Feb 23, 2015, 11:33 pm
Last edit by: aBroadAbroad
Please read this wiki before posting questions or comments.
Are they legit? Short answer: No
Virtually all award programs prohibit the sale, barter and purchase of awards and/or miles (except through channels specifically identified in the program T&C and/or endorsed by the program). Many airlines are known to audit their FFPs for such fraudulent transactions, and to aggressively enforce their programs' rules.
By definition, so-called "mileage" brokers are not legitimate. It is important to understand that they do not actually broker miles, but rather act as a middle-man to facilitate the purchase of award tickets. The seller redeems miles from his/her account for an award in a buyer's name. The broker pays the seller on behalf of the buyer. A clear audit trail is left in the process.
Consequences
If this activity is identified by the airline, the seller will lose any miles remaining in his/her account, the account will be terminated, and the seller will be banned from participating in that airline's program. The seller may also be subject to payment of monetary damages. Buyers, when attempting to travel on a purchased award, may be denied boarding at any point on the itinerary. At best, a special trip might not happen. At worst, the buyer might be stranded halfway around the world and forced to purchase a significantly more expensive one-way ticket in order to get home.
Are they legit? Short answer: No
Virtually all award programs prohibit the sale, barter and purchase of awards and/or miles (except through channels specifically identified in the program T&C and/or endorsed by the program). Many airlines are known to audit their FFPs for such fraudulent transactions, and to aggressively enforce their programs' rules.
By definition, so-called "mileage" brokers are not legitimate. It is important to understand that they do not actually broker miles, but rather act as a middle-man to facilitate the purchase of award tickets. The seller redeems miles from his/her account for an award in a buyer's name. The broker pays the seller on behalf of the buyer. A clear audit trail is left in the process.
Consequences
If this activity is identified by the airline, the seller will lose any miles remaining in his/her account, the account will be terminated, and the seller will be banned from participating in that airline's program. The seller may also be subject to payment of monetary damages. Buyers, when attempting to travel on a purchased award, may be denied boarding at any point on the itinerary. At best, a special trip might not happen. At worst, the buyer might be stranded halfway around the world and forced to purchase a significantly more expensive one-way ticket in order to get home.
Moderator Note
Please be reminded that FlyerTalk Rules prohibit posts that support, encourage or promote fraudulent activities against individuals or companies.
Posts naming specific mileage brokers and/or containing links to broker websites
may be redacted or deleted.
Please be reminded that FlyerTalk Rules prohibit posts that support, encourage or promote fraudulent activities against individuals or companies.
Posts naming specific mileage brokers and/or containing links to broker websites
may be redacted or deleted.
Mileage/Award Ticket Brokers: Are they legit? [consolidated]
Jul 30, 2013, 4:46 am
#31
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: 60137
Posts: 10,498
Jul 30, 2013, 10:33 am
#32
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: AA, MR, United, Delta, Kris Flyer, Flying blue
Posts: 7
A
I didn't realize that this was against their terms and transfered 50,000 points to a mileage broker from my wife's account. Now she has two messages from the membership rewards fraud department. Would it be best to just be honest and state we didn't know this was not permitted? I don't want her to be blacklisted.
Hope this helps.
A
Last edited by beckoa; Feb 23, 2015 at 3:30 am Reason: Combine consecutive replies // Removing URL's
Jul 30, 2013, 7:05 pm
#33
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: NYC
Posts: 937
Sorry if this is a naive question - but does anyone know if this site is legit? They claim to be legal but I imagine the airlines dont take too kindly to people selling miles. I am 30,000 miles short on a ticket to Japan and this would seem to be a great idea - if only it was for real.
Last edited by beckoa; Feb 23, 2015 at 3:31 am Reason: Removing URL's
Aug 20, 2013, 2:41 pm
#35
Join Date: Apr 2013
Programs: Starwood/Hyatt/IHG-PLAT/Hilton-DIA
Posts: 468
Has anybody used them? Are they legit?
Received a decent quote from these guys but did a google search and couldn't find feedback for them.
Anybody have any sucessful transactions with these guys?
I am being very cautious as I want to make sure they are reputable.
Thanks in advance, much appreciated any insight with this company and your experiences.
Anybody have any sucessful transactions with these guys?
I am being very cautious as I want to make sure they are reputable.
Thanks in advance, much appreciated any insight with this company and your experiences.
Last edited by beckoa; Feb 23, 2015 at 3:34 am Reason: Removing URL's
Aug 21, 2013, 2:43 am
#36
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Home
Programs: AA, Delta, UA & thanks to FTers for my PC Gold!
Posts: 7,676
If you decide to do business with mileage brokers....
Whoever is doing business with mileage brokers should feel comfortable enough to take his/her own risk, because selling miles is in direct violation of TOS of every FFP I know.
See these existing threads for once-too-many discussion on this very topic:
1. On the selling part: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/miles...les-legal.html
Take a special note from our knowledgeable forum mod's early reply in this thread:
If you use "Search this Forum" with the keywords: mileage broker you will find several previous discussions of this topic.
Mileage Brokers cannot buy your miles, instead they will instruct you to redeem an award from your frequent flyer account in the name of the buyer. This creates a clear audit trail from the buyer to you. The buyer is at risk of being denied boarding. You are at risk of losing your mileage account balance.
Mileage Brokers cannot buy your miles, instead they will instruct you to redeem an award from your frequent flyer account in the name of the buyer. This creates a clear audit trail from the buyer to you. The buyer is at risk of being denied boarding. You are at risk of losing your mileage account balance.
Last edited by beckoa; Feb 23, 2015 at 3:35 am Reason: Removing URL's
Aug 22, 2013, 10:32 pm
#37
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: 대한민국 (South Korea) - ex-PVG (上海)
Programs: UA MM / LT Gold (LT UC), DL SM, AA PLT (AC), OZ, KE; GE and Korean SES (like GE); Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,995
This may be a stupid question, but .... Why would the airlines care as long as the miles are being used? I understand that the major airlines have some concern about the billions (trillions??) of miles waiting out there in all the FF accounts (of course DL now takes them when you die). I might think that the airlines would want the backlog of miles to be reduced. The only thing I can think of is that the airlines don't want kettles getting free trips with the money going to the broker and the seller of the miles rather than them; however, the miles were acquired by buying tickets (or using CC).
Aug 22, 2013, 11:21 pm
#38
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 208
This may be a stupid question, but .... Why would the airlines care as long as the miles are being used? I understand that the major airlines have some concern about the billions (trillions??) of miles waiting out there in all the FF accounts (of course DL now takes them when you die). I might think that the airlines would want the backlog of miles to be reduced. The only thing I can think of is that the airlines don't want kettles getting free trips with the money going to the broker and the seller of the miles rather than them; however, the miles were acquired by buying tickets (or using CC).
I will gladly go against their terms any day!
Aug 27, 2013, 12:57 am
#39
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SEA, but up and down the coast a lot
Programs: Oceanic Airlines Gold Elite
Posts: 20,395
Seriously, don't you think if airlines wanted miles to be easily exchanged for cash at favorable rates... they'd have already done it?
Sep 13, 2013, 1:22 pm
#41
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 845
Anyone else just sell their miles?
I realize that you are not getting full potential, but if you don't travel much..this hobby can be lucrative just selling the sign up bonus miles. I'm been getting about an avg of 1.3 cents for my UA, AA and UR points. $650 for filling an application and a few trips to CVS..thank you very much..add a spouse to the mix and not a bad hobby at all.
Anyone else just sell their miles?
Anyone else just sell their miles?
Sep 13, 2013, 1:35 pm
#42
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
Originally Posted by theplayer:21440142
I realize that you are not getting full potential, but if you don't travel much..this hobby can be lucrative just selling the sign up bonus miles. I'm been getting about an avg of 1.3 cents for my UA, AA and UR points. $650 for filling an application and a few trips to CVS..thank you very much..add a spouse to the mix and not a bad hobby at all.
Anyone else just sell their miles?
Anyone else just sell their miles?
Sep 13, 2013, 1:46 pm
#43
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 747
When it actually makes sense it can be lucrative. Say you have a destination in mind and a handful of UA miles, however there are no saver awards. Instead choose to sell at 1.5 cpm and book on a different carrier for a cheaper cost and pocket the additional cash. Technically a win as
1) You already had a destination in mind
2) The miles were 'worth' more cashed out than redeemed for a non-saver
3) You get MQD/PQD on the other carrier
All depends on the flexibility you have and the way you want to use your miles. If you want to lock down on a schedule, at times it is a better overall value to sell.
However of course, realize that points brokers are in this for the money as well, and they profit very nicely by using these miles and selling trips to in First/Biz to Asia/AUS and the like for a very high margin. All depends on the eye of the beholder.
1) You already had a destination in mind
2) The miles were 'worth' more cashed out than redeemed for a non-saver
3) You get MQD/PQD on the other carrier
All depends on the flexibility you have and the way you want to use your miles. If you want to lock down on a schedule, at times it is a better overall value to sell.
However of course, realize that points brokers are in this for the money as well, and they profit very nicely by using these miles and selling trips to in First/Biz to Asia/AUS and the like for a very high margin. All depends on the eye of the beholder.