For years, I was a loyal United Airlines flyer. I held elite status, traveled over 50,000 miles annually, and accumulated significant lifetime miles. However, after the pandemic, United changed its award and status systems, making elite status much harder to achieve. I realized my steady travel patterns would only earn me lower status tiers, and I stopped getting the upgrades I once enjoyed.
On top of that, United devalued its MileagePlus program. For example, in 2022 or 2023, I booked United Polaris business class to Rome for around 60,000 miles plus minimal taxes – a fantastic deal. But after their devaluation, that same award rose to 80,000-88,000 miles, a 25% increase. Combined with their status changes, this pushed me to shift loyalty to American Airlines, where points remain more valuable, while mixing in Delta for their excellent lounges.
Today, I rarely fly United unless it’s highly convenient or an unbeatable international deal. I downgraded my United credit cards to just the no-fee Gateway card, mainly to keep a United account open in case things change. Yet, despite my disappointment with MileagePlus, I continue to earn thousands of United miles each year.
Why? Because of the United MileagePlus X app. This app allows you to buy gift cards to hundreds of major retailers and restaurants, earning United miles on top of your regular credit card rewards. If you hold a United credit card, you even get a 25% mileage bonus. For me, this is a no-brainer. I earn miles at places I shop and dine anyway, from Texas Roadhouse to Chipotle to Walmart. The app is quick – purchase a gift card within seconds, show the barcode to the cashier or server, and you’re done.
While United miles aren’t the most valuable, they never expire, and the miles earned through MileagePlus X are essentially free. I simply shift some dining or shopping choices from local restaurants to national chains where the app works, without sacrificing the quality of my experience.
Even if you’re not a United fan, the MileagePlus X app is a powerful tool for earning extra miles effortlessly. It’s one of the simplest ways to boost your points portfolio without spending anything extra.
The Rewards Master 