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 January 26, 2026, 2359 hours Central time. United is offering a tiered bonus on purchased miles this time, with a maximum bonus of 100% available when buying miles during this promotion. Different members may be targeted with other offers, so your offer may vary.
Buy United MileagePlus Miles with a 100% Bonus.
Through January 26, 2026, at 11:59 PM Central Time, United MileagePlus is offering a tiered bonus on purchased miles. The promotion I was offered provides a 100% bonus at the top end.
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. To unlock the best price, you need to purchase exactly 25,000 miles in one transaction, pre-bonus. The pricing works out to USD Cents 1.88 / INR 1.7 per Mile. For purchases under 25,000 miles, the bonus is 75%.
In 2026, a new restriction has been imposed. You can now purchase up to 50,000 miles from United (including the bonus) in any 90-day period, while you can still purchase up to 200,000 miles throughout the year.
One of the great features of United MileagePlus is that United does not pass on fuel surcharges to its 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 the (expected) points for various routes, as it no longer publishes an award chart. So, please keep in mind when you purchase United Miles.
But that also means some great deals. For instance, my wife travelled just a few months ago (in July 2025) on ANA for 88,000 miles to the Lone Star State.
Which credit card should you buy United MileagePlus miles with?
Typically, these point purchases are processed through Points.com, rather than directly by the hotel or airline. However, you will pay in USD, not INR. Therefore, the best cards to earn a bonus are the Axis Olympus, Axis Reserve, or American Express Platinum Charge Card, as these cards offer extra points on international spending. Beyond these, consider any card that offers reduced foreign exchange conversion rates or helps you meet minimum spend requirements.
Bottomline
United MileagePlus is offering a tiered discount on purchased miles. With this sale, MileagePlus miles can be acquired for US Cents 1.88/ INR 1.7 at the top end. The promotion is valid for the miles purchased till January 26, 2025 (11:59 PM Central Time) or January 27, 2026 (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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