Purchasing miles?
 

Anybody know of a company that sells FF miles? I came across FF-related Web site about a year ago, and they were offering miles for $25 per 1,000.

I know some airlines, like Continental, will sell you a limited amount of miles, but this place I came across was selling as many as you wanted, on all majors, if I remember right. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find it recently in my searches.

[This message has been edited by motnot (edited 04-28-2000).]

Most of the major airlines sell incentive miles to companies at around $0.02/mile; it is, however, a violation of their contract to re-sell the miles to consumers at any amount. In addition, all major airlines except TWA and Continental have a cap of 25,000 incentive miles per person per year. So if you want a few first-class tickets to Europe, for example, you probably won't be able to do it -- unless you're willing to fly TWA to one of their few remaining destinations. And if you're willing to put up with TWA, you have my greatest sympathies.

You can buy up to 15000 United miles per calender year from the ual.com website using a credit card ( I think it started as a VISA promotion). You can also buy miles to give to another, again limit 15 K per year. I think 15k miles costs about $500 excluding taxes. Hope this helps http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

hmm.. i seem to remeember reading on a delta 500 mile certificate that one could only deposit 50,000 or 60,000 miles from any one company.. ie: i could only deposit 60,000 delta miles which greenpoints had paid for but then i could deposit an additional 60,000 from dietcoke rewards..

It depends a little, I think.

The CitiBank AAdvantage MasterCard allows you to earn 1 mile per dollar spent, with a limit of 60,000 miles per year.

However, that limit is waived for Platinum members and above. You can earn unlimited miles.

So, I think the same would probably hold true for other types of reward programs.

Just keep in mind that purchased miles will not count toward elite status accrual.

FQTV,

Actually if you get 1 million AA miles (aka Pudding Guy) you get lifetime gold, 2 million gets you lifetime platinum.

I probably sound like a broken record on these boards, but you can always find a friend with a Diners Club and "work something out". I'm sure an altruistic card holder would transfer miles at a rate less than the 3 cents or so that United, et al steal from their customers for each mile.

$500 for 15,000 miles is pure theft.

If you want AA miles, you can get 100 miles for the cost of a box of Kellogg's cereal - probably not much over 2¢/mile, increments of only 500 miles, no upper limit, and you end up with a box of cereal! If you don't want the cereal, donate it to a homeless shelter and (in the US) take a tax deduction.

I believe AMEX Membership Rewards allows you to buy 1000 miles for $25. Max of 20,000 per month.