Score Up to 2,500 Bonus Miles with United's Back-to-School Shopping Spree

If you're a United MileagePlus member looking to pad your miles balance, here's a simple way to do it without stepping on a plane. United's shopping portal is running a limited-time promotion that rewards you with bonus miles for spending at their partner stores. Think of it as getting a little extra for your back-to-school shopping or any online purchases you were already planning to make.

How the Bonus Miles Stack Up

The promotion is straightforward: the more you spend through the MileagePlus Shopping portal, the more bonus miles you earn. There are three spending tiers, and you only get the bonus for the tier you hit—not all of them combined. So if you spend $600, you'll get 2,500 miles, not 500 + 1,500 + 2,500.

Here's the breakdown:

Spend $150 and you'll pocket 500 bonus miles. That's like getting a little thank-you for a modest purchase. Spend $350 and the bonus jumps to 1,500 miles. And if you go all the way to $600, you'll earn the full 2,500 miles. The miles are awarded on cumulative qualifying purchases during the promotional period, so you can make multiple smaller purchases to reach the threshold.

• Tier 1: 500 bonus miles on $150+ in qualifying purchases
• Tier 2: 1,500 bonus miles on $350+ in qualifying purchases
• Tier 3: 2,500 bonus miles on $600+ in qualifying purchases
• Only the highest tier you reach applies—no stacking

What Counts as a Qualifying Purchase?

Not everything you buy through the portal will count toward the bonus. The fine print excludes returns, cancellations, shipping fees, taxes, gift cards, and other cash-equivalent items. Also, some products from certain stores may not be eligible for miles at all, so it's worth checking the portal's product eligibility page before you checkout.

To make sure your purchase qualifies, always start your shopping session by logging into your MileagePlus Shopping account and clicking through to the store from the portal. If you buy something without going through the portal first, it won't track and you won't get the miles. Also, keep an eye on the order confirmation—sometimes miles don't post if the store doesn't report the sale correctly.

• Excludes: returns, cancellations, shipping, taxes, gift cards
• Must shop via the MileagePlus Shopping portal or in-store offers
• Allow up to 10 weeks for bonus miles to appear in your account

Tips to Maximize This Offer

This is a great opportunity to double-dip. Use a rewards credit card that earns extra points on shopping—like the United Explorer Card or a card with strong bonus categories—to earn miles or cash back on top of the portal bonus. Just be sure to pay off the balance to avoid interest charges that could eat into your rewards.

If you're planning to buy something you need anyway, like school supplies, electronics, or clothing, see if the store is in United's portal. Many popular retailers participate, so you might be able to hit the $600 threshold without changing your spending habits. And remember, you have until August 12, 2024, so you can spread purchases out over a few weeks.

• Use a rewards credit card for extra earnings
• Check if your favorite stores are in the portal
• Combine with store sales or coupons for even more savings

Bottom Line

• Earn up to 2,500 bonus miles by spending $600 through United's shopping portal.
• The promotion runs from July 15 to August 12, 2024—don't wait until the last minute.
• Only qualifying purchases count; avoid gift cards and watch for exclusions.
• Pair with a rewards credit card to maximize your earnings.

Common Questions