Jan 27, 2024, 11:28 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
This is an archive thread, the active thread is MileagePlus X – Shopping App to Earn Additional Award Miles
NEW as of 11/9/18:
App now includes MP Dining and MP Shopping in addition to eGift cards.
Dining: Once you log in and enable location sharing the app will tell you what MP Dining restaurant options are in your area. The app appears to know if you are a base or VIP dining member, and shows the appropriate earn rate you can expect (3 for base member or 5 miles per $ for VIP). Restaurants show in an incomplete "Nearby" list or are further visible under the "Cuisine Types" tab.
Shopping: You can browse the same list of stores you'd find on the main MileagePlus shopping website. There are tabs to show which stores are offering elevated offers as well as another with a searchable list of all stores who participated in the program. Tapping on the store will give you the option take you to that store's site so you can shop in your device's browser just as you would on a laptop or desktop.
Maximizing this app opp:
As per the app, you can double or triple dip. You get the UA miles from the app (+25% bonus if the app is attached to a MP acct), you get the miles (or CB, or whatever the deal is with your CC) from the CC attached to the app (via .bomb), and if you use the GC that is generated by the App and apply it online to a purchase via the MP shopping portal, you get the UA miles for that as well.
Ex: Buy $50 Staples MP-X credit with the app and get:
A. 2x on the app at Staples=100 UA (if you have a MP CC attached to the app, you get 25% more = 125 UA), PLUS
B. 2% CB with your BA+ card for example = $1 CB (but then no extra 25% bonus shown in A., above), PLUS
C. 1x on MP portal = 50 UA
Total would be 150 UA + $1CB in the example above (a UA double dip, e.g. A and C, but a non-UA dip added).
More scenarios:
-If you used a 1x UA MP card in the above example, it would be 125 UA+50 UA+50 UA=225 UA (a UA triple dip, e.g. A, B, and C).
-If you used a 5x INK card in the above example, it would be 100UA+*MAYBE 250UR+50UA = 150U+*MAYBE 250UR (a UA double dip, e.g. A and C, but a non-UA dip added and IMHO the best value: effectively 8x! *assuming the INK codes correctly as office supplies**).
**This is probably not the case, see post 513- no triple dipping
Conversions
Some MPX merchants allow for the purchase of a gift card with a gift card. This may allow you to use MPX to indirectly purchase a gift card to shop at a merchant otherwise not offered on MPX. As always, YMMV as you may encounter some merchants that may not allow this practice, rogue cashiers/managers who think it might not be allowed, or POS systems that are designed to not allow this (understandable as they make little to no money on the sale).
These merchants *may* include:
Best Buy - Does not allow purchase of Visa/Amex/MC gift cards, other merchant GCs OK.
GameStop
Sears
MPX Merchants that sell other merchants' GCs, but do not allow the purchase of GC with GC (MPX or otherwise):
Staples - Not allowed per policy, but may go through on their POS if cashier ignores prompt.
Barnes and Noble - No official policy - cashiers are trained that it's not allowed although it will go through on their POS
Office Depot
Lowes
eBay
Note: There appears to be a $3000.00 per 24 hours spend limit
MPX only works within the US - as per T&Cs! If you try to use the app outside the US, error code 126 will pop up.
Your MPX account name and password are the same as the united.com / MP account name and password. And your mile earned are locked to that MP account.
If using MPX to get a few miles to prevent mileage expiration, you need to be logged in as that account whose miles are approaching expiration.
In your account info is "Member since " date
customer service email address, [email protected]
Archived posts - MileagePlus X – Shopping App to Earn Additional Award Miles [ARCHIVE]
NEW as of 11/9/18:
App now includes MP Dining and MP Shopping in addition to eGift cards.
Dining: Once you log in and enable location sharing the app will tell you what MP Dining restaurant options are in your area. The app appears to know if you are a base or VIP dining member, and shows the appropriate earn rate you can expect (3 for base member or 5 miles per $ for VIP). Restaurants show in an incomplete "Nearby" list or are further visible under the "Cuisine Types" tab.
Shopping: You can browse the same list of stores you'd find on the main MileagePlus shopping website. There are tabs to show which stores are offering elevated offers as well as another with a searchable list of all stores who participated in the program. Tapping on the store will give you the option take you to that store's site so you can shop in your device's browser just as you would on a laptop or desktop.
Maximizing this app opp:
As per the app, you can double or triple dip. You get the UA miles from the app (+25% bonus if the app is attached to a MP acct), you get the miles (or CB, or whatever the deal is with your CC) from the CC attached to the app (via .bomb), and if you use the GC that is generated by the App and apply it online to a purchase via the MP shopping portal, you get the UA miles for that as well.
Ex: Buy $50 Staples MP-X credit with the app and get:
A. 2x on the app at Staples=100 UA (if you have a MP CC attached to the app, you get 25% more = 125 UA), PLUS
B. 2% CB with your BA+ card for example = $1 CB (but then no extra 25% bonus shown in A., above), PLUS
C. 1x on MP portal = 50 UA
Total would be 150 UA + $1CB in the example above (a UA double dip, e.g. A and C, but a non-UA dip added).
More scenarios:
-If you used a 1x UA MP card in the above example, it would be 125 UA+50 UA+50 UA=225 UA (a UA triple dip, e.g. A, B, and C).
-If you used a 5x INK card in the above example, it would be 100UA+*MAYBE 250UR+50UA = 150U+*MAYBE 250UR (a UA double dip, e.g. A and C, but a non-UA dip added and IMHO the best value: effectively 8x! *assuming the INK codes correctly as office supplies**).
**This is probably not the case, see post 513- no triple dipping
Conversions
Some MPX merchants allow for the purchase of a gift card with a gift card. This may allow you to use MPX to indirectly purchase a gift card to shop at a merchant otherwise not offered on MPX. As always, YMMV as you may encounter some merchants that may not allow this practice, rogue cashiers/managers who think it might not be allowed, or POS systems that are designed to not allow this (understandable as they make little to no money on the sale).
These merchants *may* include:
Best Buy - Does not allow purchase of Visa/Amex/MC gift cards, other merchant GCs OK.
GameStop
Sears
MPX Merchants that sell other merchants' GCs, but do not allow the purchase of GC with GC (MPX or otherwise):
Staples - Not allowed per policy, but may go through on their POS if cashier ignores prompt.
Barnes and Noble - No official policy - cashiers are trained that it's not allowed although it will go through on their POS
Office Depot
Lowes
eBay
Note: There appears to be a $3000.00 per 24 hours spend limit
MPX only works within the US - as per T&Cs! If you try to use the app outside the US, error code 126 will pop up.
Your MPX account name and password are the same as the united.com / MP account name and password. And your mile earned are locked to that MP account.
If using MPX to get a few miles to prevent mileage expiration, you need to be logged in as that account whose miles are approaching expiration.
In your account info is "Member since " date
customer service email address, [email protected]
Archived posts - MileagePlus X – Shopping App to Earn Additional Award Miles [ARCHIVE]
MileagePlus X – Shopping App to Earn Additional Award Miles [ARCHIVE]
May 11, 2018, 10:45 am
#1261
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
The Amazon card from Chase is a much better deal than 0.5 (or 0.625) MileagePlus miles per dollar. No annual fee, 3% cash back on Amazon.com purchases, or 5% for Prime members. MPX purchases didn't seem to get coded as Amazon purchases, so there wasn't any way to stack them.
May 11, 2018, 12:23 pm
#1262
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: Delta, United
Posts: 38
The Amazon card from Chase is a much better deal than 0.5 (or 0.625) MileagePlus miles per dollar. No annual fee, 3% cash back on Amazon.com purchases, or 5% for Prime members. MPX purchases didn't seem to get coded as Amazon purchases, so there wasn't any way to stack them.
May 12, 2018, 7:23 pm
#1263
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 16
Hi everyone, new to the forum. Just got MPX downloaded and can’t get a single transaction to be approved. Tried reinstall app, sent an email and no word back. Is this app really as worthless as it appears to be? Customer service is clearly non existent as it’s been 2 days now since I sent the email. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Thanks!
May 12, 2018, 7:42 pm
#1264
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,319
Unlikely. Citi seems to classify many transactions as something other than travel even when they are "travel" for purposes of Chase. I had train tickets and points purchases from hotels all classified as either "government" or "other business" expenses. Citi definitely tries to evade paying 3x on as many things as possible.
May 12, 2018, 8:28 pm
#1265
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,856
Welcome to FT!
Can you be a bit more explicit as to the error message?
Which credit card have you linked to the MPX app?
The MPX app is known for occasional outages.
Which credit card have you linked to the MPX app?
The MPX app is known for occasional outages.
May 12, 2018, 8:36 pm
#1266
Join Date: May 2018
Posts: 16
May 13, 2018, 8:20 am
#1267
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 240
It sucks this no longer codes as 5x on Amex platinum and makes no sense why chase stopped giving 3x on csr for food/travel merchants. The app has lost most of its appeal now.
May 13, 2018, 8:48 am
#1268
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, UA Mileage Plus 1K, AA Executive Plat, Marriott Ambassador Elite
Posts: 2,344
May 20, 2018, 10:49 am
#1269
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Frozen in Carbonite
Programs: UA Aluminum 0.6MM, Bonvoy Life Sentence, Hyatt Eliteist, AA Super Plutonium
Posts: 2,878
It’s not worth the hassle to use anymore. I used to frequently reload my Starbucks account, then the mileage dropped from 2 to 1. Wifey wanted to buy things on Sephora...that went from 5 to 3. Amazon 1, down to .5 then Nada (there were times over the last few years where Amazon was as high as 3).
Its no no longer worth the extra button presses for the paltry amount of miles. And I’ll be going into the app way less frequently since amazon is gone
Nice job UA 👍🏼
Last edited by TommyC80; May 20, 2018 at 10:55 am
May 20, 2018, 11:47 am
#1270
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,856
The revenue model of MileagePlus X is as a vehicle to sell these promos to merchants, it is the merchants that fund this and makes the decision to participate.
May 20, 2018, 7:08 pm
#1271
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,640
I can't imagine that merchants would want to back out of this and/or reduce funding. These merchants pay a lot more to sell gift cards through Blackhawk Network (aka Gift Card Mall). Going through UA cuts out one of the two middlemen (each of which take their cut).
May 20, 2018, 7:14 pm
#1272
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,856
Merchants start and stop promo programs all the time. They move their promo dollars to different programs to achieve different impacts.
MPX is a promo program to entice folks to use a merchant due to the higher RDM offer. The gift card is merely the method used to transfer the funds. There is a significant cost to the merchant for the additional RDMs.
May 21, 2018, 6:35 pm
#1273
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 55
Am I the only one who finds the whole process tedious? I was able to apply $53 at the Cheesecake factory, but you have to go back and forth, toggling screens and switching apps. I'd likely use it if I was purchasing a new Dell with a $1,000+ price tag, but for the occasional spend it sucks time. I do use it for Uber. My largest spend was Amazon and that appears to be gone, at least for now.
May 21, 2018, 6:41 pm
#1274
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,854
Am I the only one who finds the whole process tedious? I was able to apply $53 at the Cheesecake factory, but you have to go back and forth, toggling screens and switching apps. I'd likely use it if I was purchasing a new Dell with a $1,000+ price tag, but for the occasional spend it sucks time. I do use it for Uber. My largest spend was Amazon and that appears to be gone, at least for now.
May 22, 2018, 9:17 am
#1275
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 1,277
Am I the only one who finds the whole process tedious? I was able to apply $53 at the Cheesecake factory, but you have to go back and forth, toggling screens and switching apps. I'd likely use it if I was purchasing a new Dell with a $1,000+ price tag, but for the occasional spend it sucks time. I do use it for Uber. My largest spend was Amazon and that appears to be gone, at least for now.