At one point — between November 2009 and November 2010 — US Airways had regular offers of a 100% bonus on purchased miles, either 9 or 10 of 12 months I believe.
But in 2011 they’ve focused mostly on either targeted offers or offers with components designed to determine what drives consumer behavior and optimizes the sort of purchases that they’re looking for.
In April and May it was a mileage transfer bonus and a purchase miles bonus only for co-branded credit card holders. Mid-February through March they required use of a downloadable app in order to qualify for the full bonus. In January it was an offer targeted at past mileage buyers. They also discounted rather than bonusing awards.
They must have had enough fun with the analytic toys, because they’re back to offering a straight bonus, the kind that had dubbed them ‘the official consolidator of Star Alliance premium cabin seats’.
Well, the straight 100% bonus on purchased miles is back, through June 30.
Accounts must be open at least 12 days before they are eligible to buy miles, so if you’re considering getting in on this offer and don’t yet have a US Airways account, open one now.
The maximum bonus 50,000 miles for a purchase of 50,000 miles. So at a cost of $1479.50 (50,000 miles @ $0.0275 per mile + 7.5% tax) you can get 100,000 miles.
- 100,000 miles is enough for a business class ticket from the US to Europe and back on Star Alliance partners
- 90,000 miles is enough for a business class ticket from the US to Hong Kong (or elsewhere in ‘North Asia’) and back
- 100,000 miles is enough for a business class ticket from the US to South America and back
- 30,000 miles is enough for a business class ticket from Singapore to Male and back, or Delhi to Bangkok and back
The best thing is that US Airways will allow you to hold an award for 3 days without have the miles in your account. So this becomes a very low risk offer. Call up US Airways, place the award you want on hold, and then and only then buy the miles (which usually post instantly).
(HT: Ben.)
Yes, I was hoping for this for such a long time. No need for it right now, but it can never be wrong to have 100k just in case.
Are you saying that it’s not nec wise to buy them for a future trip that you know you will take but not sure of dates (~6 months)?
Your math is off by about $1.37 but that’s ok. 🙂
I believe that 7.5% is only for Canadian residents. From the T&C’s “Miles are sold for $0.0275 per mile plus a tax recovery charge of 7.5%. GST/HST will be charged to Canadian residents.”
I think I’m gonna kill two birds with one stone and buy 50k miles to meet the spending requirement for my 50k BA miles. 100k on each alliance will come in handy.
Sam, you missed a period. 7.5% is for everybody, but Canadians pay an additional tax.
I’m so new to this – but maybe someone will help me.
I need two tickets to Barcelona in September but have yet to purchase them. Does it make sense for my husband and I to each buy the max points and get to business class seats to Barcelona. My dates are firm, I just haven’t purchased the seats yet. Comments, anyone?
yah 30k for SIN-MLE we made good use of that last year but GOOD LUCK finding that one again… can barely find one award SQ make available to the outside world on that route any more
@Kim call and hold the tickets, then buy miles, they post instantly and then ticket it. Want to make sure seats are available.
I need 110,000 for a trip to Africa. Can I buy 100,000 at the discount rate and then buy the extra 10,000 I want at the normal rate, or is there a maximum limit to the number of miles one can purchase each year?
I am so spoiled by all the other great offers that abound (Wyndham, Citi AA cards, Fidelity, Amex 75k MR, TIB two years ago, etc.) that buying these miles from US is too expensive for me!!!
Though truth be told, I think we’re overdue for an ‘unlimited’ mile opportunity like TIB or InsideFlyer or Pudding…
Jon, yes you can buy the extra 10,000 at the regular rate of 2.75 cents per mile , in fact, you can buy an unlimited number of miles at the regular rate
@Andy Mesa
You are right, my bad.
Thank you for providing detailed information about Bonus on Purchased mile. I can buy unlimited number of miles at the regular rate.
This is a great deal with tickets so expensive this summer. I’ve been pretty surprised by the good Star Alliance availability to Europe.
Gary, have you and others experienced the dreaded Star blocking with US which seemed to start last year? Is US still an AMEX membership rewards partner?
@chitownflyer US is no longer an Amex transfer partner, and I’ve really only had two problems — (1) Lufthansa first class transatlantic has been pretty much unbookable through US AIrways and (2) schedule synching issues, mostly with United domestic.
Gary
How safe is this airline financially if I purchase miles
As a future investment?
Thanks!
Interesting deal! Can anyone chime in on what would be the easiest/best way to book a trip from LAX to SIN? I met this great Singaporean girl in LA this past weekend, and I wouldn’t mind going to see her later this year there.
I’m mostly a OneWorld guy, but I just blew out my miles in my account on a trip to NRT and I don’t really have any experience with Star Alliance. Thanks!
@Phil – fwiw I found 1 biz class rt on SQ SIN-MLE-SIN and will be flying it next week. It’s a crazy value!
I have redeemed 120K for 2 off peak Envoy (US Airways Biz class) tickets from LAX-MAD. Their Envoy cabin is pretty decent. I last did this in mid 2008 for Jan 2009 travel. I just checked and are only a few dates in Jan/Feb for 2 travelers. Madrid isn’t too bad in January and for 60K each in biz. Decent value from the west coast, where I’m at.
Like chubbuni13 said I’m also a One World guy. Would it be a good idea to buy the max miles even if I don’t currently need them, so I can have 100k miles for future use with Star Alliance? They don’t expire for 2 years correct? This would give me good alternatives besides just One World.
“30,000 miles is enough for a business class ticket from Singapore to Male and back, or Delhi to Bangkok and back”
How did you get this? I tried looking for it via Continental’s award search but couldn’t find anything. At most, I see 25k miles for each way for flights within the same South Asia region.
Thanks!
@Sriram Continental’s award search prices using Continental’s award chart.
If you book a business ticket with the 100K US deal will you earn miles? It seems not, which seems crazy as you pay ~$1500. Seems you should earn something, even coach level miles.
@Bluedog you do not
Gary,
So appreciate your blog and especially your USAIR experience.
Need to go to Stockholm in Auugst for three weeks. Does this promotion help me to do it in the 2 business class seats from LAX for roughly $1500? Is it possible?
@Bluedog: charge the $1500 to the US Airways Mastercard….I think you would get extra miles since its a US Airways purchase.?
yeah, should be 2x if you use the US MC to buy the miles. What you “earn” is a free seat in C. Even Y seats are up around $1000 these days US to Europe and more to Asia. So for a small premium in cost you get a C class seat. Or if you combine these miles with the bonus for opening a US MC and other miles in your account it is also a quick way to F.
Like chubbuni13 said I’m also a One World guy. Would it be a good idea to buy the max miles even if I don’t currently need them, so I can have 100k miles for future use with Star Alliance? They don’t expire for 2 years correct? This would give me good alternatives besides just One World.