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United Airlines has posted a flash sale in which MileagePlus members can buy miles from 2.25 cents each…..and that’s a truly terrible headline number. The flash sale lasts until 11:59pm CDT on 2 September 2016 but there shouldn’t be too many people rushing to buy miles at these prices.
Normally when you see a flash sale being advertised the offer is one that’s at least worth considering but, on this occasion, United would appear to be using “flash sale” marketing to tempt unsuspecting travelers into overpaying for United Miles.
United’s Mileage Flash Sale
As usual the offer that United has put out is tiered only this time the way United is publicising the offer it looks a lot more complicated than it needs to.
Here’s how United is showing the offer:
And this is what it really means:
- Buy 2,000 – 4,000 miles & receive 0% Bonus miles = 3.76 cents/mile
- Buy 5,000 – 14,000 miles & receive 20% Bonus miles = 3.14 cents/mile
- Buy 15,000 – 29,000 miles & receive 40% Bonus miles = 2.69 cents/mile
- Buy 30,000 – 90,000 miles & receive 67% Bonus miles = 2.25 cents/mile
The minimum number of miles you’d need to buy to get the best price in this sale is 30,000….
….which would net you 50,100 miles.
And, if you’ve been out in the sun too long and decide that buying the full amount is a good idea….
….you’ll end up paying $3,386.25 for a total of 150,000 miles.
Thoughts
I’m struggling to find anything good to say about this sale.
United ran a promotion that ended on 15 August in which MileagePlus members could purchase miles at 1.88 cents each….so this “flash sale” is actually peddling miles at almost 20% more than they were being offered at a little over two weeks ago!
If that isn’t enough to put you off here’s some math:
A round trip Business Class award between the US and Europe costs 115,000 miles (plus taxes) so, using the best price from this sale, that would make the cost of the award $2,587.50 + taxes.
As a comparison here’s what I found on ITA Matrix when I searched for United Business Class fares between New York and Paris for a random month next year:
For $3,000 you have a great choice of dates and you’ll earn redeemable miles, PQM and PQD while for $2,587.50 + taxes you earn none of those and you’ll almost certainly find the travel dates restricted. Hardly a great deal!
Bottom Line
I can think of one instance in which it may be worth buying miles in this sale but the number of people for whom this is relevant is almost certainly very small.
If….
- Award availability is available for the exact dates you need
- You have to travel in Business Class
- The Business Class cash fares on all viable airlines is significantly higher than the cost of the miles & taxes
…then it may be worth buying miles in this sale. Otherwise you should stay away and wait for the next promotion…..which would struggle to be worse!
