Act fast: Earn up to 4 miles per dollar spent on Apple purchases, including laptops and phones
Editor's Note
Quick summary
- Airlines are offering elevated miles for purchases made at Apple through their shopping portals for a limited time, with rates up to 4 miles per dollar spent.
- Popular Apple products like iPhones and MacBooks are generally eligible, though certain items and purchase types are excluded.
- Each customer can earn bonus miles on up to five units per product, with stricter limits for iPhones.
- Comparing portal rates and considering the value of miles can help maximize rewards on large Apple purchases.
What to consider
- The promotion excludes specific Apple products, gift cards, bulk orders, and purchases with certain discount codes or from government/military stores.
- Bonus miles are limited to a set number of units per product and per customer within a 30-day window.
- Base miles earned through some portals may count toward elite status in airline loyalty programs.
What you'll miss from the article
- A detailed breakdown of exclusions, earning limits, and tips for maximizing value when purchasing Apple products through airline shopping portals.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Just in time for back-to-school, several airlines are offering bonus miles for purchases made on Apple's website for a limited time (through Monday). While not as generous as the rate of 5 bonus points or miles per dollar spent that we occasionally see, earning up to 4 miles per dollar spent is still a solid deal if you're currently in the market for a new Apple device or accessory.
Some of the most popular Apple products — like iPhones and MacBooks — are included, though there are a few exceptions. If you have had your eye on an iPhone or a MacBook Pro, now may be the time to act.
Of the offers currently available, those from Alaska Airlines and United Airlines appear most generous to us.
Here are the elevated earnings you'll receive on Apple purchases when you click through these online shopping portals:
- Alaska Airlines: Earn 4 miles per dollar spent at Apple (typically 1 mile per dollar).
- American Airlines: Earn 3.5 miles per dollar spent at Apple (typically 1 mile per dollar).
- Delta Air Lines: Earn 3.5 miles per dollar spent at Apple (typically 1 mile per dollar).
- United Airlines: Earn 4 miles per dollar spent at Apple (typically 1 mile per dollar).
According to Apple, "Apple Vision Pro, all Apple Vision Pro accessories, Apple Pro Display XDR, gift wrap, Apple Developer Programs, AppleCare+ monthly subscription, and shipping, handling and taxes" are not eligible for rewards.
There are a few other exclusions, including:
- Orders purchased from the government or veterans and military stores
- Purchases made for resale and bulk orders
- Gift cards
- Gift certificates
- Cash equivalents
- Purchases made with coupon or discount codes not found on the site through which the purchase is made
Additionally, each customer is only eligible to receive a bonus on up to five units per eligible product. This excludes the iPhone, which is limited to two units within 30 days.
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. Also, these aggregators won't always list bonuses based on spending thresholds.
How miles can add up
You'll earn up to 4 miles per dollar spent on eligible Apple products. So, if you purchase a standard 14-inch MacBook Pro for $1,199 through the Alaska Airlines portal, you'll earn 4,796 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan miles. Those miles are worth about $70, according to TPG's August 2025 valuations — though they could be worth even more if you find the right flight to redeem them on.
It's worth noting that base miles earned through the American Airlines shopping portal count as Loyalty Points. So, the above purchase (earning 3.5 miles per dollar spent) would bring you 4,196 Loyalty Points closer to earning (or requalifying for) American Airlines elite status. In other words, this single purchase would get you more than 10% of your way to the 40,000 Loyalty Points required for entry-level AAdvantage Gold status in the American Airlines AAdvantage program.
Which credit cards to use
Surprisingly, the Apple Card isn't necessarily the best card for Apple purchases.
It offers a decent return, but 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 compensation if your product is damaged or destroyed during the coverage period. Several 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 buying a pricey new phone, it's good to have a card that will help protect it in case 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 spent on all purchases, like the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card or the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card. Both cards provide 2 Capital One miles per dollar spent on all purchases. You can then redeem these miles at a fixed value toward travel purchases or transfer them to various travel partners.
The information for the Ink Business Preferred has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
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