Through the end of the year, US Airways is offering a 100% bonus on purchased or transferred miles up to 50,000 miles for each of the “buy, share, or gift” options.
This is better than the offer from July/August which only included bonusing purchased miles. This time transfers are included.
With this offer you can buy 40,000 miles for $1030, get 80,000 miles in return, and fly business class from the US to Europe. Or if you and a friend each have 40,000 miles, you transfer to each other for $430 apiece, and you now both have 80,000 miles — enough for a business class Star Alliance partner award to Europe.
(Hat tip Ian.)
can the same 40k miles be transferred to a friend and then transferred back with getting the bonus on both ends?
Yes.
I assume the bonus posts quickly so yes.
Also a better deal than buying miles would be transferring 25k to a friend who gets 50k, then having them transfer 50k to you for 100k.
You’re up 75k for $810 instead of $955 to buy 74k.
The bonuses post at the same time as the purchased or transferred miles, which for me yesterday was pretty much instantly.
Buy the US miles with your new BA card
I know there’s a 50,000 mile purchase max. Can you also transfer an additional 50,000?
@Steve, yes.
Gary, wanted to bring this up..
Today’s announcement of the award changes affects this math:
Well with today’s announcement, this changes a bit… it could be MUCH lower (60K required) or MUCH higher (100-350K required).
Between North America* or Hawaii and Europe
Coach Class
35,000 60,000 90,000 125,000
Business Class
60,000 100,000 200,000 350,000
I thought this was a great bargin but after researching it, it’s at cost or higher than a ticket. I can normally, if watching, find a ticket from atl to phx for 250-270. After a buy and a transfer (for most doubling actions) I figure it’s about $301 per ticket. A decent price if you don’t want to keep waiting for best deal. But, divident miles are also subject to blackout dates so be careful.
I find I would be better off shopping for deals on travel sites and using my credit card that earns me mileage points.
Oh, From atl to phx it is 25,000 miles roundtrip if that helps anyone.
sorry, last time as above figures weren’t right which made me think it was a great bargin to start with… buy or gift = 2.5 cents/mile share=1 cent /mile if that helps some to figure out cost plus a $30 transaction fee.
@Maria, you are right it doesn’t make financial sense to buy DM and fly domestically.
We usually earn and accumulate miles on domestic paid flights (or on buy/share/gift mileage with bargains offers such as this)and redeem for international premium award seats.