27 March 2023
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, now is a good time to buy the Apple products that have been sitting in your shopping cart. Several airlines are offering bonus miles for purchases made on Apple’s website for a limited time.
Here are the elevated earnings you’ll receive on Apple purchases Monday when you click through these online shopping portals:
American Airlines: Earn up to 6 miles per dollar at Apple (typically 1 mile per dollar).
Alaska Airlines: Earn up to 6 miles per dollar at Apple (typically 1 mile per dollar).
Delta Air Lines: Earn up to 6 miles per dollar at Apple (typically 1 mile per dollar).
United Airlines: Earn up to 6 miles per dollar at Apple (typically 1 mile per dollar).
When you click through, notice that different Apple products are awarding different rates. For example, with American AAdvantage, Apple iPhone purchases earn 6 miles per dollar while Apple Watches earn 3 miles 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 these aggregators won’t always list bonuses based on spending thresholds.
ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY
Related: Why Apple’s entry-level iPhone 14s are great for travelers
How miles can add up
If you purchase a base-model iPhone 14 Pro for $999 through the AAdvantage Shopping portal, you’ll earn 5,994 AAdvantage miles. Those miles are worth $106.09 according to TPG valuations, and they could be worth even more if you can find the right flight to redeem them on.
Base miles earned through the American shopping portal now count as Loyalty Points. So you’d be almost 6,000 Loyalty Points closer to earning (or requalifying for) American elite status.
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. You won’t earn points on the American portal on some of Apple’s newest releases, including the HomePod (second generation), 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro, Mac mini 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 successfully covered their Apple products 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. The Ink Business Preferred Credit Card is a good option.
You might also consider a card that earns more than 1 point or mile per dollar on all purchases, like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. This card earns 2 Capital One miles per dollar on all purchases. You can redeem these miles at a fixed value toward travel purchases or transfer them to various travel partners.
Additional reporting by Andrew Kunesh and Summer Hull.