UA vs AA shopping portal?
Sep 19, 2014, 2:46 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: UA, AA, AMEX MR
Posts: 111
UA vs AA shopping portal?
Hello,
I was recently browsing the two portals and It appears AA has better deals (more miles/$) for the same stores. Anybody know why AA can offer more than UA?
I'm focusing on building my UA miles, but given this and since I will earn a good portion of miles from shopping, I may have to switch focus to AA if such good deals persist.
I was recently browsing the two portals and It appears AA has better deals (more miles/$) for the same stores. Anybody know why AA can offer more than UA?
I'm focusing on building my UA miles, but given this and since I will earn a good portion of miles from shopping, I may have to switch focus to AA if such good deals persist.
Sep 19, 2014, 3:44 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: HA, DL, UA, PC Gold, A/club Plat, HH Gold, Hyatt Pl
Posts: 1,461
there is no one better then other comparison..it all depends on which store your shopping at and what month/day it is...those rates always change..the best practice is using one of those shopping portal viewers like evreward or cashbackmonitor for all of your purchases.
if your looking for united miles UR also has some really good values sometimes
if your looking for united miles UR also has some really good values sometimes
Sep 19, 2014, 5:48 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: UA, AA, AMEX MR
Posts: 111
there is no one better then other comparison..it all depends on which store your shopping at and what month/day it is...those rates always change..the best practice is using one of those shopping portal viewers like evreward or cashbackmonitor for all of your purchases.
if your looking for united miles UR also has some really good values sometimes
if your looking for united miles UR also has some really good values sometimes
Sep 21, 2014, 8:30 am
#4
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 137
Have you looked at the award charts for UA vs. AA for where you want to go? If you find one takes significantly less miles for a trip, you may want to focus on that program. I'm guessing AA will come out ahead doe to UA's recent devaluations. Is your home airport one of the hubs for either?
Sep 22, 2014, 8:13 am
#5
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Unless your online purchases are very large, miles earned through a portal are unlikely to be a major source of rewards, and switching between two portals means you are likely to end up with a modest amount of miles in two programs, rather than a redeemable amount in one. I would pick one and stay with it.
Sep 22, 2014, 9:02 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2006
Location: DTW, but drive to/from YYZ/ORD
Programs: Chase Ultimate Rewards 2MM, Diner Club points
Posts: 31,894
Unless your online purchases are very large, miles earned through a portal are unlikely to be a major source of rewards, and switching between two portals means you are likely to end up with a modest amount of miles in two programs, rather than a redeemable amount in one. I would pick one and stay with it.
Sep 22, 2014, 9:55 am
#8
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
dcflyer10 may not have an eligible Chase credit card.
Also, the Ultimate Rewards Mall is operated by Cartera:
Also, the Ultimate Rewards Mall is operated by Cartera:
Terms of Use
Definitions:
"Merchants" are the individual merchants whose products and services may be purchased through the Ultimate Rewards Mall.
"Providers" are both Chase Bank USA, N.A. and Cartera Commerce, Inc., who provides administrative services for the program.
Definitions:
"Merchants" are the individual merchants whose products and services may be purchased through the Ultimate Rewards Mall.
"Providers" are both Chase Bank USA, N.A. and Cartera Commerce, Inc., who provides administrative services for the program.
Last edited by mia; Sep 22, 2014 at 11:47 am
Sep 22, 2014, 12:40 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2006
Location: DTW, but drive to/from YYZ/ORD
Programs: Chase Ultimate Rewards 2MM, Diner Club points
Posts: 31,894
Sep 22, 2014, 12:43 pm
#10
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Sep 22, 2014, 12:57 pm
#11
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA, AA, Delta, HGP Diamond, HH Gold, Marriott, CC Gold, SPG
Posts: 154
Like Bitachu mentioned above http://www.cashbackmonitor.com/Trave...ts-Comparison/ is a game changer. Certain sites like marriot's shopping portals have estores that are not in the other ones. Keep an eye out for bonus offers as well.
Oct 3, 2014, 8:20 pm
#12
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,431
I use the AA shopping portal a lot (my go-to portal), and points have always posted promptly. On 9/23, I used United Shopping to be a $925 clothing item at Neiman Marcus (12x that day), and still no pending points. AA has never taken more than a week. Also, I made a $500 Sears gift card from Alaska portal (9x) and those posted within 3 days. If all portals are Cartera, why the discrepancy?
Oct 3, 2014, 8:34 pm
#13
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: HA, DL, UA, PC Gold, A/club Plat, HH Gold, Hyatt Pl
Posts: 1,461
I use the AA shopping portal a lot (my go-to portal), and points have always posted promptly. On 9/23, I used United Shopping to be a $925 clothing item at Neiman Marcus (12x that day), and still no pending points. AA has never taken more than a week. Also, I made a $500 Sears gift card from Alaska portal (9x) and those posted within 3 days. If all portals are Cartera, why the discrepancy?
Oct 3, 2014, 8:35 pm
#14
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HNL
Programs: HA, DL, UA, PC Gold, A/club Plat, HH Gold, Hyatt Pl
Posts: 1,461
since I have points in lots of programs I usually post to whatever the biggest deal is..although I do focus in on ua, aa, discover card and hawaiian air
Oct 12, 2014, 10:01 pm
#15
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: London
Programs: United: 1K, BA: Silver, IHG: Plat, Hyatt: Plat, Marriott: Gold, SPG: Gold, Avis: Chairman
Posts: 178
Hello,
I was recently browsing the two portals and It appears AA has better deals (more miles/$) for the same stores. Anybody know why AA can offer more than UA?
I'm focusing on building my UA miles, but given this and since I will earn a good portion of miles from shopping, I may have to switch focus to AA if such good deals persist.
I was recently browsing the two portals and It appears AA has better deals (more miles/$) for the same stores. Anybody know why AA can offer more than UA?
I'm focusing on building my UA miles, but given this and since I will earn a good portion of miles from shopping, I may have to switch focus to AA if such good deals persist.
