Wringing value from United miles | Ep228 | 11-11-23

United Mileage Plus is an extremely popular program, but how can you get the best value out of the miles? This week, we talk about using flexible awards to your advantage, cheap intra-European awards, the Excursionist Perk, and a lot more.

00:00 Intro

01:20 Giant Mailbag #1: Can we get a Delta-free podcast?

02:35 Giant Mailbag #2

03:48 What crazy thing . . . did Delta do this week?

https://frequentmiler.com/deltas-window-seat-shop-of-horrors/

06:46 Card Talk: United Quest card

https://frequentmiler.com/uaq/

11:33 Mattress Running the Numbers: Citi transfer bonus to Accor Live Limitless

https://frequentmiler.com/50-transfer-bonus-from-citi-to-accor-live-limitless-get-1-6-cents-per-point/

17:34 Award Talk

18:00 Bilt adds Marriott as a transfer partner

https://frequentmiler.com/marriott-bonvoy-added-as-bilt-rewards-transfer-partner/

19:40 Marriott's secret award chart

https://frequentmiler.com/marriotts-secret-award-chart/

23:03 Marriott Choice Benefit changes

https://frequentmiler.com/marriott-say-quiet-part-out-loud-with-new-upgrade-award-enhancements/

https://frequentmiler.com/marriott-choice-benefits-now-give-1000-off-mattress-bed-rather-than-40/

29:24 Book JetBlue with Qatar Avios

https://frequentmiler.com/book-jetblue-including-mint-with-qatar-avios/

https://frequentmiler.com/uh-oh-did-qatar-create-a-new-jetblue-award-chart/

35:56 Main Event: Wringing value from United Miles

37:00 First up: the bad stuff

40:20 Higher award prices, but not bad value

41:40 Best uses of United miles

41:46 Dynamic pricing can work in your favor

44:35 Free changes and cancellations

48:55 Cheap intra-Europe flights (from 6K miles)

50:04 Sao Paulo to/from South Africa for 50K miles in business class

50:40 Fly across the length of Africa for less than 25K in economy or 50K in business class

52:15 United Excursionist Perk

https://frequentmiler.com/maximizing-and-understanding-united-excursionist-perks/

https://frequentmiler.com/saving-thousands-of-miles-with-united-excursionist-perk/

https://frequentmiler.com/united-excursionist-perk-maps-visualize-regions-to-optimize-awards/

https://frequentmiler.com/leveraging-the-united-excursionist-perk-to-save-miles/

57:42 Question of the Week: Will a bank extend the minimum spending requirement period?

Music credit: Annie Yoder