Does United think we're idiots??? (purchase price for RDMs)
Oct 7, 2019, 5:56 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
Does United think we're idiots??? (purchase price for RDMs)
Okay after continuously devaluing the value of miles with no end in sight I got an offer to buy miles .....so for giggles I priced it:
Mile are now selling at 3.5 cents/mile!!!! Okay they have an offer for 85% bonus so I priced the number of miles to fly a partner to SE Asia (140k) around $2600
Alaska also sent me an offer to buy miles - they have had less devaluation and their cs (even with NO status vs mid level status with UA) is miles better
Cost to buy miles needed to fly partner to SE Asia (70k - Cathay, would be 75 for JAL) around $1300!!!!
So if you're flexible (yes I know award availability varies, etc.) it's a no brainer!
Mile are now selling at 3.5 cents/mile!!!! Okay they have an offer for 85% bonus so I priced the number of miles to fly a partner to SE Asia (140k) around $2600
Alaska also sent me an offer to buy miles - they have had less devaluation and their cs (even with NO status vs mid level status with UA) is miles better
Cost to buy miles needed to fly partner to SE Asia (70k - Cathay, would be 75 for JAL) around $1300!!!!
So if you're flexible (yes I know award availability varies, etc.) it's a no brainer!
Oct 7, 2019, 6:01 pm
#2
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
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Mile purchases are best for topping off accounts. If you prefer to use them sub-optimally, that's your choice.
Oct 7, 2019, 9:39 pm
#4
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Join Date: Aug 2017
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Okay after continuously devaluing the value of miles with no end in sight I got an offer to buy miles .....so for giggles I priced it:
Mile are now selling at 3.5 cents/mile!!!! Okay they have an offer for 85% bonus so I priced the number of miles to fly a partner to SE Asia (140k) around $2600
Alaska also sent me an offer to buy miles - they have had less devaluation and their cs (even with NO status vs mid level status with UA) is miles better
Cost to buy miles needed to fly partner to SE Asia (70k - Cathay, would be 75 for JAL) around $1300!!!!
So if you're flexible (yes I know award availability varies, etc.) it's a no brainer!
Mile are now selling at 3.5 cents/mile!!!! Okay they have an offer for 85% bonus so I priced the number of miles to fly a partner to SE Asia (140k) around $2600
Alaska also sent me an offer to buy miles - they have had less devaluation and their cs (even with NO status vs mid level status with UA) is miles better
Cost to buy miles needed to fly partner to SE Asia (70k - Cathay, would be 75 for JAL) around $1300!!!!
So if you're flexible (yes I know award availability varies, etc.) it's a no brainer!
IMO, these are the best way to get to Asia from the US.
Oct 7, 2019, 11:08 pm
#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,174
As mentioned above, these things are best for small topoffs to redeem an award
having said that, did your promo also qualify for PQD? I got a PQM offer that would also count for PQD. That may make it more useful.
having said that, did your promo also qualify for PQD? I got a PQM offer that would also count for PQD. That may make it more useful.
Oct 8, 2019, 3:02 am
#6
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Roswell, GA
Programs: AA EXP 2.8m,Lifetime PLT, Hilton Diamond, IHG PlLT, SPG Gold
Posts: 3,191
All airlines think we are idiots,
with all the cuts in service and benefits, miles need going thru the roof on reward travel,
packing more and more passengers in to a plane, a few members of staff that treat us, the paying passenger with no respect.... etc etc..
yet we all seem to still strive to achieve status,
yes we are the idiots, that still stay loyal to an airline, even though they are not loyal to us
with all the cuts in service and benefits, miles need going thru the roof on reward travel,
packing more and more passengers in to a plane, a few members of staff that treat us, the paying passenger with no respect.... etc etc..
yet we all seem to still strive to achieve status,
yes we are the idiots, that still stay loyal to an airline, even though they are not loyal to us
Oct 8, 2019, 5:22 am
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
If you fall for loyalty marketing schemes such as frequent flyer programs, you are an idiot. This has been true for as long as they have been around.
Some people will sometimes find good value for some trips. Most will not. But, that will not stop them from paying more for tickets, flying inconvenient routes or sitting in the middle seat next to the lav for a "bonus".
Some people will sometimes find good value for some trips. Most will not. But, that will not stop them from paying more for tickets, flying inconvenient routes or sitting in the middle seat next to the lav for a "bonus".
Oct 8, 2019, 6:32 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
They would not market it if there were not at least some idiots out there willing to take the bait.
One could argue that all all us GS and 1K are idiots too
One could argue that all all us GS and 1K are idiots too
Oct 8, 2019, 7:01 am
#10
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,852
This has been the standard, non-sale price for many years (probably decades) -- nothing new ( except for recent "devaluations" but nothing new about that either)
That has been pretty standard also, pricing during the sales at roughly 2 cpm
Purchasing of miles for anything out than topping off an account has been a poor deal -- nothing new
Purchasing of miles for anything out than topping off an account has been a poor deal -- nothing new
Oct 8, 2019, 12:24 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
Absolutely true,actually I said "for giggles" - as I haven't spent a dime at UA for many years after multiple years as a 1k (and lifetime 2mm). Just using up my existing miles for international travel NOT on UA. I hadn't even looked at buying miles for quite a while - still a few thousand for a first class ticket that would otherwise cost 10k+ (that is if you can find availability) could have it's place.
Oct 8, 2019, 3:35 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC, FLL
Programs: UA PP 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 6,322
So if you haven't spent money at UA for many years, why are you expecting a lowball mileage offer? To win you back?
Oct 8, 2019, 7:35 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: bay area, ca
Programs: UA plat, , aa plat, marriott LT titanium
Posts: 4,833
Oct 9, 2019, 6:31 pm
#14
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: ATL
Programs: Delta PlM, 1M
Posts: 6,363
Look at that credit card you have. Do you think the AMEX/Chase/... would give away these points if they did not expect some percent of cardholders to carry a balance at 18%?
How about a store like Best Buy that has some good deals on major items while making all their profit on extended warranties and small items overpriced 100%?
How about the car dealership that sells 3 years of detailing service for $2000?
The list is endless. And there are enough "idiots" that it works.
Oct 9, 2019, 8:02 pm
#15
Join Date: Nov 2017
Posts: 3,359
I would argue that even at 3.5 cents per point purchasing miles may not be a bad deal, particularly for upgrades with no or low copay. For instance upgrading a PY fare to J on a long haul route like SFO > AKL where the ToD offers are likely higher than the $700 you’d spend in points upgrading an O fare to Polaris J. The value can become quite lucrative if you’re crossing multiple continents like CPT to SYD.
-James
-James