Aug 25, 2015, 6:19 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
January 2024 -- Moved to Chase.com and renamed Pay Your Self Back
Noted -- The Chase Annual Fee had moved in 2011, now the flight reimbursement has moved and UA Choices site closed.
The Choices Points program was started in 2006 and is a method for using Chase MP branded earned miles (RDMs) to "pay" for a UA ticket charged to the credit card. These tickets are normal paid tickets and fully earn miles and elite credit. Statement credit redemption is at 1 cpm. (minimums applied, maximum is ticket cost)
Additionally, you can "pay" your Chase annual card fee. (rate varies, in 2020/2021 it has been increased to 1.5 cpm)
Note flight miles and miles from other sources are not eligible. Signup bonuses have qualified in the past.
There were other features originally, such as purchasing EQMs, but that has been discontinued.
To redeem or see balance, go to www.united.com/Choices
Original pre-merger thread on Choice Points
Noted -- The Chase Annual Fee had moved in 2011, now the flight reimbursement has moved and UA Choices site closed.
- Sign into your account here
- Click on "More" on the top right corner of your account page
- Select "Rewards dashboard" from the menu
- Choose "Use MileagePlus miles with Pay Yourself Back" on the top navigation bar
Additionally, you can "pay" your Chase annual card fee. (rate varies, in 2020/2021 it has been increased to 1.5 cpm)
Note flight miles and miles from other sources are not eligible. Signup bonuses have qualified in the past.
There were other features originally, such as purchasing EQMs, but that has been discontinued.
To redeem or see balance, go to www.united.com/Choices
MileagePlus Choices® Terms and Conditions Aug 2021
Important: Your participation in MileagePlus Choices® ("Choices") is governed by (i) the following terms and conditions and (ii) the MileagePlus® Program Rules found on united.com and expressly incorporated herein by reference (collectively the "Choices Terms and Conditions"). It is your responsibility to read and understand all of them. The Choices Terms and Conditions cannot be superseded or changed, except in writing from United Airlines, or any of its affiliates, (collectively, "United").
General conditions
Choices is offered at the discretion of United and United has the right to terminate Choices, in whole or in part, or to change the Choices Terms and Conditions, benefits and conditions of participation, in whole or in part, at any time, with or without notice, even though changes may affect the value of benefits already accumulated.
"You" and "your" means the primary Cardmember on the MileagePlus credit card account and whose MileagePlus account number is associated with the account ("Cardmember"). "MileagePlus credit card" includes United branded credit cards issued by Chase Bank USA, N.A. ("Chase") that accrue MileagePlus award miles.
Award miles accrued with your MileagePlus credit card and transferred to your MileagePlus account based on eligible card activity, including, but not limited to, credit card purchases, Chase promotional offers, and anniversary renewals, are available for use in Choices. Award miles earned (i) for flight activity, (ii) through MileagePlus partners, (iii) for Chase non-credit card activity including, but not limited to, debit/check card purchases or home equity advances, and (iv) for activity that is rewarded by third parties as bonuses associated with use of the MileagePlus credit card will be credited to your MileagePlus award miles balance but are not eligible for use in Choices. Your Choices balance is a subset of your MileagePlus award miles balance and not a separate balance. Your Choices balance can be found by visiting www.united.com/choices. You must have previously earned award miles with your MileagePlus credit card and be a current Cardmember to be able to login. Also, if you close your MileagePlus credit card account, you will forfeit your Choices balance.
Award miles accrued with your MileagePlus credit card will continue to be reflected in your award miles balance. In addition to the options available to MileagePlus members, Choices offers more ways to use miles that are exclusive to Cardmembers. Any Choices activity using award miles will result in a reduction of your MileagePlus award miles balance. You cannot have a greater Choices balance than your MileagePlus award miles balance.
The MileagePlus account number used for both Choices and the credit card account where the MileagePlus award miles were earned must be the same. You must be the primary Cardmember to use Choices. You cannot use your award miles through Choices for a statement credit on another person's MileagePlus credit card account.
Choices Airfare Statement Credit
To use Choices for an airfare statement credit, purchase any United ticket on united.com with your MileagePlus credit card. Flights purchased through any other source, such as United General Reservations, United Vacations, travel agencies or other travel websites, are not eligible. When the purchase posts to your credit card account, login at www.united.com/chase to use award miles earned with your MileagePlus credit card for an airfare statement credit against that charge.
No blackouts means any flight available on united.com can be purchased for Choices any day of the year. No inventory restriction indicates that any open seat on any available flight on united.com is eligible for Choices. Award miles earned with your MileagePlus credit card can be used against a ticket purchased on united.com through Choices for an airfare statement credit up to the full cost of the ticket.
Airfare statement credit requested may not exceed the ticket purchase amount charged to your MileagePlus credit card. Partial statement credits are allowed with a minimum of 5,000 award miles. However, only one statement credit request can be made per unique transaction.
You must submit your request within 90 days of the ticket purchase date.
Award miles are deducted at time of request. Please allow 5-7 days for the credit to appear on your credit card account. Since award miles earned with your MileagePlus credit card are reflected in your MileagePlus account balance, any activity through Choices will result in a reduction in your MileagePlus account balance. Use of award miles through Choices for an airfare statement credit made on or near the end of your monthly billing cycle may take up to one billing cycle to appear on your monthly billing statement. You are responsible for making your monthly credit card payment according to the terms and conditions of your account to avoid any late fees or finance charges.
For rejected requests, award miles initially deducted will be reversed.
E-mail confirmation will be sent to you to indicate a successful redemption and statement credit posting to your credit card account.
The MileagePlus account number used for both Choices and the credit card account where the MileagePlus award miles were earned must be the same. You must be the primary MileagePlus Cardmember to use Choices. You cannot use your award miles through Choices for an airfare statement credit on another person's MileagePlus credit card account.
Airline ticket changes, cancellations and refunds are subject to the rules of the airline ticket.
Award miles used in Choices cannot be returned or re-deposited by you.
MileagePlus and Chase reserve the right to reverse Choices air statement credits where the original ticket purchase is refunded. Award miles used will be re-deposited in your account and the Choices airfare statement credit will be reversed on your MileagePlus credit card account. In the event a reversal is required, an administrative fee of 2,500 award miles may be deducted from your MileagePlus account and will appear on your MileagePlus statement as an adjustment.
The number of award miles required depends upon the cost of the airline ticket including all taxes and fees and the amount of the airfare statement credit requested. You are responsible for all associated taxes, airport security charges, baggage fees, fuel surcharges and other usage fees required for travel. These charges will be included in the overall calculation to determine the number of award miles required for the airfare statement credit. The number of award miles required is subject to change at any time without notice.
Annual Membership Fee Reimbursement
Current Cardmembers may apply award miles through Choices towards one Annual Membership Fee Reimbursement per MileagePlus credit card account per 12-month period ("Annual Membership Fee Reimbursement"). Award miles used for an Annual Membership Fee Reimbursement cannot be returned or re-deposited.
Cardmember must submit an Annual Membership Fee Reimbursement request within 90 days of the annual membership fee transaction date on your credit card account.
The amount of the Annual Membership Fee Reimbursement requested may not exceed the annual membership fee billed to your monthly billing statement. One Annual Membership Fee Reimbursement request (full or partial) per 12 month period is allowed per credit card account.
Award miles are deducted from your MileagePlus account at the time you make your request. Please allow 5-7 days for the Annual Membership Fee Reimbursement to appear on your credit card account. Requests for an Annual Membership Fee Reimbursement made on or near the end of your monthly billing cycle may take up to one billing cycle to appear on your monthly billing statement. You are still responsible for making your monthly credit card payment according to the terms and conditions of your account to avoid any late fees or finance charges.
For rejected requests, award miles initially deducted will be reversed.
E-mail confirmation will be sent to you to indicate a successful redemption and statement credit posting to your credit card account.
Important: Your participation in MileagePlus Choices® ("Choices") is governed by (i) the following terms and conditions and (ii) the MileagePlus® Program Rules found on united.com and expressly incorporated herein by reference (collectively the "Choices Terms and Conditions"). It is your responsibility to read and understand all of them. The Choices Terms and Conditions cannot be superseded or changed, except in writing from United Airlines, or any of its affiliates, (collectively, "United").
General conditions
Choices is offered at the discretion of United and United has the right to terminate Choices, in whole or in part, or to change the Choices Terms and Conditions, benefits and conditions of participation, in whole or in part, at any time, with or without notice, even though changes may affect the value of benefits already accumulated.
"You" and "your" means the primary Cardmember on the MileagePlus credit card account and whose MileagePlus account number is associated with the account ("Cardmember"). "MileagePlus credit card" includes United branded credit cards issued by Chase Bank USA, N.A. ("Chase") that accrue MileagePlus award miles.
Award miles accrued with your MileagePlus credit card and transferred to your MileagePlus account based on eligible card activity, including, but not limited to, credit card purchases, Chase promotional offers, and anniversary renewals, are available for use in Choices. Award miles earned (i) for flight activity, (ii) through MileagePlus partners, (iii) for Chase non-credit card activity including, but not limited to, debit/check card purchases or home equity advances, and (iv) for activity that is rewarded by third parties as bonuses associated with use of the MileagePlus credit card will be credited to your MileagePlus award miles balance but are not eligible for use in Choices. Your Choices balance is a subset of your MileagePlus award miles balance and not a separate balance. Your Choices balance can be found by visiting www.united.com/choices. You must have previously earned award miles with your MileagePlus credit card and be a current Cardmember to be able to login. Also, if you close your MileagePlus credit card account, you will forfeit your Choices balance.
Award miles accrued with your MileagePlus credit card will continue to be reflected in your award miles balance. In addition to the options available to MileagePlus members, Choices offers more ways to use miles that are exclusive to Cardmembers. Any Choices activity using award miles will result in a reduction of your MileagePlus award miles balance. You cannot have a greater Choices balance than your MileagePlus award miles balance.
The MileagePlus account number used for both Choices and the credit card account where the MileagePlus award miles were earned must be the same. You must be the primary Cardmember to use Choices. You cannot use your award miles through Choices for a statement credit on another person's MileagePlus credit card account.
Choices Airfare Statement Credit
To use Choices for an airfare statement credit, purchase any United ticket on united.com with your MileagePlus credit card. Flights purchased through any other source, such as United General Reservations, United Vacations, travel agencies or other travel websites, are not eligible. When the purchase posts to your credit card account, login at www.united.com/chase to use award miles earned with your MileagePlus credit card for an airfare statement credit against that charge.
No blackouts means any flight available on united.com can be purchased for Choices any day of the year. No inventory restriction indicates that any open seat on any available flight on united.com is eligible for Choices. Award miles earned with your MileagePlus credit card can be used against a ticket purchased on united.com through Choices for an airfare statement credit up to the full cost of the ticket.
Airfare statement credit requested may not exceed the ticket purchase amount charged to your MileagePlus credit card. Partial statement credits are allowed with a minimum of 5,000 award miles. However, only one statement credit request can be made per unique transaction.
You must submit your request within 90 days of the ticket purchase date.
Award miles are deducted at time of request. Please allow 5-7 days for the credit to appear on your credit card account. Since award miles earned with your MileagePlus credit card are reflected in your MileagePlus account balance, any activity through Choices will result in a reduction in your MileagePlus account balance. Use of award miles through Choices for an airfare statement credit made on or near the end of your monthly billing cycle may take up to one billing cycle to appear on your monthly billing statement. You are responsible for making your monthly credit card payment according to the terms and conditions of your account to avoid any late fees or finance charges.
For rejected requests, award miles initially deducted will be reversed.
E-mail confirmation will be sent to you to indicate a successful redemption and statement credit posting to your credit card account.
The MileagePlus account number used for both Choices and the credit card account where the MileagePlus award miles were earned must be the same. You must be the primary MileagePlus Cardmember to use Choices. You cannot use your award miles through Choices for an airfare statement credit on another person's MileagePlus credit card account.
Airline ticket changes, cancellations and refunds are subject to the rules of the airline ticket.
Award miles used in Choices cannot be returned or re-deposited by you.
MileagePlus and Chase reserve the right to reverse Choices air statement credits where the original ticket purchase is refunded. Award miles used will be re-deposited in your account and the Choices airfare statement credit will be reversed on your MileagePlus credit card account. In the event a reversal is required, an administrative fee of 2,500 award miles may be deducted from your MileagePlus account and will appear on your MileagePlus statement as an adjustment.
The number of award miles required depends upon the cost of the airline ticket including all taxes and fees and the amount of the airfare statement credit requested. You are responsible for all associated taxes, airport security charges, baggage fees, fuel surcharges and other usage fees required for travel. These charges will be included in the overall calculation to determine the number of award miles required for the airfare statement credit. The number of award miles required is subject to change at any time without notice.
Annual Membership Fee Reimbursement
Current Cardmembers may apply award miles through Choices towards one Annual Membership Fee Reimbursement per MileagePlus credit card account per 12-month period ("Annual Membership Fee Reimbursement"). Award miles used for an Annual Membership Fee Reimbursement cannot be returned or re-deposited.
Cardmember must submit an Annual Membership Fee Reimbursement request within 90 days of the annual membership fee transaction date on your credit card account.
The amount of the Annual Membership Fee Reimbursement requested may not exceed the annual membership fee billed to your monthly billing statement. One Annual Membership Fee Reimbursement request (full or partial) per 12 month period is allowed per credit card account.
Award miles are deducted from your MileagePlus account at the time you make your request. Please allow 5-7 days for the Annual Membership Fee Reimbursement to appear on your credit card account. Requests for an Annual Membership Fee Reimbursement made on or near the end of your monthly billing cycle may take up to one billing cycle to appear on your monthly billing statement. You are still responsible for making your monthly credit card payment according to the terms and conditions of your account to avoid any late fees or finance charges.
For rejected requests, award miles initially deducted will be reversed.
E-mail confirmation will be sent to you to indicate a successful redemption and statement credit posting to your credit card account.
MP Choice Points Q&A [Consolidated] (Moved to Chase.com, renamed Pay Yourself Back)
Aug 18, 2021, 7:15 am
#61
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: IAH & CMH
Programs: UA GS, UA MM, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, Uber Platinum :)
Posts: 773
That should be a no-brainer.
Instead of spending about 50k miles you’d earn 5k bonus miles plus whatever miles the trip itself earns.
Let’s say you’d earn 6k miles if you buy the revenue ticket.
That’s a 56k miles difference compared to spending 50k for an award ticket.
With an approximate value of 1.6 cpm, that’s equals $900.
Would I pay $321 for a revenue ticket instead of spending $900 worth of miles? Absolutely!
Instead of spending about 50k miles you’d earn 5k bonus miles plus whatever miles the trip itself earns.
Let’s say you’d earn 6k miles if you buy the revenue ticket.
That’s a 56k miles difference compared to spending 50k for an award ticket.
With an approximate value of 1.6 cpm, that’s equals $900.
Would I pay $321 for a revenue ticket instead of spending $900 worth of miles? Absolutely!
Aug 18, 2021, 7:19 am
#62
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: United 1k, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador and LT-Gold
Posts: 1,664
except - done need the PQP right now already made 1K... hence was going to burn miles for the rest of my trips for this year and save the paid flights for next year when everything resets (or whatever happens in 2022)
Aug 18, 2021, 7:22 am
#63
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,174
If you have a UA credit card spend $321 and then use 32,100 choices miles to pay yourself back. Come out ahead v using 50k miles. Plus earn CC miles
https://choices.unitedmileageplus.com/
https://choices.unitedmileageplus.com/
Aug 18, 2021, 7:26 am
#64
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: United 1k, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador and LT-Gold
Posts: 1,664
this "choices" thing looks new and interesting - and I have had both UA CC for years (dont ask why.....) - I need to better understand this..... have we discussed this anywhere?
-m
ok, looked into the choices - interesting concept....wonder what others think?
$300 flight (keeping the math simple):
3300 points
600 points (used UA card at 2x)
5000 points from "winning" MilePlay
8900 points = $89 in refund
actual cost: $211
hmmmmm
-m
ok, looked into the choices - interesting concept....wonder what others think?
$300 flight (keeping the math simple):
3300 points
600 points (used UA card at 2x)
5000 points from "winning" MilePlay
8900 points = $89 in refund
actual cost: $211
hmmmmm
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Aug 18, 2021 at 10:42 am Reason: merged consecutive posts by same member
Aug 18, 2021, 7:51 am
#65
Used to be MBS PremExec
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Saginaw, MI (MBS)
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Marriott Titanium w/Lifetime Plat, Hilton LIfetime ♢, National Exec, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,722
Although, 'Choices' aren't an awesome use of miles, as it's basically a penny a mile. Great if you're strapped for cash--it's none of my business as to your personal financial situation. But comparatively, yes, even with Chase's Choices, this is a far, far better route.
Aug 18, 2021, 9:47 am
#66
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,174
As to the Choices benefit, it’s been around 8-10 years and there are threads. As to whether it’s a good use of miles….it’s a guaranteed minimum, and in your case suppose you use the full 30k miles for a credit to your CC, it’s only really “costing” you net 21.1k miles as you earned 8900 from buying and flying a revenue ticket. So you effectively used miles for 1.42c/mile. Which isn’t bad
That’s where this Choices option becomes more interesting to ponder, take into account the earned miles from paying up front not just the 1c/mile backend cost. A reverse opportunity cost if you will
Aug 18, 2021, 10:06 am
#67
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: NYC, LON
Programs: *
Posts: 2,776
It is hard to put a true value on miles as they generally cannot be bartered for cash or other goods at will. I suspect there are plenty people sitting on hundreds of thousands of miles who right now would prefer their money (on previously flown flights) back....
Aug 18, 2021, 11:19 am
#68
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061
The assumption though is that 1) those miles will still be worth $900 in the future when you want to transact them 2) an opportunity will arise in the future to use the miles and 3) the opportunity cost of using the miles in future (such as the competing loss of PQP as OP alludes to) will not erode this $900 "value".
It is hard to put a true value on miles as they generally cannot be bartered for cash or other goods at will. I suspect there are plenty people sitting on hundreds of thousands of miles who right now would prefer their money (on previously flown flights) back....
It is hard to put a true value on miles as they generally cannot be bartered for cash or other goods at will. I suspect there are plenty people sitting on hundreds of thousands of miles who right now would prefer their money (on previously flown flights) back....
David
Aug 18, 2021, 11:31 am
#69
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: United 1k, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador and LT-Gold
Posts: 1,664
While I don’t need the cash right now and the amount is not that huge, I am sitting on a bunch of miles and this is not a bad way to ponder my hoarding habit.
essentially the math is now, with choices, spending 22k miles for RT revenue ticket instead of 50k miles for a non-rev. New math.
essentially the math is now, with choices, spending 22k miles for RT revenue ticket instead of 50k miles for a non-rev. New math.
Aug 18, 2021, 12:23 pm
#70
Used to be MBS PremExec
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Saginaw, MI (MBS)
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Marriott Titanium w/Lifetime Plat, Hilton LIfetime ♢, National Exec, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,722
While I don’t need the cash right now and the amount is not that huge, I am sitting on a bunch of miles and this is not a bad way to ponder my hoarding habit.
essentially the math is now, with choices, spending 22k miles for RT revenue ticket instead of 50k miles for a non-rev. New math.
essentially the math is now, with choices, spending 22k miles for RT revenue ticket instead of 50k miles for a non-rev. New math.
Last edited by MBS MillionMiler; Aug 18, 2021 at 12:40 pm Reason: Corrected 6 months to 3, as per the below 2 posts.
Aug 18, 2021, 12:33 pm
#71
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,861
Aug 18, 2021, 12:33 pm
#72
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,891
Yes, time, but I don't think that much. I'll admit its been a while, but I thought it was 90 days from purchase (or maybe date of posting?).
Aug 19, 2021, 6:41 am
#73
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: ORD | LGA | 2E
Programs: UA GS 1.6MM UC | AA CK 0.7MM AC | Bonvoy Ambassador | Hyatt Globalist | Hertz PC
Posts: 1,054
Yes!
Although, 'Choices' aren't an awesome use of miles, as it's basically a penny a mile. Great if you're strapped for cash--it's none of my business as to your personal financial situation. But comparatively, yes, even with Chase's Choices, this is a far, far better route.
Although, 'Choices' aren't an awesome use of miles, as it's basically a penny a mile. Great if you're strapped for cash--it's none of my business as to your personal financial situation. But comparatively, yes, even with Chase's Choices, this is a far, far better route.
Aug 19, 2021, 8:42 am
#74
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,421
While I don’t need the cash right now and the amount is not that huge, I am sitting on a bunch of miles and this is not a bad way to ponder my hoarding habit.
essentially the math is now, with choices, spending 22k miles for RT revenue ticket instead of 50k miles for a non-rev. New math.
essentially the math is now, with choices, spending 22k miles for RT revenue ticket instead of 50k miles for a non-rev. New math.
So, if you've earned a large number of miles from Chase, this can be a good strategy to reduce your holdings. But if most of your earnings are from travel, or from other partners, you may find yourself limited in the ability to use Choices.
For those of us with an abundance of miles and not a lot of natural uses for them the Choices conversion rate is actually really solid. Outside of the occasional business saver award for my wife via our GS status I've found just buying up front on personal travel and offsetting it with Choices basically means my personal travel is fully funded by my OPM travel with a positive miles yield on the revenue tickets.
Aug 19, 2021, 9:43 am
#75
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: United 1k, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador and LT-Gold
Posts: 1,664
yes - that is my situation.... I have a bunch of Choice miles and a few hundred here/there on flights might not break me - but hoarding $ is probably better than hoarding miles?
so - will see how this evolves:
all the same itinerary:
ATW-ORD-CLE (used PP to waitlist ORD-CLE)
CLE-ORD-ATW (purchased F for CLE-ORD)
cost: $321 RT
put on UA MP Card:
321x11 = 3531 miles (1k bonus)
321x2 - 642 (for using CC)
5000 - for 'winning' MilePlay
TOTAL: 9173 points
Choice Value: $91.73
cost to me: $229.27
or addition 22,927 choice miles for zero $ cost
vs:
39,500 miles for the trip
sounds like, I am coming out ahead by 39,500-22,927 = 16,573 as the total "miles" cost for this trip
I am surprised that there are not more discussions about this option?
...sounds like a good deal to me?
so - will see how this evolves:
all the same itinerary:
ATW-ORD-CLE (used PP to waitlist ORD-CLE)
CLE-ORD-ATW (purchased F for CLE-ORD)
cost: $321 RT
put on UA MP Card:
321x11 = 3531 miles (1k bonus)
321x2 - 642 (for using CC)
5000 - for 'winning' MilePlay
TOTAL: 9173 points
Choice Value: $91.73
cost to me: $229.27
or addition 22,927 choice miles for zero $ cost
vs:
39,500 miles for the trip
sounds like, I am coming out ahead by 39,500-22,927 = 16,573 as the total "miles" cost for this trip
I am surprised that there are not more discussions about this option?
...sounds like a good deal to me?