$50 for 20,000 miles - worth it?
Feb 22, 2011, 12:15 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 48
$50 for 20,000 miles - worth it?
Excuse me for the complete "noob" question with what I'm guessing is an obvious answer, but I have the opportunity right now to purchase 20,000 miles for $50. Would you consider this worth it if you're primarily doing international travel? Right now I have ~55,000 miles and I'll be getting 30,000 more shortly, so this means that I'll have either 85,000 miles or, for another $50, 105,000 miles.
I'll be quitting my job in a few months to spend a year or two traveling the world, so on one hand I'm budgeting my money very carefully, but on the other, I can certainly use the miles (IF I can use them internationally with ease) as I'll be doing a lot of flying.
TIA.
I'll be quitting my job in a few months to spend a year or two traveling the world, so on one hand I'm budgeting my money very carefully, but on the other, I can certainly use the miles (IF I can use them internationally with ease) as I'll be doing a lot of flying.
TIA.
Feb 22, 2011, 12:17 pm
#2
Join Date: Sep 2005
Posts: 760
Yes, that's a great deal. 20k can get you a roundtrip intra-asia, among other things.
Feb 22, 2011, 12:17 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: United 1kMM; AA EX Plat, Hilton Diamond and SPG Plat
Posts: 2,014
UUMMM Yeah, I'd do it, no question. My only cavaet would be is it of legal means? Wouldn't want to get caught holding the bag.
Feb 22, 2011, 12:23 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Arlington, VA
Programs: United MP 1p, PC Ambassador, GP Platinum
Posts: 439
Yeah I'd do it in a heartbeat. I don't suppose the deal is publicly available?
Feb 22, 2011, 12:46 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: UA, Starwood, Priority Club, Hertz, Starbucks Gold Card
Posts: 3,952
ABSOLUTELY YES. Sorry for the ALL CAPS, but this is really a no brainer for me.
Feb 22, 2011, 1:05 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 48
Thanks for the boost of confidence, guys - I'm going with the extra miles. I primarily use AA miles and haven't had any experience booking with United Miles so, as noted, I haven't had time to see how usable the United miles were overseas. whistler814's comment about the miles being good for a round trip intra-asia flight sealed the deal for me.
FYI - yes it is legal and yes it is public (of sorts). I recently got the Chase Continental card with the 25,000 enrollment, 5,000 additional card-member, and $50 sign-up bonus and was able to get the 50,000 enrollment instead if I gave up the $50 sign-up bonus (effectively buying 20,000 points for $50).^
FYI - yes it is legal and yes it is public (of sorts). I recently got the Chase Continental card with the 25,000 enrollment, 5,000 additional card-member, and $50 sign-up bonus and was able to get the 50,000 enrollment instead if I gave up the $50 sign-up bonus (effectively buying 20,000 points for $50).^
Feb 22, 2011, 1:42 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFO
Programs: UA MMGold, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,263
It is great deal to get 20.000 miles for $50.
Here is the UA/StarAlliance award chart you can see where your miles can take you ;-) Do plan ahead and check frequently to get the seats for the places you want to go.
http://content.united.com/ual/asset/Award_Chart.pdf
Here is the UA/StarAlliance award chart you can see where your miles can take you ;-) Do plan ahead and check frequently to get the seats for the places you want to go.
http://content.united.com/ual/asset/Award_Chart.pdf
Feb 22, 2011, 1:45 pm
#8
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
No brainer.
Ask yourself this .... 20,000 miles is "most of" a domestic Y ticket, which probably would cost you several hundred dollars.
Or, 20,000 can be an upgrade or an occassional award flight for short-distances. Can any of those be bought for $50.
^
Ask yourself this .... 20,000 miles is "most of" a domestic Y ticket, which probably would cost you several hundred dollars.
Or, 20,000 can be an upgrade or an occassional award flight for short-distances. Can any of those be bought for $50.
^
Feb 22, 2011, 1:48 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York, NY, USA
Posts: 12,482
Feb 22, 2011, 2:06 pm
#10
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: United Premier Gold, AirBerlin Gold, Starwood Gold, Avis Preferred, CBP Global Entry
Posts: 497
Definitely. I've bought last-minute round trip award tickets (US domestic) with 10,000 miles and $80.00 A/I. That could net you two round trip tickets for a total of $210 (or $105 each), which is pretty good for one of the majors. YMMV.
Feb 22, 2011, 2:18 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: USA
Programs: UA 1K, Starwood Platinum, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 982
It's so worth it that it's too good to be true. Do you have a link, is this a promotion, or is this an exclusive offer from a nigerian millionaire who posted on eBay? Seriously.
Feb 22, 2011, 2:20 pm
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,140
Feb 22, 2011, 2:31 pm
#13
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: LAX
Programs: UA-1K, Hertz-Gold, Marriott-Gold, PC-Platinum, SPG
Posts: 2,777
$50 for 20,000 miles is well worth it!
Feb 22, 2011, 3:15 pm
#14
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2001
Posts: 700
I would buy 20,000 UA miles for $50 on every day that ends in a Y
Feb 22, 2011, 3:28 pm
#15
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Oakland
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 1,109
If the deal is something that others can get in on, I'm sure that plenty of others would be very grateful for the link.