Fixed: XNAP not working with Apple Pay

XNAP is a useful tool for earning miles at smaller mom and pop establishments where credit card payments are not accepted. 

All you need to do is scan their QR code, and assuming XNAP or LiquidPay (its predecessor) is supported, pay with Apple or Google Pay and earn your credit card rewards as per normal.

XNAP: Earn credit card rewards at QR-code only merchants

Well, until recently that is. 

XNAP x Apple Pay issues

Since the CNY weekend, reports have been coming in on the MileChat that XNAP has stopped working with Apple Pay. Users receive the following error message when attempting to complete a transaction:

Uninstalling and reinstalling the app doesn’t help, and since XNAP only accepts payments via Apple or Google Pay, this effectively makes the app useless to Apple users. 

Fortunately, there’s no such issues with Google Pay, as I just confirmed (and to Xin Heng Kee Chicken Rice- enjoy the 1 cent angbao I sent).

So Android users, continue basking in your obvious physical and intellectual superiority. Apple users, borrow an Android phone, or wait for a patch to be released.

How does XNAP work?

XNAP

As a quick refresher, XNAP only supports Apple Pay or Google Pay, so in other words, you can only use credit cards supported by Apple Pay or Google Pay. 

You can use the XNAP app (Android | iOS) to scan and pay any QR code that displays the XNAP logo.

Do note that some older QR code displays may still show the previous LiquidPay logo. These codes will also work with the XNAP app. 

A good rule of thumb is to just try and scan regardless of what logos are shown- maybe the list of icons has not been updated, and you might get lucky.

What do XNAP transactions code as?

In my experience, XNAP transactions, regardless of merchant, code as MCC 5814 Fast Food Restaurants. 

I cannot guarantee this will always be the case, but data points are quite consistent: hawkers, coffee shops, industrial canteens, even florists all code the same way.

Assuming that XNAP indeed codes as MCC 5814, here’s the cards you can use to earn miles.

Card	Earn Rate	Remarks
UOB Lady’s Card Apply	6 mpd*	Max S$1K per c. month
UOB Lady’s Solitaire Apply	6 mpd*	Max S$3K per c. month
Citi Rewards + Amaze  Apply	4 mpd	Max S$1K per s. month
DBS Woman’s World Card Apply	4 mpd	Max S$2K per c. month^
HSBC Revolution Apply	4 mpd	Max S$1K per c. month
UOB Pref. Plat. Visa Apply	4 mpd	Max S$1.1K per c. month
S. Month= Statement Month | C. Month= Calendar Month *Must declare Dining as quarterly bonus category. Reduced to 4 mpd from 1 April 2024 ^Reduced to S$1.5K per calendar month from 1 March 2024

With regards to the Citi Rewards Card, you must pair it with Amaze to earn 4 mpd with XNAP. Using the Citi Rewards Card by itself will only earn 0.4 mpd, because of Citi’s blanket exclusion on mobile wallet payments.  But since Apple Pay does not support Amaze, this workaround isn’t an option for Apple users.

Conclusion

If you’re using XNAP with an iPhone, you may have noticed that Apple Pay support is temporarily (one hopes) unavailable.

There’s nothing much you can do now but to wait for a patch to be pushed, or else hope that the merchant also accepts AMEX Pay (where you can earn up to 1.8 mpd, depending on card).

I’ve reached out to XNAP for an update, and will let you know if/when I hear back.