For Apple fans, tomorrow is a very big days it is the day to pre-order the new iPhones. For the first time, Apple has released two phones that have different sizes so the pre-order rush may not be as intense as it was for the 5s given the fact that many consumers may want to hold both phones to help them with their decisions. But, if you are one of those who plan on pre-ordering one of the new iPhones, you might as well maximize the points you can earn buying it!
Getting the Most Points When Buying the iPhone 6
The new iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus
I am not going to speak to the technical aspects of the phone that much since you probably already know all you need to about the phone if you plan on buying it! If you do not, just search for “iPhone 6” and read any of the stories from the tech blogs to get the information you are looking for.
What I will write about is what stores will be accepting pre-orders and how to maximize the points you can earn with them.
Prices
Before we break down the various retail outlets that you can purchase the phones through, here is a list showing the prices for the various models of the new iPhones.
iPhone 6 4.7″
- 16gb – $199
- 64gb – $299
- 128gb – $399
The T-Mobile edition comes with no contract and is available at the following prices:
- 16g – $649
- 64gb – $749
- 128gb – $849
iPhone 6 Plus 5.5″
- 16gb – $299
- 64gb – $399
- 128gb – $499
The T-Mobile edition for this also comes with no contract and is available at the following pries:
- 16gb – $749
- 64gb – $849
- 128gb – $949
Apple
- Pre-orders start at 12:01AM (PST)
- American Airlines – 1 mile per dollar
- Delta Airlines – 1 mile per dollar
- Hawaiian Airlines – 1.5 miles per dollar
- Southwest Airlines – 1 point per dollar
- Ultimate Rewards – 1 point per dollar
- US Airways – 1 mile per dollar
- United Airlines – 1 mile per dollar
- If you use your American Express Business Gold Rewards card, you can earn 2 Membership Reward points per dollar (since Apple is a computer store and that category gives 2 points).
AT&T
If you are making a new account, the airline portals below will give you the miles mentioned. Upgrades may not earn the miles.
- Pre-orders start at 12:01AM (PST)
- American Airlines – 4,300 miles
- BigCrumbs – up to $60 cash back
- Delta Airlines – 2,800 miles
- Hawaiian Airlines – 6,517 miles
- Southwest Airlines – 3,600 points
- US Airways – 2,800 miles
- United Airlines – 2,600 miles
- If you have them charge the price of the phone to your bill (or use their NEXT plan), you can pay for the bill with your Chase Ink Bold/Plus and earn 5X points as a telecommunications purchase. Reports vary (but mostly no) whether you will receive the 5X points if purchasing the phone directly.
Sprint
If you are making a new account, the airline portals below will give you the miles mentioned. Upgrades may not earn the miles.
- Pre-orders start at 12:00AM (PST)
- American Airlines – 3,300 miles
- BigCrumbs – up to $45 cash back
- Delta Airlines – 2,100 miles
- Southwest Airlines – 2,700 points
- US Airways – 2,100 miles
- United Airlines – 1,900 miles
- If you have them charge the price of the phone to your bill, you can pay for the bill with your Chase Ink Bold/Plus and earn 5X points as a telecommunications purchase. Reports vary (but mostly no) whether you will receive the 5X points if purchasing the phone directly.
T-Mobile
If you are making a new account, the airline portals below will give you the miles mentioned. Upgrades most likely will not earn the miles.
- Pre-orders start at 12:01AM (PST)
- American Airlines – 3,300 miles
- BigCrumbs – up to $45 cash back
- Delta Airlines – 2,100 miles
- Southwest Airlines – 2,700 points
- US Airways – 2,100 miles
- United Airlines – 1,900 miles
- If you have them charge the price of the phone to your bill, you can pay for the bill with your Chase Ink Bold/Plus and earn 5X points as a telecommunications purchase. Reports vary (but mostly no) whether you will receive the 5X points if purchasing the phone directly.
Verizon
If you are making a new account, the airline portals below will give you the miles mentioned. Upgrades most likely will not earn the miles.
- Pre-orders start at 12:01AM (PST)
- American Airlines – 2,800 miles
- BigCrumbs – up to $45 back
- Delta Airlines – 1,800 miles
- Southwest Airlines – 2,300 points
- US Airways – 1,800 miles
- United Airlines – 1,700 miles
- If you have them charge the price of the phone to your bill, you can pay for the bill with your Chase Ink Bold/Plus and earn 5X points as a telecommunications purchase. Reports vary (but mostly no) whether you will receive the 5X points if purchasing the phone directly.
Retail Store
Best Buy, Radio Shack, Sam’s Club, Target, and Wal-Mart all are offering pre-orders but they are in-store only. They will be accepting those pre-orders tomorrow. The best way to get points on those purchases would be to purchase gift cards for one of those stores at an office supply store (with your Chase Ink card) or at grocery stores (with a card that offers bonus points for a grocery store). Just be aware if you use a gift card, you will not have the warranty protection offered with some credit cards.
Also, Wal-Mart is offering the base models of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus with a $20 discount and an additional $15 gift card when you pick up your pre-order. Another option is to pre-order at Sam’s Club where the base models will be $22 off.
Any other deals that you know about for the iPhone 6 phones?
The Discover shopping portal for the Apple Store states that the 5% CB is NOT applicable to pre orders.
Good catch, thanks!
if you want a “new” phone that has the technologies of 2-3 years ago that were already in phones like the Samsung and HTC, sure get it.
Do a comparison of Iphone 6 plus vs. Samsung S5 or Note 4 (coming out next month) vs. HTC ONE m8.
I’ve been using Iphone for several years, now it’s time to say enough to this crap selling 2 year old technologies for high price.
Stick to the point and the question that was asked. You can take your hate on Apple on the plethora of sites dedicated to it.
As for other ways to benefit, the Barclaycard Rewards Boost will give you 2 points per dollar (in addition to the 2 per $ spent on the card) for using their portal to order at Apple.
American Airlines e-shopping portal explicitly excludes iPhones and requires a 2-year contract in any case.
Oh, and the USBank Cash+ is good for 5% back from any call provider if you pick the right category. Not as good as 5 Ultimate Rewards points, but better than most alternatives.
Good call.
If you buy using a Chase Ink card directly from Tmobile, ATT, Sprint, Verizon, then don’t you get 5x points for telecom?
The terms say that the 5x does not apply for devices, but if you have it charged to your bill, it does not differentiate that from service. However, some (including me in the past) have stilled received the 5X when just buying equipment. It depends, that’s why I put that in there.
In fact, pretty much every Verizon/AT&T promotion has some sort of exclusion that applies.
Hi Charles, any idea how to take advantage of this… A Chance to Buy Unlimited Miles for 1.75 Cents? http://hackmytrip.com/2014/08/amazon-local-register-buy-miles/
I was thinking use out ink go to office store buy a home improvement card. Use thy to Lowe to pick up best buy then do a in store pre order.
Since most office store don’t sell bestbuy gc
You cannot use Lowes GC to buy GC there. They won’t allow you. Plus, which Lowes sells best buy GC? I never see one. Any other place to buy best buy GC besides at the best buy itself?