explorer Card, because this card does all that and more!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 2x miles per $1 on United purchases, dining purchases (including delivery services), and hotel stays
• 1x mile per $1 on all other purchases
• First checked bag free for you and up to 1 traveling companion

Cons

• $0 intro annual fee for the first year, then $95 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable rewards

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 50,000 bonus miles
• $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.
• 2x miles on United^® purchases, dining, and hotel stays
• Enjoy priority boarding privileges and visit the United Club℠ with 2 one-time passes each year for your anniversary
• Free first checked bag - a savings of up to $160 per roundtrip. Terms Apply.
• Up to $120 Global Entry, TSA PreCheck^® or NEXUS fee credit
• 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Explorer Card
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.99% - 27.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

United MileagePlus Frequent Flyer Program

United Club℠ Infinite Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Perfect for frequent United flyers who want premium perks like United Club access and free baggage benefits.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

United Club℠ Infinite Card

Perfect for frequent United flyers who want premium perks like United Club access and free baggage benefits.

Welcome Offer

Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

80,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$960

Annual Fee

$525

APR

20.99% - 27.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Excellent (740-850)

Why We Like This Card

The United Club℠ Infinite Card is a premium card designed for the most dedicated of United frequent flyers who are looking for a card that provides the opportunity to earn extra United MileagePlus miles and receive lounge access via a yearly United Club membership.

United frequent flyers will find that the United Club Infinite card provides an enhanced experience on their United flights thanks to the money saved on each flight and the conveniences it provides.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 4x miles per $1 on United purchases
• 2x miles per $1 on travel and dining purchases
• Complimentary United Club membership (up to $650 value per year)

Cons

• $525 annual fee
• Does not earn transferable rewards

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 80,000 bonus miles
• 4x miles on United^® purchases
• 2x miles on all other travel and dining
• 1x mile on all other purchases
• United Club℠ membership - up to $650 value per year
• Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $360 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and Premier Access^® travel services
• Earn up to 15,000 Premier qualifying points per calendar year (1 PQP for every $15 you spend on purchases)
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.99% - 27.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

United Quest℠ Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The United Quest card is a fantastic option for United flyers looking to earn more miles and enhance their flights.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

United Quest℠ Card

The United Quest card is a fantastic option for United flyers looking to earn more miles and enhance their flights.

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 Premier qualifying points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

60,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$720

Annual Fee

$250

APR

20.99% - 27.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The newest addition to United’s lineup of cards is the United Quest℠ Card. With it, you can bolster your United MileagePlus miles, thanks to the bonus categories, while enjoying the card’s many perks designed to help save you money on each United flight.

With an annual fee that falls between the United℠ Explorer Card and United Club℠ Infinite Card, the United Quest card makes for a fantastic card option for United frequent flyers.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 3x miles per $1 on United purchases
• 2x miles per $1 spent on travel, dining, and select streaming services
• $125 annual United credit

Cons

• Does not earn transferable rewards
• Does not offer airport lounge access

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 PQP
• 3x miles on United^® purchases
• 2x miles on all other travel, dining, and select streaming services
• 1x mile on all other purchases
• Up to a $125 United^® purchase credit and up to 10,000 miles in award flight credits each year (terms apply)
• Free first and second checked bags - a savings of up to $360 per roundtrip (terms apply) - and priority boarding
• Earn up to 9,000 Premier qualifying points per calendar year (1 PQP for every $20 you spend on purchases)
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.99% - 27.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

United Gateway℠ Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The United Gateway card is a great option for those looking to earn more United miles without paying an annual fee.

Apply Now(at Chase's secure site)

United Gateway℠ Card

The United Gateway card is a great option for those looking to earn more United miles without paying an annual fee.

Welcome Offer

Earn 20,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open. Plus, 0% intro APR for 12 months from account opening on purchases. Learn more.

20,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$240

Annual Fee

$0

APR

0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months; after that, 20.99% - 27.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The United Gateway℠ Card is a great option for those looking to earn more United miles without wanting to pay a credit card annual fee. Plus, the card offers other solid benefits like a 25% back on United inflight purchases, purchase protection, and rental car insurance.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 2x miles per $1 on United purchases
• 2x miles per $1 at gas stations and on local transit and commuting, including rideshare services, taxicabs, train tickets, tolls, and mass transit
• 1x mile per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• If you are a frequent United flyer, other cards offer more perks
• It does not earn transferable rewards

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 20,000 bonus miles
• No annual fee
• 2x miles on United^® purchases
• 2x miles at gas stations
• 2x miles on local transit and commuting
• 1x mile on all other purchases
• 25% back as a statement credit on purchases of food, beverages and Wi-Fi on board United-operated flights and on Club premium drinks when you pay with your Gateway Card
• Member FDIC

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 0% Intro APR on Purchases for 12 months; after that, 20.99% - 27.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

United Club℠ Business Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The United Club Business card is a great option for frequent United flyers looking for United Club access.

United Club℠ Business Card

The United Club Business card is a great option for frequent United flyers looking for United Club access.

Welcome Offer

Earn 50,000 bonus miles + 1,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) after $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open.

50,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$600

Annual Fee

$450

APR

21.99%–28.99% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The United Club℠ Business Card is a premium card option for dedicated United loyalists seeking a card that offers complimentary United Club access, helps them earn and retain status, and doesn’t skip on the benefits.

From free checked bags to upgrades on award tickets and the ability to earn Premier qualifying points, there is plenty to the United Club Business card that United flyers are sure to love.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 2x miles per $1 spent on United purchases
• 1.5x miles per $1 spent on all other purchases
• Complimentary United Club membership

Cons

• $450 annual fee
• Earning rate for United purchases is poor compared to other United cards

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 50,000 bonus miles + 1,000 Premier qualifying points (PQP) after $5,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open
• Earn 2x miles on United purchases
• Earn 1.5x miles on all other purchases
• Employee cards at no additional cost
• United Club membership — up to a $650 value per year. Relax in comfort while waiting for your flight with complimentary beverages, snacks, high-speed Wi-Fi, and more
• Free first and second checked bags for you and a companion, save up to $320 per round-trip
• 25% back on United inflight purchases
• No foreign transaction fees

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 21.99%–28.99% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: $0

That said, you don’t have to pay with your United credit card to get the 25% bonus. The bonus is added to all MileagePlus X purchases, even if you pay with another credit card. The bonus is reflected on the checkout screen in the MileagePlus X app.

Stacking MileagePlus X Gift Cards With Credit Cards and Shopping Portals

MileagePlus X is a great tool for stacking rewards on purchases. The app can be used in conjunction with a rewards credit card and a shopping portal, letting you triple-dip some of your everyday purchases by earning points in 3 ways.

For example, say I want to buy $125 worth of clothing from Under Armour. I’ll purchase the $125 gift card through MileagePlus X and pay for it with my Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card. However, thanks to the United Gateway℠ Card linked to my United account, I’m still eligible for a 25% bonus.

Further, I’d click through the United MileagePlus Shopping portal before purchasing. I picked this portal because it offered the highest return on Under Armour purchases when writing this article.

Here’s a breakdown of what I’d earn on this purchase:

• MileagePlus X (5 miles per $1, plus 25% United credit card bonus): 781 United miles
• United MileagePlus Shopping (10 miles per $1): 1,250 United miles
• Capital One Venture X card (2 miles per $1): 250 Capital One miles

Ultimately, this example triple stack earns 2,031 United miles and 250 Capital One miles for the $125 Under Armour purchase. Upgraded Points values United and Capital One miles at 1.2 and 1.8 cents per mile, respectively, giving me approximately $29 in value. That’s effectively a whopping 23% savings on my purchase.

That said, always double-check the list of exclusions on your merchant’s page on the shopping portal you’d like to earn with. Adidas, for example, doesn’t award miles through shopping portals if you pay with a gift card. Thankfully, this restriction is a rarity among well-known merchants.

Hot Tip:

Not sure which shopping portal to use? Check CashBack Monitor first. This shopping portal aggregator shows earning rates across travel and cash-back shopping portals for most major merchants.

Picking the Right Card To Use for MileagePlus X Gift Cards

Gift cards you purchase through MileagePlus X don’t always trigger category bonuses on rewards cards. In my experience, American Express cards treat MileagePlus X gift card purchases as general spending. Because of this, you probably won’t earn 4x points per $1 if you purchase a restaurant gift card with the American Express^® Gold Card.

On the other hand, I’ve seen MileagePlus X purchases charged to some Visa cards trigger category bonuses. For example, I purchased a $15 Uber gift card with my Chase Sapphire Reserve^® card and earned 3x points per $1 since it coded as a travel purchase, just like a normal Uber ride. That said, this may vary based on the card you use.

I use my Chase Sapphire Reserve card for anything that could code as travel or dining through MileagePlus X. I use my Capital One Venture X card for everything else I buy through MileagePlus X, as it earns 2x miles per $1 on all purchases, regardless of spend category.

All that said, pick the credit card that earns the most points for your given purchase. If you’re unsure that your desired credit card will earn bonus points, it might be worth making a small test purchase to see how your points post to your account. Alternatively, use a card that earns more than 1 point or mile per $1 on all purchases, like these cards from Capital One:

TOP PICK

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel.

75,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,350

Annual Fee

$395

APR

19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Excellent (740-840)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card is the premium Capital One travel rewards card on the block.

Points and miles fans will be surprised to see that the Capital One Venture X card packs quite the punch when it comes to bookings made through Capital One, all while offering the lowest annual fee among premium credit cards.

Depending on your travel goals and preferences, the Capital One Venture X card could very well end up being your go-to card in your wallet.

 

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 10x miles per $1 on hotels and rental cars purchased through Capital One Travel
• 5x miles per $1 on flights and vacation rentals purchased through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases

Cons

• $395 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Does not offer bonus categories for flights or hotel purchases made directly with the airline or hotel group, the preferred booking method for those looking to earn elite status

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
• Receive a $300 annual credit for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
• Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights and vacation rentals booked through Capital One Travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
• Enjoy complimentary access to 1,300+ airport lounges worldwide, including Capital One Lounge locations and the Partner Lounge Network
• Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Enjoy a $100 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Premier Collection
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

 

LIMITED TIME OFFER

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Get 2x miles plus some of the most flexible redemptions offered by a travel credit card!

Welcome Offer

Earn 75,000 miles once you spend $4,000 within the first 3 months of account opening, plus receive a one-time $250 Capital One Travel credit in your first cardholder year – that’s equal to $1,000 in travel.

75,000 miles + $250 travel credit

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$1,600

Annual Fee

$95

APR

19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent Credit (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card is one of the most popular rewards cards on the market. It’s perfect for anyone in search of a great welcome offer, high rewards rates, and flexible redemption options.

Frequent travelers with excellent credit may benefit from this credit card that offers a lot of bells and whistles. And it offers easy-to-understand rewards earning and redemption.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 5x miles per $1 on hotels, vacation rentals, and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel
• 2x miles per $1 on all other purchases
• Up to a $120 Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee credit

Cons

• $95 annual fee (rates & fees)
• Limited elite benefits

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Enjoy $250 to use on Capital One Travel in your first cardholder year, plus earn 75,000 bonus miles once you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first 3 months from account opening - that’s equal to $1,000 in travel
• Earn unlimited 2X miles on every purchase, every day
• Earn 5X miles on hotels, vacation rentals and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Receive up to a $120 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck^®
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Enjoy a $50 experience credit and other premium benefits with every hotel and vacation rental booked from the Lifestyle Collection
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.99% - 29.24% (Variable)
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card

The card offers unlimited miles at 1.25x per $1 and no annual fee. When you consider the flexible rewards, frequent travelers come out on top.

Welcome Offer

Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel.

20,000 miles

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$360

Annual Fee

$0

APR

19.24% - 29.24% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

Interested in a travel rewards credit card without one of those pesky annual fees? Then say hello to the Capital One VentureOne Rewards Credit Card.

In addition to no annual fee, the Capital One VentureOne card offers no foreign transaction fees.

But is this card worth its salt, or is it merely a shell of the more popular Capital One Venture card?

Pros & Cons

Pros

• No annual fee (rates & fees)
• No foreign transaction fees (rates & fees)
• Ability to use transfer partners

Cons

• Weak earn rate at 1.25x miles per $1 spent on all purchases
• No luxury travel or elite benefits

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• $0 annual fee and no foreign transaction fees
• Earn a bonus of 20,000 miles once you spend $500 on purchases within 3 months from account opening, equal to $200 in travel
• Earn unlimited 1.25X miles on every purchase, every day
• Miles won't expire for the life of the account and there's no limit to how many you can earn
• Earn 5X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of trip options
• Use your miles to get reimbursed for any travel purchase—or redeem by booking a trip through Capital One Travel
• Transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
• Enjoy 0% intro APR on purchases and balance transfers for 15 months; 19.24% - 29.24% variable APR after that; balance transfer fee applies

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 19.24% - 29.24% (Variable),0% intro on purchases for 15 months
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

Capital One Miles

Redeeming United Miles for MileagePlus X Gift Cards

You can redeem your United miles for gift cards through MileagePlus X, but I don’t recommend it. This is because 333 United miles is good for $1 in gift cards through the app, giving you a value of just 0.3 cents per mile. This is far lower than Upgraded Points’ valuation of 1.2 cents per United mile.

That said, if you’re in a pinch and need to do this, select MileagePlus miles as your payment method when you purchase a gift card. Below the card denomination, you’ll see how many miles are required for your gift card of choice before you pay.

Other MileagePlus X Features

MileagePlus X also gives you quick access to United’s shopping portal, dining program, and other ways to earn miles on your everyday spending. We have in-depth guides to many of these programs, but here’s a quick overview. You do not need the MileagePlus X app to use these services since many are available online.

United MileagePlus Shopping

United MileagePlus Shopping is the airline’s online shopping portal, which you can use to earn bonus miles when you shop online. There are over 1,200 participating merchants. All you have to do is click through the portal before purchasing.

The number of miles you earn per $1 varies by merchant. Some merchants — usually subscription services — offer a flat number of miles when you make a purchase through the portal. The portal also offers bonuses when you spend a set amount through the portal during holidays and other shopping events.

Note that you don’t need MileagePlus X to use United MileagePlus Shopping. You can access it directly on your web browser.

Hot Tip:

United often gives its co-branded cardholders preferred earning rates on MileagePlus Shopping purchases. Ensure your United credit card is linked to your MileagePlus account for these increased rates.

MileagePlus Dining

MileagePlus Dining is United’s dining program, which rewards you for spending at specific restaurants. To earn miles, link your credit and debit cards to MileagePlus Dining. You then automatically earn United miles in addition to the points you earn with your card when you dine at participating restaurants. You can access this dining program through MileagePlus X or on United’s website.

The number of miles you earn depends on your MileagePlus Dining status tier, which is separate from your United elite status tier. Here’s a breakdown of how many miles you earn per $1:

• Basic Members: 1 mile per $2 spent
• Select Members (Enroll in Email Notifications): 3 miles per $1 spent
• VIP Members (Enroll in Email Communications and Complete 11 Dines): 5 miles per $1 spent

You can view participating restaurants in the MileagePlus X app or the MileagePlus Dining website. You’ll find the highest concentration of participating restaurants in major cities, but there are also participating eateries in some suburbs and smaller towns.

Make sure to use a credit card that earns bonus points on dining. This is because you still pay the restaurant directly, earning bonus points on dining if your credit card offers this bonus category. If you’re in the market for a new card, check out our list of the best credit cards for restaurants.

United Last-Minute Hotels

United has a hotel booking platform on the MileagePlus X app, dubbed United Last-Minute Hotel Deals. Despite its name, you don’t need to book at the last minute to use it. You earn miles on every hotel booking you make through this platform, with the amount varying by hotel.

You can manage your hotel bookings through the MileagePlus X app. However, we don’t necessarily recommend booking hotels with United. You will not earn hotel points or be able to use hotel elite status benefits when you book through MileagePlus X or most other online travel agencies. Plus, it may be harder to change or cancel a reservation.

Merchant Search

One useful MileagePlus X feature is the search tab at the bottom of the app. From here, you can search for merchants and see if they are available in MileagePlus Shopping or if you can purchase a gift card from the merchant in MileagePlus X.

Search results show earning rates and whether a listing is for a shopping portal or gift card. You’ll find that many merchants are available both ways. Using this tool before you make a purchase could help put more United miles in your account, especially if you stack MileagePlus X gift cards, MileagePlus Shopping, and a rewards-earning credit card.

Final Thoughts

United’s MileagePlus X app is a great way to earn more miles on everyday purchases. Buying gift cards through the app is a quick and easy process, and you can use gift cards you purchase either in a store or online. Better yet, miles you earn with MileagePlus X can stack with the points you earn from your credit card and online shopping portals.

If you’re a United frequent flyer, you should get to know MileagePlus X and remember to use it the next time you shop at a major retailer. You may earn thousands of points per year if you use the app consistently at the places you shop.