: United typically sells miles for 3.76¢ each ($35 plus taxes/fees per 1,000 miles).
: Transfer 1:1 from Chase Ultimate Rewards (Sapphire Preferred, Reserve) or Bilt Rewards. buy mileageplus points
: Buying miles can be a "solid" play if you've already confirmed award availability for a flight that would otherwise cost thousands of dollars in cash (e.g., a $4,800 Polaris ticket for 160k miles). : United typically sells miles for 3
: If you've flown recently, check for a "Multiplier" offer in your account, which can sometimes be cheaper than buying miles outright. Buy or Transfer MileagePlus Miles : If you've flown recently, check for a
: Since United miles are generally valued at roughly 1.2¢ to 1.5¢ each , buying them at 3.76¢ is a poor investment unless you are very close to a high-value redemption. 2. When It Makes Sense (The "Solid Piece")
If you don't need the miles immediately, these methods are more cost-effective:
: If you are just a few thousand miles short of a "Polaris" business class seat or an expensive international flight, paying the premium to secure the booking is worth it.