Bonus United Miles is back - up to 80% bonus on purchased miles

[Mattg]

Bonus United miles are back. Up to 80% bonus until 23 October 2015.

Bonuses are applied as follows:

5,000 to 19,000 miles = 25% bonus
20,000 to 29,000 miles = 50% bonus
30,000 to 80,000 miles = 80% bonus

The sweet spot here would have to be buying 34,000 miles. With the bonus miles, you'll get just over 60,000 miles which is enough for return Business class from Australia or NZ to anywhere in "South Asia" including Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Hong Kong etc. Total cost for such a redemption would be USD$1,279.25 for the miles, plus minimal taxes.

 

[JohnK]

Looks like a good deal but the weak AUD hurts heaps.

 

[Blockers]

Looks like a good deal but the weak AUD hurts heaps.

Ahhh... remember the days of parity?

 

[Isochronous]

So TG J or F HKG-SYD would be the go then? No other *A options I can think of.

 

[Mattg]

So TG J or F HKG-SYD would be the go then? No other *A options I can think of.

There's SQ but availability isn't always there.

 

[smit0847]

Looks like a good deal but the weak AUD hurts heaps.

So TG J or F HKG-SYD would be the go then? No other *A options I can think of.

UA has a LOT of advantages over Lifemiles though even with the higher price per mile:

- stopover on return redemption available;
- mixed class available;
- website that actually works!

 

[smit0847]

The sweet spot here would have to be buying 34,000 miles. With the bonus miles, you'll get just over 60,000 miles which is enough for return Business class from Australia or NZ to anywhere in "South Asia" including Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Hong Kong etc. Total cost for such a redemption would be USD$1,279.25 for the miles, plus minimal taxes.

South Asia

Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Myanmar (Burma), Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

 

[Jeffrey O'Neill]

UA has a LOT of advantages over Lifemiles though even with the higher price per mile:

- stopover on return redemption available;
- mixed class available;
- website that actually works!

Yes, am actually starting to think UA for Asia region redemptions is the better deal, esp if you can use the free stopover

If only LM would allow longer stopovers they'd be far more useful

 

[Alanslegal]

Yes, am actually starting to think UA for Asia region redemptions is the better deal, esp if you can use the free stopover

How do you get the free stop over? Is it something you book via telephone, rather than online?

** it's ok, i just learnt how to do it**

 

[smit0847]

How do you get the free stop over? Is it something you book via telephone, rather than online?

** it's ok, i just learnt how to do it**

Do you have to call up?

 

[Alanslegal]

Do you have to call up?

My understanding is that you can only have a stopover on a return trip - and it is bookable online via multi-city.

 

[smit0847]

My understanding is that you can only have a stopover on a return trip - and it is bookable online via multi-city.

Thats a pretty intuitive booking system! Does that mean the stopover doesnt have to be a star hub? Ie could you do a stopover in HKT or CNX on the way to Japan?

 

[Alanslegal]

Thats a pretty intuitive booking system! Does that mean the stopover doesnt have to be a star hub? Ie could you do a stopover in HKT or CNX on the way to Japan?

I am just a beginner with these stopovers so best to do some research and/or play around with the award search engine.

From what I read, you are allowed one stop over and two open jaws on a return ticket; So (correct me if I am wrong here but) I think you are allowed to book for e.g. Sydney-Bangkok(stop)-Hong Kong // Saigon-Bangkok-Melbourne

 

[bryanjones]

BKK-SYD-BKK booked a week before xmas in J, then back in F mid Jan. 70K points + $140 in taxes - great value. I also find marriot points a good way to convert into united ones.

 

[smit0847]

I am just a beginner with these stopovers so best to do some research and/or play around with the award search engine.

From what I read, you are allowed one stop over and two open jaws on a return ticket; So (correct me if I am wrong here but) I think you are allowed to book for e.g. Sydney-Bangkok(stop)-Hong Kong // Saigon-Bangkok-Melbourne

I think thats right- that makes it extremely flexible. Im wondering if you can make your stopover in a non star hub, out of the way place though.

 

[JohnK]

BKK-SYD-BKK booked a week before xmas in J, then back in F mid Jan. 70K points + $140 in taxes - great value. I also find marriot points a good way to convert into united ones.

That's a total of 70,000 UA miles return going one way in business and one way in First?

 

[bryanjones]

That's a total of 70,000 UA miles return going one way in business and one way in First?

Correct - 30K one way, 40K the other.

Economy is 17.5k each way.

 

[N860CR]

I've just booked SYD-BKK(F)-RGN(J) RGN-BKK-VTE (J) VTE-BKK(J)-SYD(F) for 80k miles (or about $2500 each including taxes. Seems like a pretty good deal.

Any idea how I can get the Thai reservation number so I can access my booking on their website? Ended up with two tickets for two pax so we aren't seated together.

 

[smit0847]

I've just booked SYD-BKK(F)-RGN(J) RGN-BKK-VTE (J) VTE-BKK(J)-SYD(F) for 80k miles (or about $2500 each including taxes. Seems like a pretty good deal.

Any idea how I can get the Thai reservation number so I can access my booking on their website? Ended up with two tickets for two pax so we aren't seated together.

That seems like an excellent booking. Is RGN a stopover and VTE the destination?

Google thai airways sydney and call them

 

[N860CR]

That seems like an excellent booking. Is RGN a stopover and VTE the destination?

Google thai airways sydney and call them

Yep that's correct. 4 day "stopover" in RGN. The flight out of Sydney is the lovely 10pm departure so there's a 9 hour transit in BKK, but I'll just go to a hotel. There's also an overnight in BKK on return for the 7am BKK-SYD.

I got onto United via Facebook and they were quick to provide the TG number. Surprisingly efficient!

This was basically just a last minute decision for a quick week getaway after the Xmas break. Haven't been to either Burma or Laos before so it was a good excuse.

For those interested, availability is fairly good. Unfortunately the connection times to LPQ didn't work so that's why we've ended up in VTE.