How do the "miles for cash" businesses work?
Dec 24, 2012 | 3:47 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: BWI (plus WAS, BOS & NYC)
Programs: Delta, American, British
Posts: 52
How do the "miles for cash" businesses work?
I've seen a number of sites advertise that they'll buy your miles. They seem fairly schlocky, so I was wondering if (a) they were real, and (b) what the business model is...
•.http://getpeyd.com/
•.https://flipmymiles.com/
•.http://www.miles4money.com/
Are they just the back-end to travel agents, who are using the miles to buy business and first-class tickets for less than the listed price, and then pocketing the difference?
•.http://getpeyd.com/
•.https://flipmymiles.com/
•.http://www.miles4money.com/
Are they just the back-end to travel agents, who are using the miles to buy business and first-class tickets for less than the listed price, and then pocketing the difference?
Dec 24, 2012 | 4:53 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Brooklyn, NY, United States
Programs: AA, BA, UA, Spirit, Delta, PC Plat, SPG Gold, HHonors Diamond, Club Carlson Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,735
I've seen a number of sites advertise that they'll buy your miles. They seem fairly schlocky, so I was wondering if (a) they were real, and (b) what the business model is...
•.http://getpeyd.com/
•.https://flipmymiles.com/
•.http://www.miles4money.com/
Are they just the back-end to travel agents, who are using the miles to buy business and first-class tickets for less than the listed price, and then pocketing the difference?
•.http://getpeyd.com/
•.https://flipmymiles.com/
•.http://www.miles4money.com/
Are they just the back-end to travel agents, who are using the miles to buy business and first-class tickets for less than the listed price, and then pocketing the difference?
Dec 24, 2012 | 9:31 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,745
Dec 24, 2012 | 9:34 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Intermountain West
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 12,745
Dec 25, 2012 | 3:54 am
#7
Join Date: May 2003
Location: 1 hour from Khao Yai, Thailand. No longer Bangkok, China, Taiwan , Palm Coast, FL, LA, or Chicago though still exiled, again, from the Bay Area.
Programs: Only the good ones
Posts: 5,578
Actually...
One of this site's ad sponsor, JetNSave, offers some "award" tickets in order to get their "up to 70% off International Business and First Class tickets " deals. These "ticket brokers" have been around for decades, buying miles low, selling award tickets high. So, just the usual business model. A lot of risk involved, as once the ticket broker is busted by the airline, they usually open the books and show all, then you get a call or notice your account is frozen with a message to call them. Not a great idea.
Dec 25, 2012 | 7:13 am
#8
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: 51,887
Dec 26, 2012 | 3:46 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Chicagoland, IL, USA
Programs: WN CP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,423
There are reports that some of the customers of these businesses are getting award tickets for people here illegally. Also for unsavory forms of human trafficking.
You really do not want to have your miles account linked to such activities.
You really do not want to have your miles account linked to such activities.
Dec 26, 2012 | 7:01 pm
#10
Join Date: Apr 2004
Programs: AA, UA, SQ, VA, QF, AF, BA
Posts: 2,885
Not worth the risk! I read about an Aussie who used US DM Share miles to plump up his account, then he redeemed an award for a personal friend of his and got not only his account shut down but his family's as well.
Dec 27, 2012 | 9:58 am
#11
Join Date: Jun 1999
Location: Rio de Janeiro, BRAZIL
Programs: AA 4MM EXP; Starwood Lifetime Plt
Posts: 2,498
Dec 27, 2012 | 10:46 am
#12
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 187
I call BS on this one. The guy had to be doing something shady. Taking part of the share miles promo is encouraged by US and redeeming awards for a friend is perfectly acceptable under the TOS. If he was sharing miles with himself then redeeming for a "friend" for some type of (track-able) payment, that's a different story.