United Frequent flyer mileage question

[Nik's Mom]

Hi,
DH and I both have some miles that are set to expire in 2012. We are tossing around the idea of going to Europe next March. We have never used our miles before, so I'm a rookie at doing this. When is the best time to book airfare using frequent flyer miles? Also, I have way more miles than dh. If I want to transfer miles to him, is that better than doing the miles/money purchase for tickets?

Im so confused. Their website gives the basics, but I wish they had a message board to get the ins and outs of using miles. Is there a message board like that anywhere?

Thanks!

 

[seetheworld]

Hi,
DH and I both have some miles that are set to expire in 2012. We are tossing around the idea of going to Europe next March. We have never used our miles before, so I'm a rookie at doing this. When is the best time to book airfare using frequent flyer miles? Also, I have way more miles than dh. If I want to transfer miles to him, is that better than doing the miles/money purchase for tickets?

Im so confused. Their website gives the basics, but I wish they had a message board to get the ins and outs of using miles. Is there a message board like that anywhere?

Thanks!

We use miles to go to Europe. We have 6 in our family and it helps when we can do a couple of the tickets using miles. The only way you can transfer miles to him is to completely use the full miles needed for the flight that are yours to buy his ticket or "gift" them in which there is a huge charge. Say it is 60,000 miles to get to Europe. Say you have 120,000 and he has 40,000. The best thing for you to do is buy 2 tickets using your miles. You could also "gift" him the extra 20,000 miles he needs, but it cost a ton and not worth it IMO. BTW, it's best to book immediately because the seats fill up quickly. We usually book at the earleist date we can about 10+ months prior on United.......unless however you are using the plan where they double the miles you must pay & can go at anytime if there are seats. I prefer the saver miles so those seats fill fast, but fewer miles are used. I hope this helps!

 

[chamonix]

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-mileage-plus-504/

 

[Nik's Mom]

Thanks, seetheworld! You put it so simply. It makes perfect sense. I guess we better start figuring out where to Europe we want to go then!

Thanks, chamonix for posting that message board. I will definitely spend time reading through the threads over there.

 

[seetheworld]

Thanks, seetheworld! You put it so simply. It makes perfect sense. I guess we better start figuring out where to Europe we want to go then!

Thanks, chamonix for posting that message board. I will definitely spend time reading through the threads over there.

So happy to help! Please let me know if you have anymore questions. Have a wonderful trip!

 

[dudspizza]

I totally agree to book early. Miles seats are limited and once they are booked, it is hard to get good flights. I booked flights to Reno last year using AA miles with no problem about 6 months before my trip..... I tried to do the same thing this year and there were no seats available at the cheapest level....

Duds

 

[DebbieB]

I totally agree to book early. Miles seats are limited and once they are booked, it is hard to get good flights. I booked flights to Reno last year using AA miles with no problem about 6 months before my trip..... I tried to do the same thing this year and there were no seats available at the cheapest level....

Duds

I agree. It's difficult to find FF seats at the cheapest level on any airline. I have a trip to DL the first week of May, when I went to use my USAirways miles the back on Oct 1 (7 months ahead), PIT-SNA was 60,000 miles in coach even though the chart starts at 25,000 miles. Through some fluke, first class was available at the low level of 50,000 miles so I booked it (I had over 60,000 miles).

 

[shoes99]

I never book this early using mileage from Continental, but yesterday i got nervous about our December trip to WDW. I didn't have any non-stop choices for Dec 8th to Dec 12th. I modified my dates to Dec 7th-Dec 13th, and there was only two flights available each direction. I broke down and purchased the flights from EWR to MCO using 25,000 miles each. Now the 1:30PM flight outbound is no longer available using miles.
I booked, so I will just live with the dates and time.
Not knowing what the future of UA/CO mileage accounts will hold, I decided to use up my 50,000 miles now.

 

[dudspizza]

I never book this early using mileage from Continental, but yesterday i got nervous about our December trip to WDW. I didn't have any non-stop choices for Dec 8th to Dec 12th. I modified my dates to Dec 7th-Dec 13th, and there was only two flights available each direction. I broke down and purchased the flights from EWR to MCO using 25,000 miles each. Now the 1:30PM flight outbound is no longer available using miles.
I booked, so I will just live with the dates and time.
Not knowing what the future of UA/CO mileage accounts will hold, I decided to use up my 50,000 miles now.

Keep watching Continental.... if you see a flight that works better for you with the same miles, you can change for free as long as the departure and arrival airports don't change.....

I did this recently for my MSP-RNO trip.... The only flight that worked for me originally was MSP-ORD-SFO-RNO...... a few weeks ago they put up a new flight that went MSP-DEN-RNO so I was able to switch for free.

Duds

 

[MAH4546]

I agree. It's difficult to find FF seats at the cheapest level on any airline.

AAdvantage makes it quite easy, actually. Some would say too easy.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

I use my husband's FF miles on United all the time to book international flights. Book as soon as you know where you want to go and have firm dates.

You could also "gift" him the extra 20,000 miles he needs

No, you can't. The maximum amount of miles you can transfer from one United FF account to another is 15,000 a year.

Not knowing what the future of UA/CO mileage accounts will hold, I decided to use up my 50,000 miles now.

Your miles will be safe, even after the merger is complete. Using 50,000 FF miles to fly from EWR to MCO makes for an extremely expensive trip.

 

[shoes99]

Your miles will be safe, even after the merger is complete. Using 50,000 FF miles to fly from EWR to MCO makes for an extremely expensive trip.

To us it is not an expensive trip, we count it as getting us a 4th trip to Florida for the year so we can do a internet meet and Christmas party.
Its 25,000 miles each.

 

[seetheworld]

No, you can't. The maximum amount of miles you can transfer from one United FF account to another is 15,000 a year.

You are correct, I was hypothetically speaking. I did though forget to mention the maximum cap on the miles you can transfer to someone. Thank you for clarifying this.