Buying miles and points can represent a great deal, especially for premium air travel. Loyalty programmes advertise these sales as discounts or bonuses on purchased miles. United MileagePlus has launched its latest promotion on purchased miles, valid through December 1, 2024, 2359 hours Central time. United is offering a tiered bonus on purchased miles this time, and up to a 100% bonus is offered on buying miles in this round of the promotion. Some may have been provided up to a 50% discount instead (such as yours truly), but it works out to be the same thing.

Buy United MileagePlus Miles with up to a 100% Bonus or 50% Discount.

Through December 1, 2024, 11:59 PM Central Time, United MileagePlus is offering a tiered bonus/discount on purchased miles. The promotion offered to me provides up to a 50% discount at the top end of the promotion. My discount is as follows:

• Buy 5,000 – 29,000 miles, get a 20% discount
• Buy 30,000 – 69,0000 miles, get a 35% discount
• Buy 70,000 – 200,000 miles, get a 50% discount

When you buy United MileagePlus miles, you usually pay 3.5 US cents per purchased mile, plus a 7.5% excise tax charged in the US. With the 50% discount, one can buy 200,000 miles for USD 3,762.50, a rate of 1.88 USD cents per MileagePlus mile (or INR 1.59).

Even with the 100% Bonus offer, at the top end, the pricing works out to be the same.

Note that United MileagePlus limits members to purchasing 200,000 MileagePlus miles per account per calendar year, including any bonuses offered. If you are buying United miles, it can take up to 48 hours for them to post to your account.

Which credit card should you buy United MileagePlus miles with?

Typically, these point purchases are processed through Points.com and not directly by the hotel or airline. However, you will pay in USD, not INR. So, the best cards to earn a bonus are Axis Olympus, Axis Reserve or American Express Platinum Charge Card, as these cards offer extra points on international spending. Beyond these, look at any card that provides a reduced foreign exchange spend conversion or one where you want to meet minimum spend requirements.

One of the great features of United Mileage Plus is that United does not pass on fuel surcharges to customers. Another great feature is that United MileagePlus miles don’t expire. So, you get to keep your miles no matter what. You can use them to redeem on Star Alliance member airlines. However, you must realise that United sometimes changes up the (expected) points on various routes, as they no longer publish an award chart.

Bottomline

United MileagePlus is offering a bonus on purchased miles with a tiered discount or a tiered bonus. With this sale, MileagePlus miles can be acquired for US Cents 1.88/ INR 1.59 at the top end. The promotion is valid for the miles purchased till December 1, 2024 (11:59 PM Central Time) or December 2, 2024 (11:29 AM IST). Crunch the numbers before you buy.

Do you plan on buying United MileagePlus miles with this promotion? 

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