The Secret Way to 5X Points on Amazon (& Other Shopping) With AMEX Platinum!

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Via IAD Gr8 and commenter amex 5X when you use your (personal) The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Mercedes-Benz card to make a purchase through the United MileagePlus X app, you’ll earn 5X AMEX Membership Rewards points in addition to bonus United Airlines miles you’ll get from using the app.

That’s because AMEX codes United MileagePlus X purchases as airfare.  I can’t tell if this is intentional (after all the United MileagePlus X app is part of United which is an airline), or not.

Remember that AMEX recently changed their personal Platinum cards to earn 5X points on airfare purchased directly from airlines. 

This is terrific news, because you’ll be able to earn 5X AMEX Membership Rewards points at many merchants, like Amazon, Staples, Applebee’s, Starbuck’s, Sephora, and more.

I’ll show you how to get 5X AMEX Membership Rewards points on purchases at dozens of stores, restaurants, and services!

Earn 5X AMEX Membership Rewards Points With United MileagePlus X App

Link:   Reddit United MileagePlus X

Link:   United MileagePlus X App

United MileagePlus X is a shopping app available for Apple and Android devices.  You can purchase electronic gift cards for dozens of merchants, including physical and online retailers, restaurants, and services.

You’ll earn bonus United Airlines miles for your purchase.  Sometimes up to 5 United Airlines miles per $1 you spend!  That’s in addition to rewards you’d earn with the credit card you register with the app.

Because the The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Mercedes-Benz now offer 5X AMEX Membership Rewards points, you can use these cards through the United MileagePlus X app to earn 5X points on many non-airfare purchases!

Triggers $200 Airline Credit

View From the Wing writes that United MileagePlus X made with American Express cards coded as airline purchases and would thus get you the $200 annual airline credit.

He explains that many folks purchased Amazon gift cards through the app to trigger the annual airfare credit on certain AMEX cards, like the Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express, The Platinum Card® from American Express, The Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Mercedes-Benz, or The Business Platinum® Card from American Express.

Again, I’m not sure if this is intended or not, so use at your own risk!

Experiment:   Amazon.com

I purchased a $25 Amazon gift card through the United MileagePlus X with my AMEX Platinum card.

I immediately earned 25 bonus United Airlines miles, because United MileagePlus X offers 1 additional United Airlines mile per $1 when you purchase a gift card through the app.

And after a few days, the transaction posted to my American Express account as an airline purchase.  So it triggered the 5X bonus for airfare purchases from airlines!

Update:  The points haven’t posted to my account, and I’m guessing there’s a good chance it will get 5x points.  On the other hand, folks have reported that using the Premier Rewards Gold card doesn’t get 3x points, so there’s also a good chance that I won’t get 5X points!

Remember, you must set your payment method to your AMEX Platinum card in the United MileagePlus X app.  Otherwise you won’t earn the category bonus.

Note:   MasterCard, Visa, and Discover cards typically do NOT code as an airline purchase on United MileagePlus X.

This is a fantastic opportunity to stack United Airlines bonus miles with 5X AMEX Membership Rewards points on purchases like restaurants, office supply stores, department stores, and more.

That said, this likely won’t last long.  I can’t tell if this AMEX intended for this to happen because the Mileage Plus X app is part of United (an airline) or not.  AMEX has clawed back sign-up bonuses if it suspected folks met the minimum spending in a fraudulent way.  So I wouldn’t go overboard here.

So if you have big purchases coming up from retailers included on the United MileagePlus X app, I’d make them sooner than later!

Bottom Line

If you have The Platinum Card® from American Express or The Platinum Card® from American Express Exclusively for Mercedes-Benz card, you can earn 5X AMEX Membership Rewards points when you buy electronic gift cards to various merchants thought the United MileagePlus X app.

This is in addition to bonus United Airlines miles you’ll get from using the app.  And includes retailers like Amazon, Kohl’s, Staples, and more!

Remember, to earn the bonus AMEX points, you must register and use your AMEX Platinum card through the United MileagePlus X app.

Let me know if you’ve had success earning 5X AMEX Membership Rewards points with the United MileagePlus X app!