Experience "Selling" Miles?
Nov 4, 2008 | 8:21 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: WAS
Programs: AA Exec Plat, UA Prem Plat
Posts: 192
Experience "Selling" Miles?
Has anyone here actually sold FF miles through an outlet such as Craigslist, eBay, etc? Is such action illegal/against airline rules? What about "trading" miles on one carrier for miles on another? I was just screwing around on e-Bay and was surprised to see miles selling for some serious $$. I'd never personally consider doing it, but was just wondering if others had/why they do.
Nov 4, 2008 | 8:23 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1KMM, DL Plt, AA, AS, HHonors Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Ttnm (LT PLT), Hertz PC, Enterprise Plt
Posts: 7,238
It's against the terms of the mileage program, and your account will likely be terminated.
Nov 4, 2008 | 8:32 am
#3
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: IAD
Programs: No Loyalty to any airline
Posts: 2,378
Do a search; there have been several threads, especially in the UA forum about account audits lately. These auctions are usually shut down and people have had their MP accounts closed or mileage deducted. UA does apparently monitor eBay auctions. It's not allowed.
Nov 5, 2008 | 7:13 am
#4
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: San Diego Area
Programs: UA Gold MM, AA Gold MM, FB Gold, Marriott Plat LT, HH Gold, IHG Plat, WoH Discvst, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,871
To reinforce the semantics: It is not illegal to sell or barter miles, but it is a violation of the Terms and Conditions of virtually all loyalty programs. One runs a very real risk of losing some or all accumulated points/miles if you are "caught" selling/bartering/trading.
Last edited by jmd001; Nov 6, 2008 at 7:24 am Reason: Added "trading".
Nov 5, 2008 | 11:03 am
#5
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Munich, Germany
Programs: LH HON, DL FO/MM, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Accor Lifetime Platinum, Sixt Diamond
Posts: 6,174
Since this is not Mileage Run related, I am moving this thread over to MilesBuzz!.
Kind Regards
rcs85551
Moderator, Mileage Run forums
Kind Regards
rcs85551
Moderator, Mileage Run forums
Nov 5, 2008 | 2:34 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 6,643
Flyertalk does have a forum (Coupon Connection) for members with more than 90 posts and 90 day membership (correct me if I'm wrong, but I think those are the conditions for viewing ) for trading travel related items, including miles - it is, however, absolutely forbidden to actually sell anything for cash; only trading is allowed.
Nov 5, 2008 | 3:58 pm
#7
Company Representative - US Airways
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: US Airways
Posts: 2
Trading is considered bartering. This is also against the terms and conditions of most ff programs.
Nov 8, 2008 | 3:35 am
#9
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 102
If you are going to do something like that is best to keep it a lot more private than an internet message board. Doing a deal for family or friends is probably the safest bet, and there was a place that someone I know, might have sold some miles to a while back, they paid 1.5 cents per mile fedex check upon reciept of the tickets, this was pre internet . e ticket era. Not really sure about their business model , but they always have said, tell your friends about us, but not strangers to protect everyone involved.
Just depends on your risk tolerance...it is against the rules in all cases.
Just depends on your risk tolerance...it is against the rules in all cases.
Nov 8, 2008 | 4:04 am
#10
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CH-3823 Wengen Switzerland
Programs: miles&more, MileagePlus
Posts: 27,043
miles&more-miles (program of LH, OS, LX and LOT) can indirectly be bought and sold without acting against any rules. And it is done extensivly. And such miles can be used for awards with any StarAlliance carrier.
(swiss) Coop Superpunkte (Superpoints) can be easily online transferred (free of charge) transferred from and to any Suppunkte-account and than be exchanged for miles of the miles&more program.
The way how to do it, how to calculate the miles, and promotions is discussed in the FlyerTalk miles&more forum (in the swiss = LX subforum).
Here is a link to one recent example
I have so far 'done' over 100 million points (that later were exchanged into miles) myself.
(swiss) Coop Superpunkte (Superpoints) can be easily online transferred (free of charge) transferred from and to any Suppunkte-account and than be exchanged for miles of the miles&more program.
The way how to do it, how to calculate the miles, and promotions is discussed in the FlyerTalk miles&more forum (in the swiss = LX subforum).
Here is a link to one recent example
I have so far 'done' over 100 million points (that later were exchanged into miles) myself.
Dec 24, 2008 | 10:36 am
#11
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Chicago, IL
Programs: AA EXP & AAirpass, Hyatt Courtesy Card, SPG Platinum
Posts: 1,002
True, but that is not the norm across many of the FF programs. It is interesting that Miles&More allows this, though. I had no idea.
Dec 24, 2008 | 11:23 am
#12
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Orange County, CA, USA
Programs: AA (Life Plat), Marriott (Life Titanium) and every other US program
Posts: 6,416
To reinforce the semantics: It is not illegal to sell or barter miles, but it is a violation of the Terms and Conditions of virtually all loyalty programs. One runs a very real risk of losing some or all accumulated points/miles if you are "caught" selling/bartering/trading.
Dec 24, 2008 | 11:38 am
#13
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: San Diego Area
Programs: UA Gold MM, AA Gold MM, FB Gold, Marriott Plat LT, HH Gold, IHG Plat, WoH Discvst, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,871
Dec 24, 2008 | 12:17 pm
#14
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Orange County, CA, USA
Programs: AA (Life Plat), Marriott (Life Titanium) and every other US program
Posts: 6,416
California Penal Code section 483:
quote:
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Ticket Scalping.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 26002.5 of the Government Code and Sections 40180.5 and 99151 of the Public Utilities Code, any person, firm, corporation, partnership, or association that shall sell to another any ticket, pass, scrip, mileage or commutation book, coupon, or other instrument for passage on a common carrier, for the use of any person not entitled to use the same according to the terms thereof, or of the book or portion thereof from which it was detached, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
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Dec 24, 2008 | 7:59 pm
#15
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: D.R.E.A.D. Gold card holder
Posts: 53,184
I do not see how this section applies. If I cash in an award with your name on it, you are certainly entitled to use it by the terms of the ticket, regardless of whether you pay me for it or not. Not to mention that federal preemption makes any state laws pertaining to aviation illegal in the first place.