Help PLS! Need UA points to book tickets
 

Hello guys, I am kind of new on this. I need to book 2 tickets from PHX to SFO end of March, which need 50K total points. I only have 46K in my UA account. How can I make the difference? I have many SPG points, but the ratio from SPG to UA is 2:1, which I am not willing to do so. I also have 10K HHornor(i think it is 10:1). I also have 12K NWA points (but i dont think it can be transferred to UA)

The fare costs around 220$ RT, is that worth to redeem the points or just purchase it?

Can anyone help? Thanks a lot!

Purchase them.

not sure where i should post this question :confused:

One option is to purchase the 4,000 miles from United.
That would cost $164. Takes 48 hrs to process.
I don't need to tell you this is highly overpriced cost for miles. But, it's an option.

Keep in mind that UA also charges a "close in" ticketing fee of $75 per ticket if travel commences within 21 days of ticketing. Not the best link, but sort of describes this rule here.

Finally, not sure how much the fare is on this route, but could you use UA miles for one person, and redeem Starpoints to purchase a ticket directly with the new Starwood points to fly program? (Avoids transferring your miles to UA, and I believe you can still earn UA miles since Starwood is buying the ticket for you directly.)

I need to book today to avoid that 75$ fee since I need to fly on 3/22.

I think buying form SPG is a very good idea. thanks alot mikensf74!

the fare is only around 200$ itself. so spending 164$ buying points is too much. it is really overpriced!

I agree, buy the tickets. Kayak is showing fares as low as $191 from the 23rd on US to an alternate airport. I would not waste the miles on that cheap of a ticket. Save them for something worth it.

JudyJFLA

normally what is the ration (points vs. money) you think it is worth to redeem the points?

People use different thresholds of when to buy in $$ or when to redeem miles.

But I think you will be hard pressed to see anyone here recommend you spend 50k miles for only $440 worth of tickets. THat is a less than $0.01/mile usage.

Unless you are currently strapped for cash or have a situation in which you would never envision using those 46,000 miles in the future, I would say just spend the $$.

Wait to redeem your miles when that RT fare is $980 or 25,000 miles.


My personal guidelines (and I am sure there are FTers much more stringent than me) is to try to get my miles for free if possible or as cheaply as possible if not for free. I will buy them at $0.01/mile. I try to redeem them at $0.03 or greater.


It is rare I purchase coach class tickets outright with miles, but more often use them to upgrade or buy in first.



Good luck.

Thank you very much dergon darkhelm !

Cross Posting
 

Given that you've cut and paste your question in the Mileage Run Discussion:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/milea...l#post11342732

One of these should be closed or merged... I'll let the mods explain why cross posting is frowned upon.

25,000 UA miles are worth way more than $220 IMHO. I would purchase with cash if I were you.

Please follow the link luv2ctheworld referred to. As an FYI, this thread is now resident in the United forum (the most appropriate home).