40% off when buying UA miles - offer expires 25 April in the US

[Foreigner]

http://www.ualmiles.com/PROMO_facebook40.jsp?CC=JHGIBDEFGHITB44436A72A2845A04A5AA

There may still be a little time to buy upto 100,000 miles at 2.5 cents each.

 

[Paddy55]

... now for AA to match/beat that please!
We're up to our 40,000 miles + bonii here and we want more!

 

[Alanslegal]

What kind of business/first class flying can one do with 100K miles?

 

[ajca]

What kind of business/first class flying can one do with 100K miles?

I am no expert but it looks like you can do a fair bit. Here is the table showing how much various points redemptions flights are: United Airlines - Interactive travel destinations awards chart

I seem to have found a flight - for example - from Tokyo (Asiana) - Singapore (SQ) - Melbourne (SQ), all in J, for 40,000 points ($903) + $60 taxes.

Does anyone have any experience with whether this actually works in reality? Seems too good to be true.

 

[wafliron]

Does anyone have any experience with whether this actually works in reality? Seems too good to be true.

I'd be very interested to hear anyone's experiences using Mileage Plus miles for Star Alliance award flights too... appears you could fly, e.g., MEL-SIN-JFK on SQ J for 68,750 miles (~$1,500 or so), as compared to (IIRC) 89,250 KrisFlyer miles for a J Saver booked online.

 

[Stephen65]

I don't see the attraction. Flying J/F Australia to Europe return costs 150k/180k miles compared with 120/150k miles using US Air miles and the latter can be bought (during 100% promotions) for 1.88 US cents each.

 

[auriga]

I think the main attraction is you can book one way awards. Also, you can do it online.

 

[clifford]

I'd be very interested to hear anyone's experiences using Mileage Plus miles for Star Alliance award flights too... appears you could fly, e.g., MEL-SIN-JFK on SQ J for 68,750 miles (~$1,500 or so), as compared to (IIRC) 89,250 KrisFlyer miles for a J Saver booked online.

I think you'd need to explain that. If it's true, I'll book several. Please tell us how you came to this conclusion.

 

[wafliron]

I think you'd need to explain that. If it's true, I'll book several. Please tell us how you came to this conclusion.

Just following what the United award calculator tells me - 137,500 points for a J return from Australia to North America, half of that is 68,750.

It isn't 100% clear whether they force you to fly UA to get this points cost, but from some trial searches via their awards search engine it didn't look like they do. From a quick search I wasn't able to find SQ availability to 100% confirm this, but a couple of other routes it returned via Asia (e.g. MEL-SIN-Korea?-JFK) appeared to be at-or-around 68,750 points one-way.

Do confirm this with someone more knowledgeable than I before buying any points though - this is the first time I've ever looked at the Mileage Plus program so I might've made a mistake or bad assumption somewhere.

 

[Foreigner]

There's more discussion and info available here:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...united-selling-miles-40-off-up-100-000-a.html

 

[ajca]

Has anyone had any luck actually buying miles through this promotion?

I am getting this error message - have tried two different browsers and two different credit cards. Have sent an email to the contact listed but I doubt they will get back to me before the promo expires.

Your order request contained errors. Please review the form and enter the information requested in red text.

Please provide your purchase information

This transaction cannot be completed at this time. As part of our ongoing corporate security procedures to protect our customers, we are auditing select transaction requests. Please contact [email protected] for further assistance.

 

[ajca]

I worked out what the problem above was - when you sign up for a new United MileagePlus account, it takes a few days for them to 'verify' your account before you are able to buy miles.

In any case, I can now confirm that this seemingly too-good-to-be-true offer was in fact very true. I bought 40,000 miles for $900~ during the promotion, and I have just used them to 'pay' (plus $56 in taxes) for a business class flight from Osaka to Singapore to Melbourne on Singapore Airlines.

I know there are probably better value redemptions out there for United but this one solved a problem for me (how to get back to Australia from Japan without flying economy, or, shudder, Jetstar), but I reckon it is an unbelievably good deal. Especially given that exactly the same flight would have cost $3,600 real dollars to book directly through SQ.

 

[tinkybelle]

I tried to buy the miles but was rejected as I did not have a UA credit card though no mention of that on the site!

 

[ajca]

I tried to buy the miles but was rejected as I did not have a UA credit card though no mention of that on the site!

You definitely do not need a UA credit card (I used my Amex) but the promotion has ended and so this is not nearly as good value.

 

[skywalkerLAX]

I find that rate too expensive. There are better offers around.

 

[tinkybelle]

very strange as the website said you do have not used a UA credit card please use a UA credit card for this promotion.

 

[tinkybelle]

SKYWALKER clear your messages or contact me please

 

[travelislife]

I find that rate too expensive. There are better offers around.

Would love to hear them! With BMI now gone that knocks one down. This is pretty good in that they can be used for one way's and the taxes are always minimal and you can book online which is great.

 

[skywalkerLAX]

Well bmi miles can be converted to BA Miles and used for one ways (even online) on CX, JL, BA, QF... (YQ on JL & CX is marginal).

Then there is US Air, obviously they only permit r/t travel SO FAR.

AA also has attractive offers now and then as well as permits one way travel.

 

[whatmeworry]

Got an email today for the 40% off miles today. Looks like only via the email.

United Airlines Buy or transfer miles