If you’re a frequent flyer looking to stretch every penny and notch up your travel experience, then the latest mileage purchase promotion from United Airlines’ MileagePlus program is worth your attention. With a bonus up to 100% when you buy miles, United has made a compelling case to consider topping up your account — but is it really worth it for you? In this post, we’ll walk you through how the offer works, when it makes sense, the risks involved, and how to maximise its value.
What’s the Deal?
United’s MileagePlus program currently allows members in good standing to buy miles directly — and during the latest promotion you can receive a bonus of up to 100% on the miles you purchase. (AwardWallet) For example: buy 50,000 miles and get an additional 50,000 bonus miles, bringing your total to 100,000 miles. That means, when the full bonus applies, you’re effectively paying around 1.88 cents per mile. (AwardWallet)
There are caps and conditions: you must be a MileagePlus member in good standing, there may be minimums for bonus tiers, and purchased miles don’t count toward elite-status qualification. (United Airlines)
When Does It Make Sense?
Buying miles isn’t for every traveller. The key question: Are you going to use those miles for a redemption that gives you value greater than the cost you paid?
Here are situations where it can make sense:
- You have identified an award flight with United (or a partner airline via MileagePlus) and you’re just a few thousand miles short. Buying miles to bridge the gap can be cheaper than paying a higher cash fare.
- You can secure a premium-cabin (business/first) award on a partner route where the cash fare is very high, but the mileage cost is favourable. For example, United partner business class redemptions to Europe or long-haul routes can present strong value. (UpgradedPoints.com)
- You catch the offer when the cost per mile is exceptionally low (e.g., 1.88 cents) and you already have a redemption in mind.
For example: If you need 80,000 miles for a business-class award to Europe and you can buy them at ~1.88 cents each, that’s ~$1,504. If the cash fare for the same flight is $3,000+, buying miles may be a smart move. (AwardWallet)
When Should You Be Cautious?
- If you’re buying miles just in case, without a clear redemption plan, you risk paying for miles that don’t deliver equivalent value. For reference, many mileage valuations place United miles at roughly 1.2 cents each. (UpgradedPoints.com)
- If cash fares are low for your route, the cost of buying the miles may exceed the cash ticket cost (i.e., the break-even is worse). For example, a short domestic flight may cost $200, whereas buying miles for the same ride may cost more. (UpgradedPoints.com)
- Award availability: Even if you buy the miles, if the award seats you want aren’t available (especially for premium cabins), you may not get the value you expect.
- Miles bought through promotions typically do not count toward status upgrades or elite status qualification. So if status is your priority, that purchase alone won’t help. (AwardWallet)
How to Maximise the Offer
Here are some practical tips to get the most from a “buy miles” promotion like this:
- Check award availability first – Before buying miles, search for your desired date, route, cabin and ensure the award seats are open. Don’t buy miles hoping seats will appear later.
- Calculate cost per mile vs cash fare – Work out the cost of buying the miles (miles purchased × cost per mile) and compare to the cash fare for your desired flight. If buying miles costs $1,500 and cash fare is $1,200, skip it.
- Focus on premium cabins and partner awards – These often yield the highest value per mile. Even though United uses dynamic pricing, partner awards sometimes remain more consistent. (AwardWallet)
- Use miles you already have (or close) – The best time to buy miles is when you just need a small top-up to hit a redemption threshold. That means lower cost and risk.
- Mind the expiration and conditions – United miles generally do not expire, which is a plus. (The Points Guy) But miles bought may have other restrictions (check the terms).
- Don’t ignore other ways to earn miles – Buying miles should not be your first strategy. Flying, credit-card spend, shopping portals, partner transfers (where available) can all build up your balance more cost-effectively. (The Points Guy)
Real-World Feedback
On forums and Reddit, travellers who buy United miles often report mixed outcomes. One user noted:
“That is 1.84 cpm. If you have a particular redemption right now that will net more than that then go for it, but buying miles speculatively is probably not a great idea.” (Reddit)
Others highlight the savings when booked smartly:
“We each just bought miles for the 100 % bump … for 250 k miles, I can get a round trip in lay-flat seats for $4,500 which is a smoking deal.” (Reddit)
These real-life comments reinforce the theme: the offer can be great if used correctly, but not automatic value.
My Verdict
If I had to summarise: yes, the offer from United’s MileagePlus (buying miles at around 1.88 cents each during a 100% bonus) can be a smart travel hack — but only when you:
- Know exactly which redemption you want,
- Have confirmed award availability,
- Calculate that buying miles is cheaper than paying cash for that same seat,
- And accept that this is a one-time decision tied to that ticket rather than a speculative purchase.
For many flyers, especially frequent travellers targeting premium cabins, this can unlock major savings. For more casual travellers or cash-fare bargain hunters, you may be better off waiting or earning miles via other routes.
Final Thoughts
Promotions like this remind us that airline loyalty programmes are more than just points accumulation — they’re strategic tools. The latest United MileagePlus miles sale offers a clear opportunity to convert cash into miles at a reasonable rate, but only if you turn those miles into high-value award flights.
If you’re planning a big international trip, business-class upgrade or want to explore one of United’s Star Alliance partner flights (e.g., to Europe, Asia or South America), this could be your moment. Just don’t fall into the trap of buying miles without a redemption plan — that’s how value gets lost.
