UA 100% bonus mileage purchase promo
Jan 24, 2024, 11:25 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2024
Posts: 4
UA 100% bonus mileage purchase promo
Hello Members,
Another newbie question: I have this promo in my inbox for 100% bonus miles for buying miles upto 100,000. On the surface it looks like a great deal. Wanted to see what are your thoughts!
Thank you!
Another newbie question: I have this promo in my inbox for 100% bonus miles for buying miles upto 100,000. On the surface it looks like a great deal. Wanted to see what are your thoughts!
Thank you!
Jan 24, 2024, 11:40 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,064
Usually a terrible deal. There may be cases where you have a specific premium award that is 'available' that you know you want and need ... and you don't have enough miles and no easy other way to transfer them in. Aside from cases like that, buying miles is not a good use of money.
Jan 24, 2024, 11:51 am
#3
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,854
Do the math yourself: how much are you going to pay per for each mile? And how much value are you going to extract from each mile, and when?
As cfisher said, unless you have a very specific award you are about to book, stockpiling miles because of these (frequent!) bonuses makes little sense.
Jan 24, 2024, 12:15 pm
#4
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 690
Also, if you have a particular trip in mind, check to see how much the regularly-purchased tickets would be for that flight, and compare how much you would spend on buying miles for the same (or similar) reward ticket. When I've done that, it rarely makes sense to buy miles, even with these bonuses. OK, ok, ok --- not even rarely, it has never made sense for my travel plans. But my travel pattern is very likely different than yours.
That said, for my travel patterns, and this summer in particular, flights are ridiculously expensive purchased in either money or miles, so maybe the balance has changed.
Caveat emptor, and do your homework.
That said, for my travel patterns, and this summer in particular, flights are ridiculously expensive purchased in either money or miles, so maybe the balance has changed.
Caveat emptor, and do your homework.
Jan 24, 2024, 12:30 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,337
Agree with what all the posters have said above.
I have never come up with a case that buying miles would provide an outcome is better than just buy the ticket to fly.
At least you earn RDM when you pay for a ticket.
The important thing is to do enough research based on your anticipated travel needs rather than just focusing on the "bonus" in the marketing materials.
I have never come up with a case that buying miles would provide an outcome is better than just buy the ticket to fly.
At least you earn RDM when you pay for a ticket.
The important thing is to do enough research based on your anticipated travel needs rather than just focusing on the "bonus" in the marketing materials.
Last edited by UA_Flyer; Jan 25, 2024 at 8:27 am
Jan 24, 2024, 11:02 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
Also, if you have a particular trip in mind, check to see how much the regularly-purchased tickets would be for that flight, and compare how much you would spend on buying miles for the same (or similar) reward ticket. When I've done that, it rarely makes sense to buy miles, even with these bonuses. OK, ok, ok --- not even rarely, it has never made sense for my travel plans. But my travel pattern is very likely different than yours.
Jan 25, 2024, 8:36 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Rochester, MN
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton HHonors Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,830
Careful about wanting to 'stretch' to an award ticket itin that you wouldn't buy unless you purchased miles through this deal. If you do that, you've been had by UA.