Need Quick Ual Miles

Jimster · May 16, 2006

I need to get a quick 500 UAL miles so I can get an award. Of course, I could buy them but I don't like to do that. I could also use my MPV but the billing cycle comes due after the tickets become available. Anyone have any ideas?

bigfrank · May 16, 2006

Go to the united site and under Mileage plus Promotions go to the FTD site. Last week I received 25 miles per dollar spent and the miles were posted in a day.

camachinist · May 16, 2006

Wow, Frank, that's fast; FTD must have changed markedly in recent times in that regard. Lethargy was their middle name last time I used their services last year, when it came to posting.

For the OP, how quick and what are you topping off?

Pat

Jimster · May 16, 2006

I need the miles by Friday for a award flight to Paris from Chicago. I have been going around and around about how I want to use these miles. I have at least 2 European trips planned for 2007. I fly only for pleasure now and I could also pay for the fights and use the points to upgrade and hopefully move up to Premier status. On the other hand, I am cheap! I'm not sure I want to lay out the money if I end up short and have to do a mileage run. I think I've decided just to get these 2 tickets free and fly economy. GRRRR BTW I ordered the flowers, but it said it would take 6-8 weeks for the points to show

bigfrank · May 16, 2006

Jimster said:
BTW I ordered the flowers, but it said it would take 6-8 weeks for the points to show

Mine posted right away.

talkamotta · May 16, 2006

Does United let you borrow flights from a different member?

camachinist · May 16, 2006

talkamotta said:
Does United let you borrow flights from a different member?

MP members "trade" miles/upgrades/rcc passes, etc. Like, I'll give you a domestic r/t for a SWU, things like that. What happens is one member books the domestic flight for the other member and the other member sponsors an upgrade for the original member.

DaveM did a giveaway (no trade) awhile back where he booked the winner on a free domestic r/t.

UA makes it possible to "give" miles, but it costs money.

Given what the OP is doing and the relative cost, I'd just buy the miles. I think the total cost is ~75.00....

Pat

Jimster · May 16, 2006

Yes, the actual cost is $59 and I might just buy the miles. I did mention, however, I was CHEAP lol Actually I have a revulsion about paying for miles (I did join Ameniti to get the 25,000 miles & assorted items which violates my general principle) because it is my intent to make the tickets as "free" as possible. That is also why I pay off my MPV each month. If you don't do that, you are really paying for the tickets but just in a more obtuse manner. So, its not that I can't afford it, its more of a philosophical thing with me, but yes if put to the final test I will pay for the miles.

Carolinian · May 16, 2006

You might also check www.freefrequentflyermiles.com

Pat H · May 16, 2006

If it's cheaper to transfer miles than buy, I could give you 500-1000 miles.

Dave M · May 16, 2006

I think the minimum transfer is 5,000 miles. That costs $80 ($.01 per mile plus$30).

Buying 1,000 miles, which the OP needs, costs $59.57.

Jimster · May 16, 2006

Dave is correct about the miles. But I want to thank you Pat for your generous offer. If I don't get the miles from the FTD credited in the next day or two, I guess I'll just buy the miles. The FTD thing suggested by Big Frank is worth a shot since I needed to get my wife some flowers anyway.

Pat H · May 16, 2006

Jimster said:
Dave is correct about the miles. But I want to thank you Pat for your generous offer. If I don't get the miles from the FTD credited in the next day or two, I guess I'll just buy the miles. The FTD thing suggested by Big Frank is worth a shot since I needed to get my wife some flowers anyway.

You're welcome. Too bad it didn't work. I've been helped many times by Tuggers so I like being able to help someone else out.

camachinist · May 16, 2006

Purchasing miles is the quickest, with a confirmed 3-5 business day posting. I can say the last time I transferred miles to my wife's account (thanks Dave for the update; the prices have changed since I last used the program), they posted in about 2 days. I personally wouldn't count on vendor miles posting for a critical award purchase. 60 bucks is cheap when one is going to France

Safe travels!

Pat

philemer · May 17, 2006

No one has mentioned calling a CSR and begging

for a 500 mile "loan". Some FTers have been successful with this technique. More likely to work if you have a paid trip in the hopper.

Phil

calgal · May 17, 2006

I just got a promotion from UA in which I received 250 miles for each person I referred who then enrolled in MP. I referred my 2 six year olds. they didn't yet have MP accounts. So, find some friends with young kids and refer away. However, I just checked and the miles have not posted yet (did it about 3 days ago) so it won't work for the OP's situation.

Jimster · May 19, 2006

I just thought I would post and thank everyone for their advice and to inform you that it was a happy ending.

I bought some flowers under the promo that Big Frank suggested but the miles didn't get posted in time. I also bought 1,000 but the miles didn't get posted in time. Then today (day 330) out of the blue, 500 points were posted to my wife's account from a promo that I had entered 3 months ago and had forgotten about. I just got off the phone with United and got my two award tickets to Paris and they will then hold off on the return flight for 2 weeks, but I have multiple city options there so I think I'm ok. Thanks again. I love the price lol :clap:

Need Quick Ual Miles

Jimster

bigfrank

camachinist

Jimster

bigfrank

talkamotta

TUG Review Crew: Expert

camachinist

Jimster

Carolinian

Pat H

Dave M

Jimster

Pat H

camachinist

philemer

TUG Review Crew: Veteran

calgal

Jimster