Issues with not receiving rewards due to technicality?

No need to expend any effort w/ “Round 2.”

Promotions that are contingent on using ApplePay mean ApplePay.

Using the Virtual AppleCard … or the Titanium AppleCard … are NOT ApplePay.

The difference in similar-sounding terms is subtle, but the difference in meaning is significant.

Sorry, but those a just the facts.

Indeed, you need to use Apple Pay when checking out, not the card number. This is true of rewards in general. 1% for using the card number, 2% on Apple Pay transactions, 3% when spend is with Apple or other select merchants. Other promotions also require using Apple Pay at checkout.

FWIW, you’re certainly not the 1st individual to learn this “lesson” via the same mis-understanding.

Just as a reference for future readers that might stumble upon this thread, it’s easy to tell which method was used. The physical titanium card, virtual card and Apple Pay token all have different last 4 digits. You can see the different sets of numbers by clicking on the icon that looks like a card with numbers at the top of the Apple Card screen in your Wallet app.