UA dramatically increases mileage redemptions for merchandize / gift cards
Mar 14, 2020, 1:02 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: DTW
Programs: AA Plat, UA P1K
Posts: 84
UA dramatically increases mileage redemptions for merchandize / gift cards
Not sure if anyone has looked. But looks as if UA is bumping up the miles required for some of the award shopping, especially redeeming miles for gift cards.
Example. $500 Home Depot gift card used to cost 78,124 miles. Today it now cost 166,666 miles- a 133% increase. I'm guessing a less known back door way to save some cash during the current time during COVID-19.
Example. $500 Home Depot gift card used to cost 78,124 miles. Today it now cost 166,666 miles- a 133% increase. I'm guessing a less known back door way to save some cash during the current time during COVID-19.
Last edited by dc9flyernwa; Mar 14, 2020 at 1:32 pm
Mar 14, 2020, 1:18 pm
#2
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,767
https://giftcards.mileageplus.com/
113% increase
-- but still a major discouragement for converting miles to cash
113% increase
-- but still a major discouragement for converting miles to cash
Mar 14, 2020, 4:11 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Clinging to the edifices of a decadent past from the biggest city in America nobody really cares about.
Programs: (ಠ_ಠ)
Posts: 9,077
PSA all - yes ALL - fiat eventually goes to ZERO.
The market in action.
I wonder if you'll see a corresponding decrease to incentivize mileage burn for non-cash redemptions (e.g. distressed inventory that would have otherwise spoiled).
Wonder what else UA is looking to slash to preserve cash.
I wonder if you'll see a corresponding decrease to incentivize mileage burn for non-cash redemptions (e.g. distressed inventory that would have otherwise spoiled).
Wonder what else UA is looking to slash to preserve cash.
Last edited by J.Edward; Mar 14, 2020 at 4:18 pm
Mar 14, 2020, 6:41 pm
#7
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,767
The other choice would have been to suspend the activity but there may have been some contractual restriction on that.
Mar 15, 2020, 1:56 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 191
Not sure if anyone has looked. But looks as if UA is bumping up the miles required for some of the award shopping, especially redeeming miles for gift cards.
Example. $500 Home Depot gift card used to cost 78,124 miles. Today it now cost 166,666 miles- a 133% increase. I'm guessing a less known back door way to save some cash during the current time during COVID-19.
Example. $500 Home Depot gift card used to cost 78,124 miles. Today it now cost 166,666 miles- a 133% increase. I'm guessing a less known back door way to save some cash during the current time during COVID-19.
Mar 15, 2020, 1:56 pm
#10
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,767
too late, UA already has effectively killed that avenue for many of the gift cards with increasing the redemption mileage over 100%. And the old rates were very poor values to start with.
Apr 7, 2020, 5:00 am
#11
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Canada
Programs: Star Alliance G*, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium,
Posts: 3,584
redemptions
Redemptions are dead easy right now + UA is waiving the cancellation fees. If not now, when ?
Using miles for buying an i Pad Pro ? Every time I look at these options, I don't see the value ?
Using miles for buying an i Pad Pro ? Every time I look at these options, I don't see the value ?
Apr 7, 2020, 6:13 am
#12
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 4,506
Apr 7, 2020, 9:24 am
#13
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: NYC, BLR, LHR, SIN and a few others
Programs: UA 1K 1.01 MM
Posts: 1,245
It looks like they increased the redemption rates for Apple products again. Assuming they are seeing people cashing in or they would not be upping the rates.
I ordered 512GB Mac mini 2 weeks ago... it was 146,600 miles (before tax) today that same model is 275,800 miles (before tax) paying cash it costs $1,099 (before tax).
Yes the rate for miles use was bad using the traditional value, but for me it was reducing exposure, I have seen the value of my miles decrease year on year.... I have plenty of CSR points if I need to increase my UA MP balance. I redeemed about 276,800 of my UA miles for 2 iPads and a Mac mini (maybe 1/3 of my balance), in contrast my last miles redemption was 265,000 for a J EWR-BLR-EWR, so vs that it does not feel like a bad value.
I ordered 512GB Mac mini 2 weeks ago... it was 146,600 miles (before tax) today that same model is 275,800 miles (before tax) paying cash it costs $1,099 (before tax).
Yes the rate for miles use was bad using the traditional value, but for me it was reducing exposure, I have seen the value of my miles decrease year on year.... I have plenty of CSR points if I need to increase my UA MP balance. I redeemed about 276,800 of my UA miles for 2 iPads and a Mac mini (maybe 1/3 of my balance), in contrast my last miles redemption was 265,000 for a J EWR-BLR-EWR, so vs that it does not feel like a bad value.
Apr 7, 2020, 9:45 am
#14
Join Date: Nov 2019
Programs: UA 1K, IHG Spire Ambassador, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 146
Looks like they recently decreased redemption value overall. The coffee machine I mentioned earlier on page 2 was previously ~160k miles and is now listed for 291k. Bose QC 700 were previously ~57k miles and is now listed for 100k miles.
Apr 7, 2020, 11:43 am
#15
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold (.85 MM), HH Diamond, SPG Platinum (LT Gold), Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 5,648
It looks like they increased the redemption rates for Apple products again. Assuming they are seeing people cashing in or they would not be upping the rates.
I ordered 512GB Mac mini 2 weeks ago... it was 146,600 miles (before tax) today that same model is 275,800 miles (before tax) paying cash it costs $1,099 (before tax).
Yes the rate for miles use was bad using the traditional value, but for me it was reducing exposure, I have seen the value of my miles decrease year on year.... I have plenty of CSR points if I need to increase my UA MP balance. I redeemed about 276,800 of my UA miles for 2 iPads and a Mac mini (maybe 1/3 of my balance), in contrast my last miles redemption was 265,000 for a J EWR-BLR-EWR, so vs that it does not feel like a bad value.
I ordered 512GB Mac mini 2 weeks ago... it was 146,600 miles (before tax) today that same model is 275,800 miles (before tax) paying cash it costs $1,099 (before tax).
Yes the rate for miles use was bad using the traditional value, but for me it was reducing exposure, I have seen the value of my miles decrease year on year.... I have plenty of CSR points if I need to increase my UA MP balance. I redeemed about 276,800 of my UA miles for 2 iPads and a Mac mini (maybe 1/3 of my balance), in contrast my last miles redemption was 265,000 for a J EWR-BLR-EWR, so vs that it does not feel like a bad value.
On a bright note, tracking info says it will arrive Thursday which is pretty quick.
