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
Aug 28, 2018, 11:26 pm
#271
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,908
Magazine subscriptions starting at 500 miles
Sep 13, 2018, 11:56 pm
#272
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 88
Simplest way to keep expiring miles free of charge immediately
Hi all, I am new to Flyertalk and this is my first post.
My miles are expiring end of September 2018. I booked a refundable hotel in Zhengzhou via the UA app which requires 610 miles per night. My miles are extended for 18 months.
On the confirmation page, I clicked Manage Booking, then cancelled the booking. The miles went back to my account in 2 hours. (It took 15 minutes only in fact). Expiry date remains extended.
Even your miles are not expiring soon, it worths a try!
My miles are expiring end of September 2018. I booked a refundable hotel in Zhengzhou via the UA app which requires 610 miles per night. My miles are extended for 18 months.
On the confirmation page, I clicked Manage Booking, then cancelled the booking. The miles went back to my account in 2 hours. (It took 15 minutes only in fact). Expiry date remains extended.
Even your miles are not expiring soon, it worths a try!
Last edited by Donkitravel; Sep 14, 2018 at 12:07 am
Sep 14, 2018, 12:04 am
#273
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,908
Welcome to FT, Donkitravel
Check back in a few days, UA closed a similar loophole -- believe it was make an award booking and cancel within 24 hours for free.
Expiration initially extended and then reportedly restored to original date a few days later.
My miles are expiring end of September 2018. I book a refundable hotel in Zhengzhou via the UA app which requires 610 miles per night. My miles are extended for 18 months.
On the confirmation page, click Manage Booking, then cancel the booking. The miles go back to your account in 2 hours. Expiry date remains extended.
On the confirmation page, click Manage Booking, then cancel the booking. The miles go back to your account in 2 hours. Expiry date remains extended.
Expiration initially extended and then reportedly restored to original date a few days later.
Sep 14, 2018, 12:10 am
#274
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 88
Update: As of today (10 October), expiry date remains 31 March 2020.
Last edited by Donkitravel; Oct 11, 2018 at 6:08 pm Reason: Update!
Sep 19, 2018, 12:43 am
#275
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 88
As of today, the expiry date remains the extended date, i.e. 31 March 2020.
It does not make any sense if they are talking about ‘activity’ in their terms if they revert back the expiry date to the original. I can book a hotel which allows free cancellation (activity occurs) to stay almost a year later, say late-August 2019. My miles is extended immediately. By August 2019 before I cancel the hotel booking, I may have already exhausted the miles! ^^
It does not make any sense if they are talking about ‘activity’ in their terms if they revert back the expiry date to the original. I can book a hotel which allows free cancellation (activity occurs) to stay almost a year later, say late-August 2019. My miles is extended immediately. By August 2019 before I cancel the hotel booking, I may have already exhausted the miles! ^^
Oct 21, 2018, 12:59 am
#276
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: TPA
Programs: AA Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 62
UA Miles Expiration
Hi all- hope I am posting this in the right spot. I didn't see a "Newbie" forum for UA but I figured the "simple question" title description was probably the same thing?
Here is the situation I am in- I haven't flown UA in awhile and realized my miles are expiring EOY. I am going to be traveling for Thanksgiving and at least once around Christmas. However, I have looked at the UA flights around this time and they are a good chunk more than either AA or Delta (I have lowest tier status with AA and none with Delta but the most miles on them), so don't know if i can justify this.
As far as I can tell my options are:
1) Lose the miles (would prefer not to do this)
2) Same as #1 but "rebuy" for $150
3) Go on a mileage run
4) Suck it up and pay the higher fare
5) Book a hotel through UA (can't tell if this would preserve my exisgint miles or not- you do get miles from doing this though according to UA) - this would be the cheapest and my top option if allowed. I can prob get one for next to nothing and get my Marriott points simult.
6) Buy more miles outright (I don't know if this would preserve miles either, just like #5 )
Do you know if #5 or #6 is an option or if there any other recs?
Thanks!
Here is the situation I am in- I haven't flown UA in awhile and realized my miles are expiring EOY. I am going to be traveling for Thanksgiving and at least once around Christmas. However, I have looked at the UA flights around this time and they are a good chunk more than either AA or Delta (I have lowest tier status with AA and none with Delta but the most miles on them), so don't know if i can justify this.
As far as I can tell my options are:
1) Lose the miles (would prefer not to do this)
2) Same as #1 but "rebuy" for $150
3) Go on a mileage run
4) Suck it up and pay the higher fare
5) Book a hotel through UA (can't tell if this would preserve my exisgint miles or not- you do get miles from doing this though according to UA) - this would be the cheapest and my top option if allowed. I can prob get one for next to nothing and get my Marriott points simult.
6) Buy more miles outright (I don't know if this would preserve miles either, just like #5 )
Do you know if #5 or #6 is an option or if there any other recs?
Thanks!
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Oct 21, 2018 at 1:09 am Reason: moved to master thread
Oct 21, 2018, 1:22 am
#277
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,908
...
5) Book a hotel through UA (can't tell if this would preserve my exisgint miles or not- you do get miles from doing this though according to UA) - this would be the cheapest and my top option if allowed. I can prob get one for next to nothing and get my Marriott points simult.
6) Buy more miles outright (I don't know if this would preserve miles either, just like #5 )
Do you know if #5 or #6 is an option or if there any other recs?
Thanks!
5) Book a hotel through UA (can't tell if this would preserve my exisgint miles or not- you do get miles from doing this though according to UA) - this would be the cheapest and my top option if allowed. I can prob get one for next to nothing and get my Marriott points simult.
6) Buy more miles outright (I don't know if this would preserve miles either, just like #5 )
Do you know if #5 or #6 is an option or if there any other recs?
Thanks!
other options -
Earning miles via the MPX app (see wiki for links) can be essentilly free and quick.
Opinion Miles Club surveys are another free option.
Oct 21, 2018, 1:27 am
#278
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: TPA
Programs: AA Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 62
Yes 5 & 6 work -- any mileage activity before expiration works (mileage earning earned before expiration but posted afterwards will also work)
other options -
Earning miles via the MPX app (see wiki for links) can be essentilly free and quick.
Opinion Miles Club surveys are another free option.
other options -
Earning miles via the MPX app (see wiki for links) can be essentilly free and quick.
Opinion Miles Club surveys are another free option.
Oct 21, 2018, 7:23 am
#279
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA MM 1K, AA MM Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 3,236
Mrs tarheelnj is 1k because of MM companion match, but when flying uses miles from my account. Her account's expiring, so if she books an award trip with her miles (for a trip we might take) and then cancels it if we don't go, will that still push the expiration date?
Oct 21, 2018, 12:04 pm
#280
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,908
Seems it might be easier just to occasionally use the miles from the expiring account.
Oct 21, 2018, 12:27 pm
#281
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: New Jersey
Programs: UA MM 1K, AA MM Gold, Marriott LT Platinum
Posts: 3,236
Likely --- but there were a few past (a couple years) reports that cancelling shortly after booking was not success in reseting the expiration date. Have no guidance on the needed time period to wait.
Seems it might be easier just to occasionally use the miles from the expiring account.
Seems it might be easier just to occasionally use the miles from the expiring account.
Oct 24, 2018, 6:59 pm
#282
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 88
Hi all- hope I am posting this in the right spot. I didn't see a "Newbie" forum for UA but I figured the "simple question" title description was probably the same thing?
Here is the situation I am in- I haven't flown UA in awhile and realized my miles are expiring EOY. I am going to be traveling for Thanksgiving and at least once around Christmas. However, I have looked at the UA flights around this time and they are a good chunk more than either AA or Delta (I have lowest tier status with AA and none with Delta but the most miles on them), so don't know if i can justify this.
As far as I can tell my options are:
1) Lose the miles (would prefer not to do this)
2) Same as #1 but "rebuy" for $150
3) Go on a mileage run
4) Suck it up and pay the higher fare
5) Book a hotel through UA (can't tell if this would preserve my exisgint miles or not- you do get miles from doing this though according to UA) - this would be the cheapest and my top option if allowed. I can prob get one for next to nothing and get my Marriott points simult.
6) Buy more miles outright (I don't know if this would preserve miles either, just like #5 )
Do you know if #5 or #6 is an option or if there any other recs?
Thanks!
Here is the situation I am in- I haven't flown UA in awhile and realized my miles are expiring EOY. I am going to be traveling for Thanksgiving and at least once around Christmas. However, I have looked at the UA flights around this time and they are a good chunk more than either AA or Delta (I have lowest tier status with AA and none with Delta but the most miles on them), so don't know if i can justify this.
As far as I can tell my options are:
1) Lose the miles (would prefer not to do this)
2) Same as #1 but "rebuy" for $150
3) Go on a mileage run
4) Suck it up and pay the higher fare
5) Book a hotel through UA (can't tell if this would preserve my exisgint miles or not- you do get miles from doing this though according to UA) - this would be the cheapest and my top option if allowed. I can prob get one for next to nothing and get my Marriott points simult.
6) Buy more miles outright (I don't know if this would preserve miles either, just like #5 )
Do you know if #5 or #6 is an option or if there any other recs?
Thanks!
Hi, you may refer to #275 posted by me. I can tell that UA does not revert back the expiry date of my miles. As of today, my miles are extended to end of March 2020.
If you still worry if they will revert the expiry date back to original, simply book a very cheap refundable hotel for stay in Oct 2019, cancel it only after you have used up most of the miles.
Oct 25, 2018, 8:51 am
#283
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Tucson, Southern Arizona, North America, Western Hemisphere, The Earth, a small planet in the solar system. Previously OnePass Infinite Platinum Elite, now over entitled 1K
Posts: 2,288
After receiving an email informing that wife's 44K miles were to expire in January I went to united.com and explored MileagePlus shopping. Using a link to Walmart I ordered a $15 item using her MP number to be shipped to store at no additional cost. Within a few days 15 miles were credited to her account and expiration date moved to 2020.
It reminded me that it's time to have her reapply for a Chase MP Explorer card to get the 40K bonus miles!
It reminded me that it's time to have her reapply for a Chase MP Explorer card to get the 40K bonus miles!
Oct 25, 2018, 11:37 pm
#284
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: TPA
Programs: AA Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 62
Hi, you may refer to #275 posted by me. I can tell that UA does not revert back the expiry date of my miles. As of today, my miles are extended to end of March 2020.
If you still worry if they will revert the expiry date back to original, simply book a very cheap refundable hotel for stay in Oct 2019, cancel it only after you have used up most of the miles.
Nov 27, 2018, 1:12 pm
#285
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: NYS
Programs: UA 1K MM, IHG Plat Amb, HH Diamond
Posts: 311
Award Ticket
I'm not sure if this has been discussed before, its certainly not mentioned in the Wiki. My son has an account where all his miles were set to expire in Dec. I figured I'll purchase the accelerator, however it was too large a cost. I cancelled the Award ticket that I just booked with the intention of booking a shorter trip. Upon cancellation, the expiration date was extended by 18 months. I took a screen shot of the new date. Is this in fact a way to extend the date for no cost?