Weekend Edition / Dear Ohad...
Buying United miles at a 100% bonus can be worth it, but only if you’re about to book a high-value international business-class redemption. At 1.75¢ per mile, most domestic trips lose you money. Don’t buy miles to stockpile - only to complete or lock in a specific premium booking.
Alex from Chicago here. Love the column!
Quick Question: United is running that 100% bonus promo on purchased miles through November 30, and I’m trying to figure out if it’s actually a smart move or just clever marketing.
If I max it out, I’d buy 100,000 miles and get another 100,000 as a bonus - so 200,000 miles for $3,500. I’ve already got 41,708 miles in my account, which means I’d end up with around 241K miles total.
Is buying United miles at that price ever actually worth it? Or is it one of those things that only makes sense if you’ve already picked out the flight you plan to book?
Thanks, Alex
Dear Alex,
Short answer: it can be worth it - but only in very specific cases. United knows people get excited when they see big bonus numbers, and that’s exactly when folks buy miles they’ll never use well.
Let’s break it down 👇🏻
Step 1: Know the Real Cost
At a 100% bonus, you’re paying 1.75 cents per mile.
That’s the line in the sand.
If you’re not redeeming above 1.75¢ per mile, you’re losing money.
Most United domestic redemptions?
They net you 1.1–1.4¢. Total loss.
International premium cabins?
Those can hit 4–10¢ per mile. Total win.
Step 2: When Buying Actually Makes Sense
There are three scenarios where buying miles is smart:
- You’re about to book an international business-class flight.
United partner flights (ANA, Lufthansa, Swiss) are where the value lives. - You just need to top up for a booking.
Buying 20K–40K miles to complete a high-value redemption makes perfect sense. - Cash fares are insane but award space is normal.
Holidays, last-minute travel, or peak summer Europe - miles often beat cash.
Step 3: When Buying is a Bad Call
Skip the promo if:
- you’re buying without a plan
- you mostly fly domestic economy
- you think miles “hold” value over time (they don’t)
- you’re just stockpiling because the bonus is big
United can raise award prices at any time.
Miles you don’t redeem soon are basically depreciating assets.
Step 4: Compare With Cash, Not FOMO
The real calculation is simple:
Is the value of my planned redemption higher than 1.75¢ per mile?
Example:
A $4,000 business-class flight that costs 100K miles = 4¢ per mile.
Buying at 1.75¢ → huge win.
A $450 domestic ticket that costs 30K miles = 1.5¢ per mile.
Buying miles for that? Big loss.
Emotion shouldn’t lead the math.
Final Approach
Alex,
United’s 100% bonus can be a great deal - but only if you’re booking something high-value soon. Buying miles “just in case” is how people overpay without realizing it.
If you don’t have a specific trip in mind, skip it.
If you do have a premium-cabin redemption lined up, it's one of the few times buying miles makes real financial sense.
--Ohad
