‘Tis the season for items — and that features present playing cards. Sadly, you might have obtained some gift cards for the vacations that you just aren’t very enthusiastic about. If that is the case, we’ve got some excellent news: You possibly can flip these undesirable present playing cards into United MileagePlus miles via United’s MileagePlus Reward Card Alternate. Here is the way it works.
Associated: What credit cards should you use to purchase gift cards?
Which present playing cards are eligible for United miles?
On the MileagePlus Gift Card Exchange landing page, there is a hyperlink to a “Reward card retailer record” on the backside. This record presently consists of over 30 retailers, resembling Greatest Purchase, Sears, Starbucks and Walmart.
Nevertheless, be aware that some retailers on this record might not truly be out there for trade on the web site. There are additionally some retailers out there for trade that are not on the record, together with The North Face and HP.
Associated: Flights, credit cards and more: How to earn miles with the United MileagePlus program
Is it price exchanging present playing cards?
United has a chart itemizing the “Minimal award miles awarded,” which might make you assume that some choices supply extra miles than these charges. However we checked dozens of various retailers, and the mileage supply was the identical for each.
Regardless of the chart, you are not restricted to $25, $50 and $100 present playing cards. In line with the homepage, you possibly can trade present playing cards with at the very least a $15 minimal steadiness. Nevertheless, there are greater minimal balances for some retailers, like $50 at The North Face. In case your steadiness is simply too low, a pink field with the minimal will pop up once you click on “Get Mileage supply.”
From what we have gathered, the variety of miles supplied is the present card worth instances 26.6, rounded as much as the closest 10 miles. This comes out to between 3.70 and three.76 cents per mile, relying on what number of you are buying and selling in. For instance:
- $15 present playing cards equal 400 United miles (3.75 cents per mile)
- $20 present playing cards equal 540 United miles (3.70 cents per mile)
- $25 present playing cards equal 670 United miles (3.73 cents per mile)
- $30 present playing cards equal 800 United miles (3.75 cents per mile)
- $40 present playing cards equal 1,070 United miles (3.74 cents per mile)
- $50 present playing cards equal 1,330 United miles (3.76 cents per mile)
- $100 present playing cards equal 2,660 United miles (3.76 cents per mile)
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This charge is way greater than TPG’s December 2024 valuation of 1.35 cents per United mile, which means you are not getting good worth out of your present playing cards. Nonetheless, if you happen to’d somewhat have the miles than the present card, this may very well be a helpful strategy to offload them.
Additionally, at the very least United is being constant. When United is not working a buy miles promotion, you should purchase United miles at a charge of $35 per 1,000 United miles. After taxes and charges, this comes out to three.76 cents per mile.
Associated: The best credit cards for buying points and miles
Limitations to the Reward Card Alternate
To promote present playing cards via the MileagePlus Reward Card Alternate, your MileagePlus account should have been open for at the very least 90 days and have a constructive account steadiness. This implies you possibly can’t trade your present playing cards for miles if there are not any miles in your account.
But when your account is empty, don’t be concerned: There are a number of straightforward methods to earn United miles with out flying, resembling via the MileagePlus shopping portal or the MileagePlus Dining program.
Though the location might provide you with a quote for $10 present playing cards at some retailers, the phrases and situations state that “present playing cards accepted should have a $15 minimal steadiness on the cardboard and should have a most imposed.” It additionally seems that the trade will solely settle for present playing cards as much as $100.
In case you determine to promote a present card via the MileagePlus Reward Card Alternate, the miles ought to arrive in your United account inside 5 enterprise days.
Associated: How to use points and miles to give gifts with zero out-of-pocket cost
Backside line
When you’re not going to get the perfect worth from exchanging present playing cards for United miles, it is good to have the choice to swap an undesirable present card for one thing extra helpful. The MileagePlus Reward Card Alternate may turn out to be useful if you happen to want United miles for an upcoming redemption, have tapped out your Bilt Rewards Factors and Chase Ultimate Rewards factors, and are holding a qualifying present card. In case your solely different choice is to purchase United miles, you would possibly as properly liquidate the present card — particularly if it is one you would not use quickly anyway.
However, if you do not have a United redemption in thoughts, it may be price checking on-line for an additional present card trade program (resembling CardCash) which will provide you with a greater charge.
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