Buying Airline Miles
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There is nothing easier than buying airline miles if you are in need of some. People have different reasons for buying them, but no matter what your reason is, you can find some great deals through brokers or obtain guaranteed miles by going directly through an airline company.
Reasons for Buying Airline Miles
You can probably find some great deals on airline miles no matter what your reason:
- Are you a few hundred short of a free ticket or an upgrade? Purchasing airline miles could be the way to go if you don't plan on any flights soon to nab miles.
- Many people purchase miles to give as gifts. It's recommended that if you are purchasing miles for a gift that you go through airline companies. The reason is that you have an easy way to track those gift miles and the airline company has a record of it if you happen to have any issues.
- It could be you want to buy some miles to use at a hotel or restaurant authorized by the airlines. It is very possible that buying airline miles could cost you less than forking out cash or using a credit card at the restaurant.
Are Miles Worth Anything?
It's very hard to determine what an airline mile is worth. You can use airline miles for so much now that saying "one airline mile is worth two cents" is irrelevant. The only time you can have a tangible amount is when selling your miles. Brokers often give you one to three cents per mile.
Airline Miles Brokers
You may have seen the small ads in the newspapers or in the back of a travel magazine. Third party companies facilitate the buying and selling or transfer of airline miles for a small fee. The brokers keep a database of customers looking for miles and a database of people selling miles. They then match up as best they can and then take a percentage.
Keep a few things in mind when using a broker:
- Some brokers take only cash. There's nothing to be wary about, you just need to ensure you get enough documentation to prove you purchased it.
- As silly as it sounds, haggling is permitted because the brokers don’t make money unless they sell miles. The brokers may be willing to deal, so if anything, just ask. What's the worse that could happen? They say no?
- If you purchase more than 3,000 or 4,000 miles, then consider buying airline miles through an airline. It may be less costly to do it that way.
Direct Through the Airlines
Going through airline companies directly may not net you any savings on a low number of miles, but it could save you some bucks when purchasing in high volume. You can also usually purchase amounts up to 60,000 through most airlines. Just go to the airline's website, click on the amount you want and it's added to your card! It's that simple. Visit the following sites to some of the more popular airlines to buy your miles:
Buying Miles Online
At Points.com you can trade, earn, and buy points and miles to use on airline tickets, at hotels, and restaurants. You can even trade points between multiple programs and you can earn miles by shopping online.
Another site you can try is Craigslist.org. If you search for "miles for sale" or something similar, you will pull up ads that list airline miles for sale. They may not necessarily be in your area, but you don't need direct contact as most of the transfer can happen online or over the phone.
Buyer Beware and Smart
Don't just rush out and buy miles no matter if it sounds like a good deal or not. Do the math before you purchase. If a ticket costs $200, but the same amount of airline miles for that same ticket will cost you $300, then it's obvious that you should just buy it outright. As far as being aware, see if you are able to get the miles with your next trip or other travel purchase before going through a broker.
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This page has been accessed 2,112 times. This page was last modified 19:16, 29 December 2008.
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