United Airlines: Earn 25% More Miles When You Convert Points Into Miles

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This is one of those bonuses many of us wait for to get rid of those extra hotel points we may have accumulated but can’t use.  Since most of our travel is staying in eco-lodges where you can’t pay with points, we value airline miles more as we still need to get to the place!  So here’s the deal:

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Here’s the link to register if you didn’t get the email.  Make sure your transferred points earn at least 5000 miles or you won’t get the bonus.  The normal 5000 miles becomes 6250 miles with the 25% bonus.  This is a complete table of conversion rates.

  • Marriott – minimum conversion of 16,000 points to earn 5000 United miles plus bonus.
  • Hilton – minimum conversion of 50,000 points to earn 5000 miles plus bonus.
  • SPG – minimum conversion of 10,000 points to earn 5000 miles plus bonus.
  • IHG Rewards – minimum conversion of 30,000 points to earn 6000 miles plus bonus (can only do increments of 10,000 points)
  • Club Carlson – minimum conversion of 50,000 points to earn 5000 miles plus bonus.
  • Hyatt – minimum conversion of 12,500 points to earn 5000 miles plus bonus.
  • Choice – minimum conversion of 25,000 points to earn 5000 miles plus bonus.
  • Wyndham – minimum conversion of 16,000 points to earn 6400 miles plus bonus.  (2 x 8000 to 3200 fixed award level).

So is it a good value to make these conversions?  This is where you need to have an idea of how many hotel point redemptions you will be making in the next couple years or so and if you have enough points to do them with anything left over.  You may have a surplus of hotel points if you got the affiliate credit card or bought some on special during a promo.

Wyndham is currently selling their points with a 20% bonus.  This can work well if you need to top up your United account for an award.  For example:

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Buy 20,000 Wyndham points for $220 and get 4000 points as a bonus for 24,000 all up.  These 24,000 points convert in 3 x batches of 8000 (3 x 3200) so you end up with 9600 United miles.  Add on the 25% bonus and the final total is 12,000 United miles for your outlay of $220.

If you wanted to buy 12,000 United miles at the regular price, it would cost you $451.50 so you are buying them at less than half price.  I don’t advise buying miles on speculation as they could devalue before you get a chance to redeem them but this is a good way to top up for an award you will be redeeming soon.

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