How I Effortlessly Earn Extra United Miles with the MileagePlus X App
For savvy travelers looking to squeeze more value from everyday spending, United Airlines’ MileagePlus X app is an underrated gem. Designed for MileagePlus members, this streamlined tool offers a seamless way to earn bonus miles—often with purchases you’d be making anyway.
📲 Quick Start to Earning Miles w/ MileagePlus X App
Getting started is easy:
Download the app on iOS or Android
Log in with your MileagePlus credentials
Tap the yellow “Buy eGift cards” button
You’ll see a catalog of 270+ merchants, including Starbucks, Adidas, Airbnb, and hotel brands. Bonus offers are prominently displayed, and you can search or browse by category.
💳 Buying Gift Cards, Earning Miles
Once you select a retailer:
Tap “Continue to pay now”
Select your gift card amount
View the miles earned per dollar—typically 1–5x, and often more during promos
You’ll receive your e-gift card within minutes, and all cards are saved under the “Purchases” tab in the MileagePlus X App for easy access and redemption.
🕒 Mileage Posting + Stacking Rewards
Miles usually post within 24 to 48 hours. You can view all activity under the “Transactions” tab.
But here’s where it gets interesting: you can stack rewards.
Example #1:
Adidas: 5x miles via MileagePlus X App
Adidas: 3x miles via MileagePlus Shopping portal
Use an e-gift card from the app to make your purchase after clicking through the portal = 8x United miles total.
Example #2:
Adidas: 5x miles via MileagePlus X App
Adidas: 8x Amex Membership Rewards points via Rakuten
Use the e-gift card from the app same as the first example but click through the Rakuten shopping portal = 5x United miles + 8x Membership Rewards points total
If you’re not yet familiar with Rakuten you need to be! Check out our 👉 article here explaining how it works, and how you can get either cash back or even better Amex Membership Rewards if you link your Amex account.
Sign up for Rakuten at our 👉 referral link and get $30!
🧠 Optimize with the Right Credit Card
Gift card purchases usually code as the merchant, not as travel or airline spend. So:
Use a restaurant card for food gift cards
Use a travel rewards card for Airbnb, Uber, etc.
Use your United Chase card for a 25% mileage bonus on every gift card purchase—regardless of the payment method!
💼 Why This App Stands Out
No waiting for miles to post
No need to ship physical cards
Clean, intuitive interface
Valuable for non-portal retailers
Works great for both frequent flyers and casual earners
✈️ Final Thoughts
In the world of loyalty programs, every mile counts—and the MileagePlus X app makes it nearly effortless to earn more with daily purchases. It’s especially powerful when paired with portal stacking and the right credit card strategy.
So if you’re not using it yet, download the app and start turning your everyday spending into award flights. It’s a pocket-sized mileage booster you’ll wish you started using sooner.
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