How do you trade miles?
Oct 14, 2009 | 5:31 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: HH Gold, Marriott Gold, PC Plat, Emirates Silver
Posts: 2,729
How do you trade miles?
Decided to ask here since it did not appear appropriate to post in coupon connection or any other place. Please move if needed.
I have read the coupon connection for years and I still have a big question. How do people trade miles? I thought it was a "I'll book a ticket for you with my miles" and "you book a ticket for me with your miles". However, that is complex plus I see a lot of posts wiht odd number miles.
Do they use points.com? That has a huge devaluation of miles so it can not be that.
How does an efficient trade work?
I have read the coupon connection for years and I still have a big question. How do people trade miles? I thought it was a "I'll book a ticket for you with my miles" and "you book a ticket for me with your miles". However, that is complex plus I see a lot of posts wiht odd number miles.
Do they use points.com? That has a huge devaluation of miles so it can not be that.
How does an efficient trade work?
Oct 14, 2009 | 5:35 pm
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott, IHG, Hyatt something
Posts: 34,506
An efficient trade is someone offering what you are looking for. In most cases you don't actually transfer miles, as that is usually as expensive as buying miles, and make a trade unwieldy.
You will see a lot of lopsided trades of late. People offering 1/2 CPM value for AA miles, for instance.
Generally, you post what you need, and what you're offering in trade. Some miles aren't as valuable as others. For instance, I'd say 1 AA mile is worth 2 DL miles. Other times, if you really need a particular award, you have to offer more of your miles or points to make the other side willing to trade.
You will see a lot of lopsided trades of late. People offering 1/2 CPM value for AA miles, for instance.
Generally, you post what you need, and what you're offering in trade. Some miles aren't as valuable as others. For instance, I'd say 1 AA mile is worth 2 DL miles. Other times, if you really need a particular award, you have to offer more of your miles or points to make the other side willing to trade.
Oct 14, 2009 | 5:59 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2000
Location: HH Gold, Marriott Gold, PC Plat, Emirates Silver
Posts: 2,729
Thanks. I actually am not looking to trade but just to educate myself and satisfy a curiosity.
Once a trade is agreeded upon, how does the actual transfer take place since you can not transfer miles/points from program to program?
Once a trade is agreeded upon, how does the actual transfer take place since you can not transfer miles/points from program to program?
Oct 14, 2009 | 6:10 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2003
Location: CA
Programs: AA Lifetime Gold, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 2,879
However, there are some programs that do allow transfer of points between peoples accounts. The ones that come to mind are SPG and Marriott.
Oct 22, 2009 | 6:30 am
#6
Flyertalk Posting Legend Moderator: Credit Card Programs, American Express, Capital One, Chase, Citi, Diners Club, Eco Travel, Signatures
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA, IHG & Marriott Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 51,864
Likewise, American Express Membership Rewards and Diners Club Rewards points can be transferred to a non-cardholder's frequent flyer account. This is not to say that the Membership Rewards rules permit such transfers, only that it is easily performed online.
Oct 22, 2009 | 11:29 am
#7
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 35,569
I think there is a lot of naivety by folks who have odd numbers of miles, thinking they can exchange them with someone else. They don't realize there is a substantial cost to transfer, which renders them useless. There are some exceptions, but generally exchanges to be of value need to be award for award.
It's akin to the person who comes on FT, saying they have 85K miles and would like a biz award to Asia. When more info is given, it's 10K in program A, 25K in B, etc. Folks really don't understand that they can't combine miles.
It's akin to the person who comes on FT, saying they have 85K miles and would like a biz award to Asia. When more info is given, it's 10K in program A, 25K in B, etc. Folks really don't understand that they can't combine miles.
Oct 22, 2009 | 1:53 pm
#8
Join Date: Aug 2009
Programs: SPG Gold, AA, USair, United, Amex MR, ICHC, HHonors Silver
Posts: 235
i was under the impression that after too many people were taking advantage of same address point exchanges, spg started requiring proof of address before switching points from account to account...?
Oct 23, 2009 | 4:11 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SFO/SJC, CA
Posts: 630
I have same question, although I am actually going to combine account from people in the same househood but just want to know others' experience.
Oct 23, 2009 | 8:26 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Boston
Programs: AA Gold/1MM
Posts: 114
I have transferred my wife's SPG acount to mine by simply making a phone call. I don't recall how many days it took, but it was pretty easy
Oct 23, 2009 | 9:16 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2004
Programs: CO, UA, AA, WN, DL Gold
Posts: 2,981
Most airline programs won't allow this without 'fees.' It's outrageous the way they figure it. Like a penny per mile plus $35 'transaction' fee. It costs them the same whether you transfer 100 miles or 100000. Just another ripoff.