Minimum Award Amount in order to Purchase Additional Miles?
Mar 30, 2013, 8:24 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Minneapolis MN
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 491
Minimum Award Amount in order to Purchase Additional Miles?
Hi there,
Currently on the phone with United after booking a saver economy (12.5K miles) one way LAX-EWR for this Sunday. Ticket did not issue properly last night after I called to purchase the additional miles needed (about 3.5K) to balance out my account. Agent is telling me the base amount of the award flight has to be to purchase the additional miles is 20K(?). However, agent last night was happy to purchase the additional miles for me over the phone...
Is this agent correct? I'm having a hard time finding proof of this on the website...
What annoys me in this situation is not so much the policy (it is what it is) but the fact an agent was able to purchase miles for me without knowing the policy...
Thanks
Currently on the phone with United after booking a saver economy (12.5K miles) one way LAX-EWR for this Sunday. Ticket did not issue properly last night after I called to purchase the additional miles needed (about 3.5K) to balance out my account. Agent is telling me the base amount of the award flight has to be to purchase the additional miles is 20K(?). However, agent last night was happy to purchase the additional miles for me over the phone...
Is this agent correct? I'm having a hard time finding proof of this on the website...
What annoys me in this situation is not so much the policy (it is what it is) but the fact an agent was able to purchase miles for me without knowing the policy...
Thanks
Last edited by ElliottMB; Mar 30, 2013 at 8:35 am
Mar 30, 2013, 8:48 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Minneapolis MN
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 491
I think she means you have to be flying on a fare that requires at least 20K miles, not that you have to buy at least 20K miles.
Would that work fast enough? Don't you have to actually fly the refundable res to get the miles credit?
Would that work fast enough? Don't you have to actually fly the refundable res to get the miles credit?
Mar 30, 2013, 12:49 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Minneapolis MN
Programs: DL PM
Posts: 491
Mar 30, 2013, 1:50 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: SNA/LAX
Programs: UA Platinum, Star Alliance Gold, Asia Miles, Hilton HHonors Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Emerald Club.
Posts: 525
Here's the correct info on UA's website:
QUOTE:
When you book award travel on United, you may have the option to buy up to 25% of the award miles required for that award travel. Please keep in mind that:
If this option is available, it will only be presented when you book award tickets, either online or by phone. You must purchase the award miles at the time when your travel award is ticketed.
The award travel that you are booking must require at least 5,000 miles.
Miles are purchased in 1,000-mile increments for $35 (plus 7.5% excise tax) per thousand miles and are nonrefundable.
This option does not apply to international airline partner awards or promotional awards.
You also may be required to pay taxes on the mileage purchase.
UNQUOTE
http://www.united.com/web/en-US/cont.../buymiles.aspx
QUOTE:
When you book award travel on United, you may have the option to buy up to 25% of the award miles required for that award travel. Please keep in mind that:
If this option is available, it will only be presented when you book award tickets, either online or by phone. You must purchase the award miles at the time when your travel award is ticketed.
The award travel that you are booking must require at least 5,000 miles.
Miles are purchased in 1,000-mile increments for $35 (plus 7.5% excise tax) per thousand miles and are nonrefundable.
This option does not apply to international airline partner awards or promotional awards.
You also may be required to pay taxes on the mileage purchase.
UNQUOTE
http://www.united.com/web/en-US/cont.../buymiles.aspx