Award Miles as a Gift
Jan 2, 2022, 6:13 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: TPA
Programs: UA 1PP MM
Posts: 328
Award Miles as a Gift
My boss would like to give me 500K miles as a retirement gift.
Transferring them to me is cost prohibitive.
He's not retiring ,so I don't want to call him constantly to make changes.
Book 2 round trips, Capetown and Sydney, a year out and control reservations and changes that way?
Simpler work around?
Thanks
Transferring them to me is cost prohibitive.
He's not retiring ,so I don't want to call him constantly to make changes.
Book 2 round trips, Capetown and Sydney, a year out and control reservations and changes that way?
Simpler work around?
Thanks
Jan 2, 2022, 12:44 pm
#2
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CT/NY
Programs: UA 1K/1MM, AA EXP, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 6,025
Very generous gift from your boss, and congratulations on your retirement! Since there's a cap of 100K miles for transfer per year, maybe spread the transfer over 5 years and spread the transfer cost?
Your suggestion only works if you have definite plans. If there are any plan changes, and the new ticket requires less miles, the miles go back to your boss's account. If the new ticket requires more miles, they will need to be deducted from your boss's account, which they might not appreciate.
In lieu of giving you miles, an alternative might be 2 roundtrip anywhere United or partner flies in business or first class.
Your suggestion only works if you have definite plans. If there are any plan changes, and the new ticket requires less miles, the miles go back to your boss's account. If the new ticket requires more miles, they will need to be deducted from your boss's account, which they might not appreciate.
In lieu of giving you miles, an alternative might be 2 roundtrip anywhere United or partner flies in business or first class.
Jan 2, 2022, 2:27 pm
#3
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With dynamic pricing, is 500K even enough for 2 trips? 
Tell your boss to stop being cheap. I peg UA miles at 1 cent per mile, 500,000 miles = $5K.
Your boss can buy you 2 paid tickets (vs. award tickets).
Tell your boss to stop being cheap. I peg UA miles at 1 cent per mile, 500,000 miles = $5K.
Your boss can buy you 2 paid tickets (vs. award tickets).
Jan 3, 2022, 8:53 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: TPA
Programs: UA 1PP MM
Posts: 328
The award miles vs cash is a little complicated.
I/we do have Sydney and Capetown in our near future. Pandemic allowing.
It isn't a big deal if I need a few more miles or give back a few to his account.
Can I move the tickets "forward " for years?
Thanks for your thoughts!
I/we do have Sydney and Capetown in our near future. Pandemic allowing.
It isn't a big deal if I need a few more miles or give back a few to his account.
Can I move the tickets "forward " for years?
Thanks for your thoughts!
Jan 3, 2022, 3:05 pm
#5
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 90
I really hope you’re joking that a $5,000 retirement gift is cheap…
Jan 3, 2022, 3:54 pm
#6
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No. Tickets are only valid for one year. Beyond that, you'd need to cancel and rebook.
Agreed. I'll be happy just to get a "thank you" when I retire.
Agreed. I'll be happy just to get a "thank you" when I retire.
Jan 3, 2022, 4:31 pm
#7
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Jan 3, 2022, 6:05 pm
#8
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Note that this gift is coming from the OP's boss and not from the company. I doubt there are more than a handful of old-school companies that give official retirement gifts any more.
Jan 6, 2022, 8:28 am
#9
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: TPA
Programs: UA 1PP MM
Posts: 328
The mile's are a personally gift from the boss. With the information you've provided I guess I'll just use them for this years planned trips to Europe. OZ and Capetown to complex of trips to not be able to constantly "alter".
Thanks again for everyone's thoughts!
Thanks again for everyone's thoughts!