FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Purchase points without redeeming full balance?
Old Mar 25, 2011 | 12:13 pm
  #2  
Steve M
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Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA Platinum, AA Lifetime Platinum, DL Platinum, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 8,179
Originally Posted by TravelStar
Just to clarify, it used to be possible to buy up to 500,000 MR points even if you had a large balance in your MR account. Now, the purchase option limits the maximum account balance of 500,000 after the MR purchase. For example, if you already have a MR balance of 500,000 points or more, you cannot purchase additional MR points.
I'm not quite sure what you're getting at. As far as I've understood it, the rules have always been that you can buy MR points only in conjunction with a points transfer. That is, you can buy them only if they are immediately transferred to a partner airline or hotel program. You cannot buy them just to have them sit in the account, nor to redeem for merchandise, gift cards, or other items redeemable for MR within the program.

As a side note, I can't imagine why you'd want to do any of the things prohibited in the first place. I can see no benefit whatever in purchasing MR points just to have them sit in the account. If you plan to use them for some future redemption, why not just wait until you need them, since you can buy them instantly whenever you want?
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