What is a good and exceptional rate to buy UA miles?
Mar 11, 2020, 12:37 pm
#31
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
Was not true in the past -- perhaps in liquidation, not BK.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 11, 2020 at 12:43 pm
Mar 11, 2020, 12:42 pm
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
There's no way that UA will sell them to me for a price I would be willing to pay. They value them much more highly than I do.
Mar 11, 2020, 2:49 pm
#33
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,227
I have 100K miles in my UA account. I would consider buying 100K more for $500 -- so, half a cent each. I might still pass. At $250, I'd certainly do it.
There's no way that UA will sell them to me for a price I would be willing to pay. They value them much more highly than I do.
There's no way that UA will sell them to me for a price I would be willing to pay. They value them much more highly than I do.
As to UA going bankrupt, that seems unlikely - the government will bail them out as it always does.
Mar 11, 2020, 3:18 pm
#34
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
+1. It's not going to provide useful interim revenue - I would guess most people buy miles to top up an account to purchase a ticket or maybe an opportunistic purchase to buy a premium cabin saver. But few people are going to buy speculatively just to have cheap miles in their account for later. And even if they do, it's robbing peter to pay paul. This virus thing is going to be temporary - the only question is how long - and once it's over or mostly over people will go back to flying. The approach they have now of free changes makes sense - get people to buy tickets for the future even when there's uncertainty - that's a sensible way to keep generating revenue.
Mar 11, 2020, 3:29 pm
#35
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
i understand the principle: airline miles lose value over time. I understand the rule: don’t purchase miles unless you intend to use them right away. I understand the risks: devaluation, and decreased redemption options. I understand the best way to purchase miles: award accelerator using a United Airlines branded credit card can get your price under 2 cents per mile.
All that said: is it time for United to consider putting on a down and dirty mileage sale? The buymiles site is still at 3.5 cents, and even their occasional 85% bonus is still not compelling enough to buy and hold.
At what price would you balance the risks, and bite on a miles purchase that was not for an immediate redemption? Sometimes I think close to 1 cpm might move me, but then I sober up. 😀
SL
All that said: is it time for United to consider putting on a down and dirty mileage sale? The buymiles site is still at 3.5 cents, and even their occasional 85% bonus is still not compelling enough to buy and hold.
At what price would you balance the risks, and bite on a miles purchase that was not for an immediate redemption? Sometimes I think close to 1 cpm might move me, but then I sober up. 😀
SL
Mar 11, 2020, 3:39 pm
#36
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA *G 1MM LT United Club & Global Entry
Posts: 2,756
Yup usually 2 cpm for international itineraries, but if you purchase with a United branded CC you get 2 miles for each $ spent, so 1.92 cpm. And you can do this unlimitedly.
Buymiles adds sales tax to the transaction, so that increases the cost.
SL
Buymiles adds sales tax to the transaction, so that increases the cost.
SL
Mar 11, 2020, 3:42 pm
#37
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, IHG Silver, Hilton Silver, Hertz PC, National Exec Elite, Avis PC
Posts: 1,295
Mar 11, 2020, 3:51 pm
#38
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA *G 1MM LT United Club & Global Entry
Posts: 2,756
Apr 6, 2020, 1:58 pm
#44
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Knoxville, TN
Posts: 31
Buying UA miles, pricepoint, risks
You are all more knowledgeable than I. I just got an email with the 100% bonus match offer on purchased points, which for the volume of miles I typically buy, puts the price @ .0175 / mile.
Lowest I've seen while I've been tracking. Typical is .0203/mile. Is .0175 a good deal, and in your opinion, what is the risk solvency wise, or devaluation wise?
Feel free to direct me to existing threads. This is the kinda news I like to read these days. I could pull the trigger on a circumnavigation ticket for November in Business if all signs point to Go.
Lowest I've seen while I've been tracking. Typical is .0203/mile. Is .0175 a good deal, and in your opinion, what is the risk solvency wise, or devaluation wise?
Feel free to direct me to existing threads. This is the kinda news I like to read these days. I could pull the trigger on a circumnavigation ticket for November in Business if all signs point to Go.
Apr 6, 2020, 3:18 pm
#45
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
But the general advice on FT is never, ever buy on speculation.
If you have an immediate need / opportunity, then price it out versus the paid ticket and the cost for the number of miles UA is asking, it the mileage purchase cost is better, than it is a good deal.