The Flyer talk board has many discussions about mileage runs and other ways to acquire miles but what about just regularly buying miles from 2 or 3 major airlines in the US.

I am not interested in using them for coach fares. This would be primarily for business class tickets mileage upgrades international or business class tickets. I don't want to invest the time or effort into becoming an elite in any one airline.

Opinions?

Short

The airlines, despite what we sometimes sound like around here, are not totally stupid. They know the miles for an international J award would cost a lot less than a ticket on the same flight. And they don't want to give up that revenue.

So, there are a few problems with this concept:

(1) The annual cap on the number of purchased miles you can put into an account is generally less than international J awards require. You'd be limited to an upgrade every other year (for one traveler) or a ticket every 3 years - or even less frequently for 2+ travelers.

(2) Capacity controls on awards mean that you cannot obtain an award ticket on popular routes without several months' advance planning. Front-cabin awards to Hawaii in the winter, for example, are often gone within a week of their becoming available 11 months before departure. Some airlines release additional award seats for elites, especially at the top level(s), but that's not an option in this case.

(3) Capacity controls on upgrades, if you want to buy an economy ticket and plan on an upgrade award, are likewise tight. (Ditto about elites.)

If you can figure out a way around these, you can make a lot of money selling the secret on eBay. Corporate America wants to do it, too!

Thanks for your response.

I understand that capacity controls could be problematic, however, it seems to me that the more options(airlines) you have to work with the better. When I booked a trip for my husband using a miles LAX-LHR business class upgrade in March of 06 I called American first. They had zip. I called United and they had a workable reservation. Two years ago I got 4 mileage business class upgrades for the family in Sept to Glasgow on American.

A regular program of buying miles along with some BIS and credit card miles in each of my husbands and my account should get us enough miles for a business upgrade on each of the airlines (American, United and maybe Delta)each year. I can't imagine we would go that often but who knows.

I'm thinking having flexability to go whereever the seats are would be more useful than marrying ourselves to one airline and at best getting only the lowest level elite status.

Short

very interesting concept.....i like it....having some mi's in a few programs sort of paid off a couple of times.....

have you done any cost projections? what are they...thanks....good luck.

I always buy miles to top off what I have built in the year (if needed). I also do this a year in advance for the next year travel in order to have plenty of miles for an award the following year. I do an international award every year and upgrade on the tickets that I actually pay for. Nothing like flying in a flat bed accross the pond... ^

I think I could realisticly expect to buy miles at .025. If I could find business class tickets at the lowest level they would cost about $1800 US to Europe. Even if I had to double down it would be $4500 for a fully flexable fully refundable ticket. While shopping for my hubby in March I was not finding any tickets less than $4500 LAX to LHR and they were restricted and nonrefundable.

It does require a substantial investment ahead of time which I suppose most don't like. I would not consider this for NW and Delta until they are cleared from the Bk court.

Short