Originally Posted by
pointchaser93
Getting tons of UA miles is my main MS goal as well, but I go about it differently. I have 2 main MSing avenues:
1. Maximize the 5x category on my Ink, mostly with Staples VGCs (250k miles a year)
2. Use CFU at 1.5x to buy VGCs online through CB portals. This version is almost free though it accumulates miles more slowly than option 1.
You can always supplement this with any number of store bought VGCs but they will be more expensive. In the long run you are better off going exclusively for miles/transferable points if you value them at more than 2 cents.
I, too, use Ink, but I dont get 250k miles Yearly. I buy $200's from OD, but I Cash out enough points to cover VGC Fee's. So for Each Card (1000 points), I take 700 points and convert to Cash, to cover $7 Fee, then send the other 300 points to United. So I make 300 United points per Card. Thus, I can max out at 75k points, for $50 K Spend (since I want to cover All The $7 Fee's). Im pretty close to hitting That Max now.
With your method 2, couldnt I just use United Club Card (which earns 1.5 miles per $)? Also, Im not familiar with that method. Is it pretty simple and straightforward, with this portal thing?