Editor’s note: This post has been updated with the latest information.
Is it time to get a new iPhone or upgrade the technology in your home office? If so, today is a good day to buy the Apple products that have been sitting in your shopping cart. Several airlines are offering bonus miles for purchases made online with Apple.com for a limited time.
Here are the elevated earnings you’ll receive on Apple purchases on Dec. 12, 2022, when you click through these online shopping portals:
- American: Earn 4 miles per dollar at Apple (typically 1 mile per dollar).
- Alaska: Earn 4 miles per dollar at Apple (typically 1 mile per dollar).
- Delta: Earn 4 miles per dollar at Apple (typically 1 mile per dollar).
- United: Earn 4 miles per dollar at Apple (typically 1 mile per dollar).
You should always use a shopping portal aggregator to compare the top earning rates for various retailers before making a big purchase. How you value your miles will affect which offer is best for you overall. Just know that bonuses based on spending thresholds won’t always be listed on these aggregators.
How miles can add up
If you purchase an M1 MacBook Air for $999 through the AAdvantage Shopping portal, you’ll earn 3,996 AAdvantage miles. Those miles are worth $70.73 according to TPG valuations, and they could be worth even more if you can find the right flight to redeem them on.
And base miles earned through the American shopping portal now count as Loyalty Points. So you’d be almost 4,000 Loyalty Points closer to earning (or requalifying for) American elite status.
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Just note that there are some restrictions on what you can purchase at these increased award rates: Gift cards, gift wrap, AppleCare+ monthly subscriptions, Apple Developer Programs and shipping are typically ineligible to earn miles. On the American portal, you also won’t earn points on some of Apple’s newest releases, including the iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max and Apple Pro Display XDR.
Related: How I used Ultimate Rewards to pay $4 for an iPad and earn 1,975 Amex points
Which credit cards to use
Surprisingly, the Apple Card isn’t necessarily the best card for making Apple purchases.
Although it offers a decent return, given the high cost of Apple’s devices you should focus on credit cards with purchase protection and extended warranty benefits instead. Benefits vary from card to card, but you may have success getting compensated if your product is damaged or destroyed during the coverage period. Multiple TPG staffers have had success getting their Apple products covered through credit card protections.
The information for the Apple Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
If you’re picking up a pricey new phone, it’s good to have a card that will help protect your phone in the event of loss or damage beyond those initial few months when purchase protection is in play, such as the Ink Business Preferred Credit Card.
Additional reporting by Andrew Kunesh.
