Buying miles on ebay? worth it?
Sep 9, 2007, 4:22 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Chicago, IL, USA
Posts: 329
Buying miles on ebay? worth it?
I guess the big risk is getting my lifetime plat account suspended, but I guess you can transfer up to 60k miles per year.
What is a reasonable price for 25,000 miles? I used up quite a bit of miles over the last few years, and now that I'm back to work I need to have some extra miles for business class upgrades on transatlantic, etc.
or is it too risky? or any advice? are they doing a kellogg's promotion again?
Any help or advice is appreciated. Thank you and sorry if this has been rehashed many times.
What is a reasonable price for 25,000 miles? I used up quite a bit of miles over the last few years, and now that I'm back to work I need to have some extra miles for business class upgrades on transatlantic, etc.
or is it too risky? or any advice? are they doing a kellogg's promotion again?
Any help or advice is appreciated. Thank you and sorry if this has been rehashed many times.
Sep 9, 2007, 4:29 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 403
with 2MM and lifetime PLT you're nuts to even entertain the thought
Sep 9, 2007, 4:35 pm
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: NYC
Programs: AA EXP / LT PLT / 3MM, Marriott LT Gold
Posts: 35,388
Why not buy them from AA? 
Also, if you are EXP (as your sig line indicates), you should have a few miles, eVIPs, etc.
Also, if you are EXP (as your sig line indicates), you should have a few miles, eVIPs, etc.
Sep 9, 2007, 4:50 pm
#4
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
How lucky do you feel? 
Want to risk your accumulated miles, lifetime status, EXP and even your account? Then, by all means, go right ahead. But I will tell you that American have people whose job is fraud control who cruise eBay, among other venues - this is not a guess or a threat, it is plain fact.
Do some searching on this Forum to see what can happen.
Some links will come up, like:
this one or
this one and
this one
Searches with selling + miles or audit or account + hold are a good start.
Want to risk your accumulated miles, lifetime status, EXP and even your account? Then, by all means, go right ahead. But I will tell you that American have people whose job is fraud control who cruise eBay, among other venues - this is not a guess or a threat, it is plain fact. Do some searching on this Forum to see what can happen.
Some links will come up, like:
this one or
this one and
this one
Searches with selling + miles or audit or account + hold are a good start.
Sep 9, 2007, 4:52 pm
#5
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: MSP (and will only fly NWA in re-routes if I HAVE to)
Programs: AA EXP (4.5MM), hotel programs as needed
Posts: 5,800
The risk of buying or selling miles on ebay is IMHO not worth it.
If you want to buy/sell miles on UA and get that account frozen .. go for it!
If you are that desparate for upgrades, book in advance and take advantage of the I class fare sales that are running now. Discount Business is a heck of a lot better than a frozen account.
If you want to buy/sell miles on UA and get that account frozen .. go for it!
If you are that desparate for upgrades, book in advance and take advantage of the I class fare sales that are running now. Discount Business is a heck of a lot better than a frozen account.
Sep 9, 2007, 5:02 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2006
Programs: SkyMiles Silver, OnePass Gold, AAdvantage Gold, AS, NW, US, UA, LH
Posts: 347
BAD idea, poor judgement, DON'T do it!!!
Aren't there any good mileage runs available out of O'Hare?
Don't risk it. And if the offer on eBay seems too good to be true keep in mind there is a good chance it really is! DON'T DO IT!
Aren't there any good mileage runs available out of O'Hare?
Don't risk it. And if the offer on eBay seems too good to be true keep in mind there is a good chance it really is! DON'T DO IT!
Sep 9, 2007, 5:05 pm
#7
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: MSP (and will only fly NWA in re-routes if I HAVE to)
Programs: AA EXP (4.5MM), hotel programs as needed
Posts: 5,800
Interesting to look at this posters recent posts.
Last post was 2004 about the Kellog promotion.
The post prior to that was 2003 discussing e-bay purchases of miles using 'white envelope' as the sale item.
Not sure if I can now take this infrequent poster tooooo seriously. In the past several years, they have only been posting about ways to obtain miles.
Last post was 2004 about the Kellog promotion.
The post prior to that was 2003 discussing e-bay purchases of miles using 'white envelope' as the sale item.
Not sure if I can now take this infrequent poster tooooo seriously. In the past several years, they have only been posting about ways to obtain miles.
Sep 9, 2007, 5:12 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: New York, Paris
Programs: AA ExPlat 4MM, AA Life Plat, Lufthansa FT, Delta Basic
Posts: 1,593
I guess the big risk is getting my lifetime plat account suspended, but I guess you can transfer up to 60k miles per year.
What is a reasonable price for 25,000 miles? I used up quite a bit of miles over the last few years, and now that I'm back to work I need to have some extra miles for business class upgrades on transatlantic, etc.
or is it too risky? or any advice? are they doing a kellogg's promotion again?
Any help or advice is appreciated. Thank you and sorry if this has been rehashed many times.
What is a reasonable price for 25,000 miles? I used up quite a bit of miles over the last few years, and now that I'm back to work I need to have some extra miles for business class upgrades on transatlantic, etc.
or is it too risky? or any advice? are they doing a kellogg's promotion again?
Any help or advice is appreciated. Thank you and sorry if this has been rehashed many times.
Sep 9, 2007, 9:03 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: SJC
Programs: AA EXP, BA Silver, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 33,533
Sep 9, 2007, 11:44 pm
#10
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SLC/HEL/Anywhere with a Beach
Programs: Marriott Ambassador; AA EXP 3MM; AS MVP, Hilton Gold, CH-47/UH-60/C-23/C-130 VET
Posts: 5,234
My favorite is the guy who posts here last year asking about the risks of selling on Ebay. He was told of all the bad things that will happen and the effective of the AA fraud department. Then he posts here in a new post in the past month complaining that he was nabbed.
Does make you wonder if this is some sort of psychological operations plan.
People can't really be that stupid, can they?
Does make you wonder if this is some sort of psychological operations plan.
People can't really be that stupid, can they?
Sep 10, 2007, 3:47 am
#11
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 760
NOT WORTH IT!
Dozens of ways to get miles easier, cheaper and legit.
Peace!
Dozens of ways to get miles easier, cheaper and legit.
Peace!
Sep 10, 2007, 7:03 am
#13
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: New York, Paris
Programs: AA ExPlat 4MM, AA Life Plat, Lufthansa FT, Delta Basic
Posts: 1,593
My favourite one was the Ebay auction offering to sell the authentic skull of Napoleon as a child... There were a few bites apparently
Sep 10, 2007, 7:04 am
#14
Moderator: American AAdvantage
Join Date: May 2000
Location: NorCal - SMF area
Programs: AA LT Plat; HH LT Diamond, Maître-plongeur des Muccis
Posts: 62,948
Use selling and miles for your keywords in a search, and you will quickly become convinced there are. Kind of on par with the burglar / vandal in the UK last week who sprayed a graffito on the wall with his name .
. My favorite is the guy who posts here last year asking about the risks of selling on Ebay. He was told of all the bad things that will happen and the effective of the AA fraud department. Then he posts here in a new post in the past month complaining that he was nabbed.
Does make you wonder if this is some sort of psychological operations plan.
People can't really be that stupid, can they?
Does make you wonder if this is some sort of psychological operations plan.
People can't really be that stupid, can they?
Sep 10, 2007, 7:13 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA Plat, DL GM and Flying Colonel; Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 24,233
http://stupidcriminalfile.blogspot.com
http://www.freemaninstitute.com/hall_of_shame.htm
http://www.globe-rider.com/bull1e.html
http://www.dumbcriminals.com
Why should folks who try to sell airline miles, as a group, be any smarter?
http://www.freemaninstitute.com/hall_of_shame.htm
http://www.globe-rider.com/bull1e.html
http://www.dumbcriminals.com
Why should folks who try to sell airline miles, as a group, be any smarter?