Jul 1, 2013, 7:10 am
Last edit by: wannabe_plat
If you want to keep all your existing miles, and thus want some new miles to post quickly and reliably, here are some ways, from cheapest to most expensive:
- Take a survey at opinionmilesclub.com - not sure how long this takes to post.
- If you have a United credit card, downgrade it to the no fee version that gives 1 mile/$2 and use it every so often. Will help with aging as well which is good for your credit score.
- Buy a $5 giftcard (to Amazon or a local store) using the MileagePlusX app - miles post within seconds of making payment.
- Dining option still works (as of May 22, 2014). Posted to United in about 3 weeks after activity. I think it is one of the easiest options. No need to even take survey if you dont want extra survey points. I didn't do it.
- Buy a gift card and trade it to United for miles. See http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/21020349-post702.html for an example that cost $15, and resulted in miles posting in under 24 hours. If you are not a U.S. resident, then buy an acceptable gift card on eBay and ask seller to email you the gift card number and pin. The gift card can be purchased with anyone's credit card (or cash) and applied to anyone's M+ number (name on credit card and M+ account need not match). It is not known if e-gift cards work. Physical gift cards known to work are:
- Buy miles directly from United. http://www.ualmiles.com/PersonalMile...Personal+Miles. The minimum purchase is about $75.
- Buy a ticket on united.com, and once it tickets, purchase award maximizer. Look for a flight with a short distance, such as COS/DEN to keep the award maximizer cost low. Miles will post in under 24 hours. Cancel ticket within 24 hours to get a full refund.
2013 Update: Ref, Ref
This seems to be the simplest way to do it for low cost, without much running around or waiting or donating miles.
- Bought an IAH > Austin ticket for 69/79 $.
- Went back in to change/ modify ticket reservation and then Award Acc was offered - 500 miles for 17$. Bought it.
- Miles posted in few hours. Cancelled the ticket. Refund to Visa card pending.
Note: Buy any low cost short distance ticket, go back in and buy award accelerator and then cancel in 24 hr after award miles post.
- Magazine subscriptions
- Charitable giving
- Mileage Purchases -- generally a poor use of miles
- Reinstatement Miles for a fee -- if the expiration is as recent as 18 months ago, for roughly 0.2 to 0.3cpm
- Find a recent (last 12 months typically) hotel stay or rental car credit that has not yet been posted. If the date was prior to expiration that should reinstate the expired miles.
Consolidated "How to Keep/Refresh Expiring Miles" Thread [ARCHIVE]
Jul 24, 2007, 11:13 pm
#16
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 35
There are many opportunities which can prevent your miles to expire.
http://www.united.com/page/article/0...2Fpartnerguide
http://www.united.com/page/article/0...2Fpartnerguide
Jul 25, 2007, 12:33 am
#18
Join Date: May 2003
Location: San Francisco, CA Frmr AA Plat AW Plat Frmr UA 1K Frmr HGP Plat now just UA 1MM/1P
Posts: 320
Not terribly fast for this time...but
I'd strongly suggest getting a United Mileage Plus credit card; this will make expiration prevention much easier.
It would take too long this time around though - probably your best bet is a redemption as has been said previously.
As for purchases - a 24 hour flower arrangement sending posts pretty quick from what I've experienced.
It would take too long this time around though - probably your best bet is a redemption as has been said previously.
As for purchases - a 24 hour flower arrangement sending posts pretty quick from what I've experienced.
Jul 25, 2007, 5:52 am
#19
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: VA Gold, UA, SPG Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Ambassador
Posts: 3,644
I'd strongly suggest getting a United Mileage Plus credit card; this will make expiration prevention much easier.
It would take too long this time around though - probably your best bet is a redemption as has been said previously.
As for purchases - a 24 hour flower arrangement sending posts pretty quick from what I've experienced.
It would take too long this time around though - probably your best bet is a redemption as has been said previously.
As for purchases - a 24 hour flower arrangement sending posts pretty quick from what I've experienced.
If there is a way to do this - pls tell 
Last edited by Downunder girl; Jul 25, 2007 at 5:53 am Reason: typo
Aug 14, 2007, 10:21 am
#20
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: OH & NV
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, WN CP, Latin Pass Bonus
Posts: 3,707
Help. Need to extend Mi. Expir. date
My mother, not computer literate, has 30K miles that will expire at end of 07. Probabably not travelling until mid 08, and no plans.
What is easiest way I can go out (I have her access ID/password) and extend the expir. date for 18 mo. If I buy a pen for $4 on the UnitedShop, are any miles given?
I did a search, as I'm sure already been asked, but could not find it.
Thanks
What is easiest way I can go out (I have her access ID/password) and extend the expir. date for 18 mo. If I buy a pen for $4 on the UnitedShop, are any miles given?
I did a search, as I'm sure already been asked, but could not find it.
Thanks
Aug 14, 2007, 10:23 am
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 23,999
You can buy some flowers and earn 30 miles per dollar, buy a bottle of wine from one of those online stores, join the dining network and have dinner at an MP dining place, etc. Theunitedshop.com doesn't earn any miles as far as I know.
Aug 14, 2007, 10:25 am
#22
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: MBS/FNT/LAN
Programs: UA 1K, HH Gold, Mariott Gold
Posts: 9,630
IMO, the easiest is donating 1000 miles to charity (its almost instant), any accrual of miles can take days, or weeks (even IF all conditionas are met).
Aug 14, 2007, 10:59 am
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sacramento
Programs: UA 2MM/GS; SPG Lifetime Plat; MHC Lifetime; Tar Heel forever; and I "Dig the Pig" at Piggly Wiggly
Posts: 12,152
A slew of options. You are smart to start this now, instead of in Nov or Dec, when many others would be panicing! You'll have plenty of time.
Aug 14, 2007, 11:31 am
#24
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SAN / BAH / TPA
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 1,022
Do you have a link to the 30-miles/dollar ? Last I checked, the only ones left were for 25-miles/$. ?
Aug 14, 2007, 1:15 pm
#25
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: OH & NV
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, WN CP, Latin Pass Bonus
Posts: 3,707
Thanks for all the suggestions.
Do you know if I can use my Cr. card, but get the miles into my mother's MP acct. when purchasing. Or using the Safeway grocery miles?
Do you know if I can use my Cr. card, but get the miles into my mother's MP acct. when purchasing. Or using the Safeway grocery miles?
Aug 14, 2007, 1:17 pm
#26
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,173
Have her fund a free ticket for you or another. Someone else can take care of her next trip later.
No as to the credit card question. Easiest is to buy or donate 1,000 miles.
No as to the credit card question. Easiest is to buy or donate 1,000 miles.
Aug 24, 2007, 4:54 pm
#27
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: IAD
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 565
Expiring miles: good idea!
A letter from United came addressed to me last week - to my parents' house, where I haven't lived since the early 90s. It said that my MP miles would be expiring soon, and would I like to buy some magazines to keep the miles from expiring. After calling MP, I learned that this was my MP account set up while I was in high school - and it had 4900 miles in it!
After a simple fax requesting accounts to be combined, I am now 4900 miles closer to 1MM.
See? Expiring miles can be a good thing.
After a simple fax requesting accounts to be combined, I am now 4900 miles closer to 1MM.
See? Expiring miles can be a good thing.
Aug 24, 2007, 5:06 pm
#28
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Boulder, CO
Programs: UA, AA, WN; HH, MR, IHG
Posts: 7,054
Which leads me to wonder, why did this account not expire years ago?
Aug 24, 2007, 5:13 pm
#29
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: MOD/SFO
Programs: Whole Lot of Nothin' anymore - Thanks to baby!
Posts: 582
hmm, curious. the 4900 miles that were added to 1MM were definitely just BIS, but I don't know why they were asking to buy mags..i have an old account I had in college that they send me emails through, but I can't pull up the MP number in any way. there were a few BIS miles there, but I figured it wouldnt matter much in the long run.
Aug 24, 2007, 5:18 pm
#30
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Boulder, CO
Programs: UA, AA, WN; HH, MR, IHG
Posts: 7,054
Call up MP, tell them you have an old account and can't remember the MP number... they should be able to look it up based on your address (dorms or parents), phone number, maybe even email address.