Jan 9, 2015, 4:29 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
United announces "MileagePlus Miles Never Expire" (effective immediately)
Archive thread: Consolidated "How to Keep/Refresh Expiring Miles" Thread [ARCHIVE]
If you want to keep all your existing miles, and thus want some new miles to post quickly and reliably, here are some ways, from cheapest to most expensive:
Archive thread: Consolidated "How to Keep/Refresh Expiring Miles" Thread [ARCHIVE]
If you want to keep all your existing miles, and thus want some new miles to post quickly and reliably, here are some ways, from cheapest to most expensive:
- Book an award ticket and then cancel at no cost within 24 hours.
- If you have a United credit card, downgrade it to the no fee version that gives 1 mile/$2 and use it every so often. Will help with aging as well which is good for your credit score.
- Dining option still works (as of May 22, 2014). Posted to United in about 3 weeks after activity. I think it is one of the easiest options. No need to even take survey if you dont want extra survey points. I didn't do it.
- Buy a gift card and trade it to United for miles. See http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/21020349-post702.html for an example that cost $15, and resulted in miles posting in under 24 hours. If you are not a U.S. resident, then buy an acceptable gift card on eBay and ask seller to email you the gift card number and pin. The gift card can be purchased with anyone's credit card (or cash) and applied to anyone's M+ number (name on credit card and M+ account need not match). It is not known if e-gift cards work. Physical gift cards known to work are:
- Buffalo Wild Wings (available for as low as $15 at Walgreens pharmacy). Note this card did not have a pin. Leaving the pin field empty in the submission worked fine.
2013 Update: - Ref, Ref
- Online bought GCs (i.e. e GCs) are not working successfully - Failed: Walmart, Lowes, NewEgg
- Store bought cards that worked recently as per some members: Buffalo Wild Wings, Target
- Buffalo Wild Wings (available for as low as $15 at Walgreens pharmacy). Note this card did not have a pin. Leaving the pin field empty in the submission worked fine.
- Buy miles directly from United. http://www.ualmiles.com/PersonalMile...Personal+Miles. The minimum purchase is about $75.
- Mileage activity from third parties -- rental car, hotels, .... -- look for previously not posted activity
- Buy a ticket on united.com, and once it tickets, purchase award maximizer. Look for a flight with a short distance, such as COS/DEN to keep the award maximizer cost low. Miles will post in under 24 hours. Cancel ticket within 24 hours to get a full refund.
2013 Update: Ref, Ref
This seems to be the simplest way to do it for low cost, without much running around or waiting or donating miles.
- Bought an IAH > Austin ticket for 69/79 $.
- Went back in to change/ modify ticket reservation and then Award Acc was offered - 500 miles for 17$. Bought it.
- Miles posted in few hours. Cancelled the ticket. Refund to Visa card pending.
Note: Buy any low cost short distance ticket, go back in and buy award accelerator and then cancel in 24 hr after award miles post. . - Make a purchase using MileagePlus X – Shopping App to Earn Additional Award Miles / Introducing MileagePlusX -- miles reportedly post very quickly. Doesn't work if the name on credit card doesn't match the name on the M+ account.
- Another option if you are in he United States is with BP gas stations with their BP Driver Rewards program. They give at least 1 mile per gallon. Signing up is free and the miles post instantly.
Have a look here: https://www.mybpstation.com/united
- Magazine subscriptions
- Charitable giving
- Mileage Purchases -- generally a poor use of miles
- Reinstatement Miles for a fee -- if the expiration is as recent as 18 months ago, roughly 0.5 to 1 cpm.
- Find a recent (last 12 months typically) hotel stay or rental car credit that has not yet been posted. If the date was prior to expiration that should reinstate the expired miles.
Consolidated "How to Keep/Refresh Expiring Miles" Thread
Mar 26, 2015, 1:22 pm
#31
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: YYZ
Programs: Skymiles/Aeroplan
Posts: 128
I need advice from Mileage Plus Canadians
A few years ago I flew to a few destinations with United. After redeeming some miles for a flight to Western Canada, I still had 16K left. I'm now using another airline. Recently I received an e-mail from United stating that I have until April 30 to either use it, add to it or loose it. I checked the alternatives. Flying to the least expensive destination will cost me a minimum of C$300.00. Renting a car for the Holy Friday long weekend (and going nowhere with it) will cost around the same with Hertz. All shopping options listed on Mileage Plus site are South of the border.
At almost the same time I received another e-mail from United about a bonus if I buy miles. However, unless I missed something, it will not count as a valid transaction that will prevent me from loosing my miles. If it counted, I'd do it, as my mileage would go up as well.
Can someone in Canada come up with a less expensive solution? In my opinion, using at least $300.00 in order not to waste 16,000 miles isn't a wise solution.
Any help will be appreciated.
At almost the same time I received another e-mail from United about a bonus if I buy miles. However, unless I missed something, it will not count as a valid transaction that will prevent me from loosing my miles. If it counted, I'd do it, as my mileage would go up as well.
Can someone in Canada come up with a less expensive solution? In my opinion, using at least $300.00 in order not to waste 16,000 miles isn't a wise solution.
Any help will be appreciated.
Mar 26, 2015, 2:55 pm
#32
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: WAS
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Nexus, GE
Posts: 2,123
You can do what I just did to keep my AA miles active.
Do a Groupon purchase through the Mileage Plus Mall. I don't know where you are in Canada, but it's likely there's a Groupon near you…or just buy a voucher you plan to waste. They can be as cheap as $10.
Do a Groupon purchase through the Mileage Plus Mall. I don't know where you are in Canada, but it's likely there's a Groupon near you…or just buy a voucher you plan to waste. They can be as cheap as $10.
Mar 26, 2015, 3:04 pm
#33
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,429
Believe there is a donate miles option, that could be easiest.
Not sure what the minimum is.
Not sure what the minimum is.
Mar 26, 2015, 3:08 pm
#34
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: YYZ
Programs: UA1K2MM ACMME50 SQPPS HHDiamond Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 4,391
A few years ago I flew to a few destinations with United. After redeeming some miles for a flight to Western Canada, I still had 16K left. I'm now using another airline. Recently I received an e-mail from United stating that I have until April 30 to either use it, add to it or loose it. I checked the alternatives. Flying to the least expensive destination will cost me a minimum of C$300.00. Renting a car for the Holy Friday long weekend (and going nowhere with it) will cost around the same with Hertz. All shopping options listed on Mileage Plus site are South of the border.
At almost the same time I received another e-mail from United about a bonus if I buy miles. However, unless I missed something, it will not count as a valid transaction that will prevent me from loosing my miles. If it counted, I'd do it, as my mileage would go up as well.
Can someone in Canada come up with a less expensive solution? In my opinion, using at least $300.00 in order not to waste 16,000 miles isn't a wise solution.
Any help will be appreciated.
At almost the same time I received another e-mail from United about a bonus if I buy miles. However, unless I missed something, it will not count as a valid transaction that will prevent me from loosing my miles. If it counted, I'd do it, as my mileage would go up as well.
Can someone in Canada come up with a less expensive solution? In my opinion, using at least $300.00 in order not to waste 16,000 miles isn't a wise solution.
Any help will be appreciated.
On MileagePlus website there is an option to donate miles. you can donate 500 miles which will account as activity.
Mar 26, 2015, 6:31 pm
#36
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SFO
Programs: COdbaUA Platinum 2MM
Posts: 5,532
Mar 27, 2015, 5:25 pm
#38
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SJC
Programs: AAdvantage 2MM+ Lifetime PLT; BA, CO, UA, US; SPG; HHonors Gold
Posts: 757
How quickly does Groupon through MileagePlus Mall post?
I did a purchase last night for a Groupon, will it post before March 31?
Mar 27, 2015, 5:54 pm
#39
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SJC
Programs: AAdvantage 2MM+ Lifetime PLT; BA, CO, UA, US; SPG; HHonors Gold
Posts: 757
Another newbie question:
I'm trying to stop my son's miles from expiring. If I start from his account in the MileagePlus shop and I got to say iTunes or Officedepot.com can I login on my account in the stores and have a transaction go through and get the MP miles? Or do the names on the MP account and the store account have to match?
I'm trying to stop my son's miles from expiring. If I start from his account in the MileagePlus shop and I got to say iTunes or Officedepot.com can I login on my account in the stores and have a transaction go through and get the MP miles? Or do the names on the MP account and the store account have to match?
Mar 30, 2015, 9:15 am
#40
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: WAS
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Titanium, Nexus, GE
Posts: 2,123
Mar 31, 2015, 5:18 pm
#41
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: SJC
Programs: AAdvantage 2MM+ Lifetime PLT; BA, CO, UA, US; SPG; HHonors Gold
Posts: 757
Apr 17, 2015, 5:23 am
#43
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Potomac Falls, VA
Programs: AA Plat 2MM, MR Gold, Avis Pref
Posts: 41,109
Regarding #4 in the Wiki which is the purchase of gift cards.
I am guessing the answer is yes but I'd like to get some sort of warm and fuzzy feeling that I'm correct.
There are not any B&N around my house. I can buy a B&N gift card at Safeway though and input any value starting at $15. If I buy a $15 at SW does this qualify as a B&N GC that will extend my (well actually my son's) account?
I have no need for this GC other than for these miles. So if its not going to work, I really don't want to buy the GC.
thanks
I am guessing the answer is yes but I'd like to get some sort of warm and fuzzy feeling that I'm correct.
There are not any B&N around my house. I can buy a B&N gift card at Safeway though and input any value starting at $15. If I buy a $15 at SW does this qualify as a B&N GC that will extend my (well actually my son's) account?
I have no need for this GC other than for these miles. So if its not going to work, I really don't want to buy the GC.
thanks
Apr 28, 2015, 1:45 pm
#44
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: CHO
Programs: Auto shop by CHO Frequent Oil Changer; Kayak Incognito Mode Platinum
Posts: 287
MileagePlus X is open to even general members, sells Amazon.com gift credit, posts damn near instantaneously, and even copies the gift code into your clipboard and opens your browser into the Amazon redemption page. Absolutely A+.
I just pushed my wife's mileage expiration out to 10/31/2016 with a $5 Amazon GC purchase -- only 5 miles, but who cares when you can get the renewal job done in 5 minutes now? This is great.
I just pushed my wife's mileage expiration out to 10/31/2016 with a $5 Amazon GC purchase -- only 5 miles, but who cares when you can get the renewal job done in 5 minutes now? This is great.
May 20, 2015, 9:38 pm
#45
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Seattle
Programs: UA MM Platinum, HH Diamond
Posts: 226
Digital Media Store purchase (no status) extended expiration date
Mother in law (no status) asked for help extending her mileage expiration date.
Helped her purchased an album on the Digital Media Store and her expiration date was instantly extended by 18 months.
Helped her purchased an album on the Digital Media Store and her expiration date was instantly extended by 18 months.