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 The Choices Terms and Conditions cannot be superseded or changed, except in writing from United Airlines, or any of its affiliates, (collectively, "United").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)
Sep 18, 2022, 11:38 am
#91
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: 66,859
Use MileagePlus® miles with Pay Yourself Back®: Miles may be redeemed for a statement credit using Pay Yourself Back against the prior payment of your annual fee within 90 days before the redemption request date. Redemption values will be shown on the transaction page prior to redemption. Redemption values may be changed at any time. Statement credits will post to the card account within 3 business days of a request to redeem and will appear on the monthly Chase credit card billing statement within 1-2 billing cycles. Statement credits will reduce your balance but you are still required to make at least your minimum monthly payment. Chase reserves the right to determine which purchases qualify for a statement credit.
Sep 18, 2022, 11:44 am
#92
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,470
I think the worst it has ever been is 1cpm? Or then after I thought that, I then thought I remembered 0.7cpm at one time? Maybe not for the latter.
Sep 18, 2022, 11:52 am
#93
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: 66,859
There was speculation that this was Chase's way of discounting due to lack of ability to use the UC benefit during COVID, so I would not be surprised if this changes again.
Note the airfare statement credit has been a steady 1 cpm
Dec 1, 2022, 6:25 am
#94
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: United 1k, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador and LT-Gold
Posts: 1,664
that does bring up an interesting experiment.... I recall UA allowing you to 'refund' miles that accumulated on UA flights paid for with UA branded credit cards (I dont recall where on their site they have this option). I think you can exchange 1 mile for 0.5 cents.... so instead of using miles for an award flight, use the miles for a rebate to then buy the same tickets and then get PQP, BIS, etc...... but that is a lot of math:
let's see - for a 1K (and I will use rough math):
buy a $1000 ticket that gets you 2,000 BIS, 1000 PQP, and 11100 miles
1100 miles at 0.5 cents per mile = $51 refunded
apply that $51 to your next flight.....to get at least 500 BIS?
let's see - for a 1K (and I will use rough math):
buy a $1000 ticket that gets you 2,000 BIS, 1000 PQP, and 11100 miles
1100 miles at 0.5 cents per mile = $51 refunded
apply that $51 to your next flight.....to get at least 500 BIS?
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 2, 2022 at 2:43 pm Reason: moved to subject thread
Dec 1, 2022, 7:20 am
#95
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 695
that does bring up an interesting experiment.... I recall UA allowing you to 'refund' miles that accumulated on UA flights paid for with UA branded credit cards (I dont recall where on their site they have this option). I think you can exchange 1 mile for 0.5 cents.... so instead of using miles for an award flight, use the miles for a rebate to then buy the same tickets and then get PQP, BIS, etc...... but that is a lot of math:
let's see - for a 1K (and I will use rough math):
buy a $1000 ticket that gets you 2,000 BIS, 1000 PQP, and 11100 miles
1100 miles at 0.5 cents per mile = $51 refunded
apply that $51 to your next flight.....to get at least 500 BIS?
let's see - for a 1K (and I will use rough math):
buy a $1000 ticket that gets you 2,000 BIS, 1000 PQP, and 11100 miles
1100 miles at 0.5 cents per mile = $51 refunded
apply that $51 to your next flight.....to get at least 500 BIS?
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 2, 2022 at 2:43 pm Reason: cleanup after move; thanks for the link
Dec 1, 2022, 7:42 am
#96
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 2,281
And that is the same rate they allow you to book for using money + miles on the website. To make it less cumbersome.then a separate rebate to the card. Which previously those tickets only earned the money portion, but I’m assuming based on the loyalty program changes for next year, Money + Miles will earn the full PQP amount of the fare as well (in addition to award tickets earning at 1pqp per 100 miles).
So effectively as a 1K earning 11 miles/$ plus 4 miles/$ if bought with a club card, you’re looking at 15% back minimum on UA using money+miles. Maybe more if you find a better award redemption to redeem for.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 2, 2022 at 2:44 pm Reason: quote updated to reflect Moderator edit
Dec 2, 2022, 2:52 pm
#97
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: 66,859
Only for all UA operated itin, not available for partner fights and strangely not eligible for MUA
Dec 4, 2023, 10:41 am
#98
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 352
Can I change my flight and pay the difference with miles?
We have a flight in January and just realized there are better routes we can take through the United website. I know I can change it and pay the difference with cash but can I pay it with miles if I call United?
Dec 4, 2023, 10:59 am
#99
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,098
Dec 4, 2023, 5:56 pm
#101
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 352
Interesting. I do have Chase/United, so I'll try it out.
Looks like it's going to work. Fingers crossed.
I only did it for one flight though because it seems that I don't have eligible miles for the other flight. United's website says "your MileagePlus Choices balance is a subset of your MileagePlus award miles balance and any MileagePlus Choices redemption activity will result in an equivalent reduction in your award miles balance."
It's too bad because I still have 100k+ miles but only 3k eligible miles left. At least I managed to change one flight. And I'm still a bit confused on how to get more eligible miles.
Looks like it's going to work. Fingers crossed.
I only did it for one flight though because it seems that I don't have eligible miles for the other flight. United's website says "your MileagePlus Choices balance is a subset of your MileagePlus award miles balance and any MileagePlus Choices redemption activity will result in an equivalent reduction in your award miles balance."
It's too bad because I still have 100k+ miles but only 3k eligible miles left. At least I managed to change one flight. And I'm still a bit confused on how to get more eligible miles.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 9, 2023 at 12:39 pm Reason: merged consecutive posts / update by same member
Dec 6, 2023, 9:19 am
#102
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UA 1K & 1MM/AA Gold & 1MM/HH Gold/Marriott Titanium
Posts: 2,928
Just tried to use Choices for the first time in a while to offset the cost of a ticket purchased with my Presidential Plus card and it's been rejected. Has this program been discontinued?
Dec 9, 2023, 12:41 pm
#104
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: 66,859
The miles usable for ChoicePoints / Pay Yourself Back credit card statement credits need to miles earned from the credit card not from flights
This is a Chase card benefit
Do you have enough Choice Points?
Time Frame between purchase and reimbursement? Too soon? Too late?
This is a Chase card benefit
Time Frame between purchase and reimbursement? Too soon? Too late?
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 9, 2023 at 12:52 pm Reason: merged consecutive posts by same member
Dec 10, 2023, 7:20 pm
#105
Join Date: Jan 2019
Posts: 352
Ok, I have an interesting situation. I changed my flight last week and had to pay US$600 for that change. I paid with Chase/United and I'm getting it reimbursed using Mileageplus choice eligible miles. I started this process on Friday and it's still going through.
However, now we want to change the same flight to a later date, and for some reason we get US$600 back. I we do that, would that be flagged as some kind of activity against the rules? It would look like we did a flight change for 600 dollars, ask for money back using choice miles, and then changed the flight to get US$600 back.
To be fair, the whole ticket was paid with cash so far, and the new change moves the return flight to a different day.
However, now we want to change the same flight to a later date, and for some reason we get US$600 back. I we do that, would that be flagged as some kind of activity against the rules? It would look like we did a flight change for 600 dollars, ask for money back using choice miles, and then changed the flight to get US$600 back.
To be fair, the whole ticket was paid with cash so far, and the new change moves the return flight to a different day.