To save 38 points from croaking on 7 October 2009 and to eek out another award, I'm thinking of flying B6 for a last minute business trip that will earn 16 points. This leaves me 6 points short, which will cost me $70 plus tax to "round up."

Since it can take some time for purchased points to post, I propose to buy the 6 points (10 really) prior to travel. Then upon my return flight posting, if all goes well, I should have crossed the 100 point threshold.

My return flight arrives back on 6 October, and the next day, if things do not go well, 38 points vanish into the thin air.

My questions are:

1) How long does it take for points to post after a flight these days? Is one day too short.

2) If 38 points do vanish, and points from my 6 October return flight post after they vanish, does that somehow bring those points back to life (UA has a situation where activity that posts later revives dead miles).

There's no sense in my flying B6 and paying for points, if this plan to eek out an award fails.

Thanks in advance.