Can I transfer my United miles?

[jerseygirl81]

I have a United rewards card that I would like to cancel before having to pay the fee for the card. We havn't flown on United in a couple of years since their fares have been higher. So my question is I have some miles on it I would hate to lose enough for a 1 way ticket but it is up for renewal before our next trip. Is it possible to transfer the points to another rewards card? If we would lose the points I would consider an overnight at a hotel to use the points is this a pain in the neck to do? What if a booked flights and use the points I'm assuming I would need to keep the card till after the flight? We would use carry ons so I don't care about the free bag. thanks, Linda

 

[dioxide45]

I have a United rewards card that I would like to cancel before having to pay the fee for the card. We havn't flown on United in a couple of years since their fares have been higher. So my question is I have some miles on it I would hate to lose enough for a 1 way ticket but it is up for renewal before our next trip. Is it possible to transfer the points to another rewards card? If we would lose the points I would consider an overnight at a hotel to use the points is this a pain in the neck to do? What if a booked flights and use the points I'm assuming I would need to keep the card till after the flight? We would use carry ons so I don't care about the free bag. thanks, Linda

The rewards are not on the credit card, they are posted to your United MileagePlus frequent flyer account. Cancelling the card should not impact those miles that are already posted to your account. You don't need to keep the credit card open until after any award flight booked. The credit card and frequent flyer accounts really don't impact each other except when points post from credit card usage to the United MileagePlus account. The only other impact may be if you default on payments to Chase.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You really need to read and understand the terms for your credit cards, because what you posted is not how the Chase UA cards work. If you don't understand how your cards work, you can't maximize your benefits.

Keep in mind that your miles don't expire as long as you have the card and use it occasionally. As soon as you cancel the card, your miles will have an expiration date.

 

[rwdavis2]

You really need to read and understand the terms for your credit cards, because what you posted is not how the Chase UA cards work. If you don't understand how your cards work, you can't maximize your benefits.

Keep in mind that your miles don't expire as long as you have the card and use it occasionally. As soon as you cancel the card, your miles will have an expiration date.

Correct. That's why we used mine up before I cancelled the card.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

OP should keep in mind that UA miles can be used for Star Alliance flights; the redemption rate can be significantly higher than for UA flights (redemption rates for FF award tickets increased in early February).

 

[jerseygirl81]

Correct. That's why we used mine up before I cancelled the card.

I planned on using the points the past couple trips we took, but flew on Delta instead. The cost to fly on United was still much more even with the points all the more reason to get rid of the card before paying a fee. I will dig out the terms to read up on canceling the card. If I don't use the points to fly I will use them for hotel. Thanks, Linda

 

[jerseygirl81]

OP should keep in mind that UA miles can be used for Star Alliance flights; the redemption rate can be significantly higher than for UA flights (redemption rates for FF award tickets increased in early February).

Thank you! Linda

 

[MADnNOLA]

Another option is to set up an account on points.com. This is a site that matches people looking to buy or trade points on airline and hotel loyalty programs.

I was able to use this to transfer my United miles over to American. Of course it comes with a fee, but it was cheaper for the fee than to lose 1000s of miles that I would no longer use and would expire. I was also able to transfer IHC points to my American account - so you can cross trade points between airlines and hotels. It is all in what the other person is willing to give you for what you want.

For example, I had 10,000 United miles and was able to trade those for 9000 American miles. You can post requests and your own points/miles to trade.

 

[dioxide45]

You really need to read and understand the terms for your credit cards, because what you posted is not how the Chase UA cards work. If you don't understand how your cards work, you can't maximize your benefits.

Keep in mind that your miles don't expire as long as you have the card and use it occasionally. As soon as you cancel the card, your miles will have an expiration date.

True, but that expiration date is still 18 months out and as long as you maintain some FF activity, perhaps through United Dining or the Shopping Mall, it is very easy to prevent United miles from expiring.