India-based Airlines - Need 5000 miles on AI without flying

i need 5000 miles in order to qualify for a oneway award ticket. any idea on how can i earn miles without flying?

http://www.flyingreturns.co.in/html/rd_topup.php

i need 5000 miles in order to qualify for a oneway award ticket. any idea on how can i earn miles without flying?

as hyderago suggested, the only way is to buy the miles....

At 1 Rupee per mile, that's actually a really good deal.

In the US, they sell miles for 4-5 rupees per mile.

At 1 Rupee per mile, that's actually a really good deal.

In the US, they sell miles for 4-5 rupees per mile.

Has anybody ever tried to calculate how much is the miles worth to them in absolute money terms..?? and how much do the airlines list them in their balance sheet..

based on my personal calculations, my jet miles give me money worth of anywhere between 33 paise to 50 paise..

Wat is it worth to others..??????

At 1 Rupee per mile, that's actually a really good deal.

In the US, they sell miles for 4-5 rupees per mile.

I believe that's a bit of an exaggeration. 1,000 AI miles (Rs1,000) = $20USD. I believe a good estimate is probably $30/1k miles in the US, which equals Rs1.5/mile more or less.

i need 5000 miles in order to qualify for a oneway award ticket. any idea on how can i earn miles without flying?

i dont know where you are based out of. if you hold an indian credit card, you can sweep your points to Air India Flying Returns and get your tic

I believe that's a bit of an exaggeration. 1,000 AI miles (Rs1,000) = $20USD. I believe a good estimate is probably $30/1k miles in the US, which equals Rs1.5/mile more or less.

Agreed. For example, you can buy UA miles for less than $40 for 1000 miles:
http://www.ualmiles.com/PersonalMiles.jsp?x2.x=27&x2.y=11

Agreed. For example, you can buy UA miles for less than $40 for 1000 miles:
http://www.ualmiles.com/PersonalMiles.jsp?x2.x=27&x2.y=11

So even if AI is selling miles 50% cheaper than United, that's still a pretty damn good deal, don't you think?

So even if AI is selling miles 50% cheaper than United, that's still a pretty damn good deal, don't you think?

I agree with your point that AI seems to be selling miles at a low price. And given the generally good availability of award tickets and the ease of bookings, it's an even better deal (for example, buying 9W miles for cheap is useless since 9W miles are quite useless).

All I was trying to get at earlier was that other airlines sell miles in the Rs 2 per mile range, not Rs 4-5.

All I was trying to get at earlier was that other airlines sell miles in the Rs 2 per mile range, not Rs 4-5.

You can clearly see that I've never bought miles before ;)

You can clearly see that I've never bought miles before ;)

Just like any other good FTer! ;)

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Thanks everyone for the info. I am based in USA. I am going to purchase 5k miles so that I can redeem one way from JFK to Bom/del. any idea how the purchasing of miles and redeeming works?

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Thanks everyone for the info. I am based in USA. I am going to purchase 5k miles so that I can redeem one way from JFK to Bom/del. any idea how the purchasing of miles and redeeming works?

If you're based in NYC, it's easiest to just go to the Airport Ticketing Office and get it done there (call beforehand to check the hours and make sure there are no inane restrictions like it can only be done in India).

Otherwise, I think you can do it over fax, although I'd imagine that to be a headache.

If you're based in NYC, it's easiest to just go to the Airport Ticketing Office and get it done there (call beforehand to check the hours and make sure there are no inane restrictions like it can only be done in India).

Otherwise, I think you can do it over fax, although I'd imagine that to be a headache.

Definitely the easier option. The one time i've redeemed Flying Return miles also was at at their local ticketing office. Worked out pretty easy.

Redeem At the website. It's really hassle free now.

Redeem At the website. It's really hassle free now.

Redeeming at the website is really convenient - however, I don't think you can buy miles on the website?

any idea on how much tax and other fees that i would have to pay if i get oneway AMD-EWR/JFK economy ticket?