United Airlines just launched a new mileage sale that is valid through August 27, 2019. You can check your personal bonus or discount offer on United’s website here.
United offers buy miles promotions almost every month. They usually have a cap at a 50% discount or a 100% bonus. The limit for the number of miles you can purchase annually (including any possible bonuses) is 175,000 miles.
While this 85% bonus isn’t groundbreaking, if you’re trying to reach a certain number of miles for a redemption, this may be the time to do it.
Remember, United plans to remove their award charts in the near future. Not only that, but they are probably taking away the great cheap close-in award redemption prices.
Here are some examples of potential purchases and the bonuses offered:
Starting at 3,000 miles, you will earn a 40% bonus:
If you buy 30,000 or more miles, you will earn an 85% bonus.
Maxing out at 94,000 United MileagePlus Miles with the 85% bonus, you will end up with 173,900 miles at a total cost of $3,536.75.
Max Out at 94,000 Miles Purchased
Crunching The Numbers For This United Miles Sale
The price of a mile at all of the 85% bonus levels comes out to 2.03 cents. At that price, does it make sense to purchase United miles?
Related: Redeeming United MileagePlus Miles for Award Travel Through Partners
If you are using miles for an international business or first class award redemption that normally retails for a high fare, maybe.
For example, All Nippon Airways (ANA) is a Star Alliance partner with United. Using United’s Award search we can find a one-way LAX-Tokyo First Class Saver award for as low as 110,000 miles plus $5.60.
ANA First Class Redemption with United MileagePlus
By buying miles, this would cost you $2,238.60 (cost of miles plus $5.60 fee). Compared to the retail cost of $14,024.70 that makes your redemption valued at 12.7 cents per point.
Related: Review of ANA First Class Tokyo To Washington
You can also earn lots of MileagePlus Miles by getting the United Explorer Card.
- 40,000 bonus miles after you spend $2,000 on purchases in the first 3 months your account is open
- $0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95.
- Earn 2 miles per $1 spent at restaurants and on hotel stays
- (Full Details)
The Upshot
If you have a specific award redemption in mind, then picking up these United MileagePlus miles can make perfect sense.
If you need award redemption help, try Juicy Miles, our affiliate partner. They can help with booking award trips using miles and reward points. In addition, they can also help with earning elite status with airlines through custom mileage runs.
Related: Delta’s Littlest Diamond? This 8-Year-Old Earned Top Elite Status in One Trip
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