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 1, 2019, 8:27 am
#1456
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: Coffee Shop Buy 10 Get 1 Free
Posts: 295
Yeah, I got the first set of miles from Overstock. Subsequent purchases have received nothing. Just did a $500 order the other day, recorded my screen this time so we'll see. Doesn't seem to be any limits on the T&Cs
May 1, 2019, 3:58 pm
#1457
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
I remember that when I first signed up for MPX I tried my CSR for a $5 starbucks card to test it, and it didn't code as dining.
Then some time later I tried again with a similar small purchase and it did. I have no idea what changed.
May 1, 2019, 4:52 pm
#1458
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 354
4 UA miles is good for a shopping portal, but I'd rather buy hotels.com gift cards at a good discount and use those to pay instead of a CSR. For example, right now bjs.com is selling $100 hotels.com GCs for $85. Pay with a BBP and you get 2x MR. So then you have 15% off + 2x MR + 4x UA (MPX featured apps) + whatever other discounts you get (idk if bjs.com has a portal discount, but other retailers might).
May 2, 2019, 3:22 pm
#1459
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
4 UA miles is good for a shopping portal, but I'd rather buy hotels.com gift cards at a good discount and use those to pay instead of a CSR. For example, right now bjs.com is selling $100 hotels.com GCs for $85. Pay with a BBP and you get 2x MR. So then you have 15% off + 2x MR + 4x UA (MPX featured apps) + whatever other discounts you get (idk if bjs.com has a portal discount, but other retailers might).
I generally stay at Hyatt. With my globalist status I get 6.5 pts per dollar spent (5 base pts + 30% bonus) and 4 more pts for putting it on my Hyatt credit card. So, 10.5 pts per dollar. I don't want to get into a big discussion about points valuation, but, for my purposes, 2.5 - 3.5 c redemptions on stays that I'm going to make anyway are commonplace.
As far as status goes, the free breakfasts and waived resort fees alone are worth a few thousand dollars a year to me (even ignoring the other benefits I get) so those qualifying nights are worth a lot (stays booked through hotels.com are not considered to be at an "eligible rate" for purposes of status earning).
But if you don't stay at hotels enough for loyalty programs and elite status to have real value, then, I agree, what you are describing is a great deal. The point here is, there's a reason that hotels.com can be bought at such a discount -- the value of booking through them is much lower than booking through the hotel.
May 2, 2019, 3:36 pm
#1460
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 354
Depending on your travel habits this might be a good deal, but booking through hotels.com usually means that you miss out hotel points for your spend as well, and also status qualification.
I generally stay at Hyatt. With my globalist status I get 6.5 pts per dollar spent (5 base pts + 30% bonus) and 4 more pts for putting it on my Hyatt credit card. So, 10.5 pts per dollar. I don't want to get into a big discussion about points valuation, but, for my purposes, 2.5 - 3.5 c redemptions on stays that I'm going to make anyway are commonplace.
As far as status goes, the free breakfasts and waived resort fees alone are worth a few thousand dollars a year to me (even ignoring the other benefits I get) so those qualifying nights are worth a lot (stays booked through hotels.com are not considered to be at an "eligible rate" for purposes of status earning).
But if you don't stay at hotels enough for loyalty programs and elite status to have real value, then, I agree, what you are describing is a great deal. The point here is, there's a reason that hotels.com can be bought at such a discount -- the value of booking through them is much lower than booking through the hotel.
I generally stay at Hyatt. With my globalist status I get 6.5 pts per dollar spent (5 base pts + 30% bonus) and 4 more pts for putting it on my Hyatt credit card. So, 10.5 pts per dollar. I don't want to get into a big discussion about points valuation, but, for my purposes, 2.5 - 3.5 c redemptions on stays that I'm going to make anyway are commonplace.
As far as status goes, the free breakfasts and waived resort fees alone are worth a few thousand dollars a year to me (even ignoring the other benefits I get) so those qualifying nights are worth a lot (stays booked through hotels.com are not considered to be at an "eligible rate" for purposes of status earning).
But if you don't stay at hotels enough for loyalty programs and elite status to have real value, then, I agree, what you are describing is a great deal. The point here is, there's a reason that hotels.com can be bought at such a discount -- the value of booking through them is much lower than booking through the hotel.
P.s. i don't usually use hotels.com either. Usually stay at Hilton/ Marriott on points, and if a chain isn't around, I'll use airbnb.
May 2, 2019, 3:39 pm
#1461
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: Delta, United
Posts: 38
4 UA miles is good for a shopping portal, but I'd rather buy hotels.com gift cards at a good discount and use those to pay instead of a CSR. For example, right now bjs.com is selling $100 hotels.com GCs for $85. Pay with a BBP and you get 2x MR. So then you have 15% off + 2x MR + 4x UA (MPX featured apps) + whatever other discounts you get (idk if bjs.com has a portal discount, but other retailers might).
For or almost every purchase someone has likely figured out a way that squeezes out a bit more value. I love to hear about them all even if they aren’t relevant because that technique may work for something else.
May 2, 2019, 5:04 pm
#1462
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Bay Area, CA
Posts: 223
Looks like the Mothers Day Promotion has started, but it seems a lot weaker than some of the promotions in the past. I remember there being 10x gift cards for Gap/Banana Republic/Old Navy, but no longer.
May 11, 2019, 12:53 pm
#1463
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 7
Have been using MPX app flawlessly for several years now. Decided last weekend that it was time to do a periodic change of passwords (including my united account). Ever since then, ... can't get the app to process payment. I can successfully log into the app (shows my United mileageplus balance, etc.), ... however, when I try to process a GC payment, I get the following error message: "We're sorry - your transaction cannont be completed. Please email [email protected] for assistance."
I've deleted app and reinstalled. I've logged into my united.com desktop account and deleted all saved credit cards, and re-added one. Nothing seems to resolve this. Anyone else have a similar experience and any suggestions? I've traded emails with the customer service, ... and all I get is that they've escalated the issue. I have very low expectations that they're going to fix my issue.
I've deleted app and reinstalled. I've logged into my united.com desktop account and deleted all saved credit cards, and re-added one. Nothing seems to resolve this. Anyone else have a similar experience and any suggestions? I've traded emails with the customer service, ... and all I get is that they've escalated the issue. I have very low expectations that they're going to fix my issue.
May 11, 2019, 2:34 pm
#1464
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,306
Have been using MPX app flawlessly for several years now. Decided last weekend that it was time to do a periodic change of passwords (including my united account). Ever since then, ... can't get the app to process payment. I can successfully log into the app (shows my United mileageplus balance, etc.), ... however, when I try to process a GC payment, I get the following error message: "We're sorry - your transaction cannont be completed. Please email [email protected] for assistance."
I've deleted app and reinstalled. I've logged into my united.com desktop account and deleted all saved credit cards, and re-added one. Nothing seems to resolve this. Anyone else have a similar experience and any suggestions? I've traded emails with the customer service, ... and all I get is that they've escalated the issue. I have very low expectations that they're going to fix my issue.
I've deleted app and reinstalled. I've logged into my united.com desktop account and deleted all saved credit cards, and re-added one. Nothing seems to resolve this. Anyone else have a similar experience and any suggestions? I've traded emails with the customer service, ... and all I get is that they've escalated the issue. I have very low expectations that they're going to fix my issue.
TD
May 11, 2019, 6:51 pm
#1465
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 7
Thanks! Tried that and even deleted and reinstalled app again. Still getting the error. It's weird, I can log into the app fine and see the my mileageplus account details (saved credit cards, mileage balance, etc.), ... but when I try to purchase a GC, I get the error message. It's almost as if it is applying an old pw when I attempt to purchase the GC (and I don't get the option to change it).
May 26, 2019, 2:04 pm
#1466
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: DFW
Posts: 50
I've been having trouble with the "purchase failed" error within the app. Is it possible to use the United Mileage Plus website to purchase e-gift cards to trigger the travel credit? (I'm using my PenFed Pathfinder that gives $100 travel credit annually). Or do website purchases not code as travel?
Jun 16, 2019, 9:43 am
#1467
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Antwerp
Programs: Quite a few...
Posts: 72
Starting with the last update on iOS, I get:
Error
eGift Cards is still loading. Please try
again little later.
-------------------------------------------------
Okay
eGift Cards is still loading. Please try
again little later.
-------------------------------------------------
Okay
Doesn't matter logging out and in again, the error remains. 
Jun 16, 2019, 11:06 am
#1468
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,411
I found a temporary solution: I had to sign out and then sign back in, explicitly, before making a purchase. As long as you have a valid session (i.e., you’ve signed in within the last few minutes), it won’t prompt you to sign in again during the purchase process.
The longer-term solution I found was to sign out (from the account page). I then had to disable FaceID in the iOS settings for the MileagePlus X app. I signed in successfully with the new password and then signed back out. I then re-enabled FaceID in the iOS settings, re-activated it in the MileagePlus X app, and signed back in again. Since I’ve done that, FaceID has worked properly, using the new password.
Jul 30, 2019, 6:30 pm
#1469
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Auckland
Programs: NZ Elite Partner/Silver (in own right), PR Classic, QF Bronze, UA Member, VA Red
Posts: 1,551
Hi, hoping someone can help.
Can't find this app in the Apple store (I live in New Zealand).
Was hoping to use Mileage Plus dining on a forthcoming trip to the US.
Thanks
Can't find this app in the Apple store (I live in New Zealand).
Was hoping to use Mileage Plus dining on a forthcoming trip to the US.
Thanks
Jul 30, 2019, 6:58 pm
#1470
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,306