Share 100% bonus Sept 30 - Oct 15 2013

[burmans]

Re: USDM Share Miles 100% Bonus 1 - 15 Oct 2013

What are the risks, the only one I see is devaluation which is inevitable in any stored miles program. Given the miles cost is far lower than AA I think buying AA miles is risker if not used pre-merger.

I agree, it will either convert or it wont and in my opinion this is exceptional value for either USDM or AA miles. Of course if you dont have a use and cant see you ever using dont buy but in my opinion you are buying US miles at a price that is unlikely to be beaten and 50K not actually a huge purchase (unless you are doing across a family).

 

[bismarck]

Re: USDM Share Miles 100% Bonus 1 - 15 Oct 2013

As a USDM virgin, I have a couple of questions about the program (as it seems like exceptional value)
- How often do they do bonus purchase/share promotions?
- What is the value points (a 50% promo? 100% promo?)
- How easy is it to book across multiple accounts? I.e. if I and SWMBO have 150k each, can I book my ticket and hers (acknowledging separate PNRs) or will I have to get her to call up to do it (which will be a pain). I guess I'm asking about the trade-off between getting cheap points in her account vs concentrating on my own for ease of booking.

Thanks all - as someone who struggles to earn the massive number of points required for intl J awards through regular purchasing my research suggests this is a lucrative way to get up the front of the plane.

 

[legroom]

Re: USDM Share Miles 100% Bonus 1 - 15 Oct 2013

Those pax would not be frequenting AFF

Yet to sample TG F

On my target list, for sure

I agree, it will either convert or it wont and in my opinion this is exceptional value for either USDM or AA miles. Of course if you dont have a use and cant see you ever using dont buy but in my opinion you are buying US miles at a price that is unlikely to be beaten and 50K not actually a huge purchase (unless you are doing across a family).

 

[casanovawa]

Re: USDM Share Miles 100% Bonus 1 - 15 Oct 2013

I think in terms of the risks, just using some simple numbers (and just in US$) and from the top of my head as best i recall, at AA's best promotion of +50% to buy 60,000 miles (plus bonus 30,000) costs something like $1650or so doesn't it (+ probably tax and transaction fee) to end up with 90,000 miles and that's your annual limit... If you already have some USDM miles in your account to end up with a net 100,000 mile increase costs you $1000, $60 TF plus about $75 tax or so...

So 90,000 AA miles for $1650+ or 100,000 USDM miles for about $1165 or so... If these transfer across to AA with the merger at some point then AA would have to devalue the program an awful lot (35%) for them not to at least break even with current AA mile purchases and how happy do you thnk the current AA members and future USDM members would be if the merger was consumated with a devaluation of that magnitude, be hard to see it happening to me...

The biggest risk would probably to be stuck with these miles as the current membership of AA + the new members from USDM overwhelmed the amount of premium OW award seats on offer and you had buckleys of finding them except for 12 months out, but i'm sure you would still be able to find seats to somewhere...

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

Re: USDM Share Miles 100% Bonus 1 - 15 Oct 2013

Hi All, really interested in this promotion and have tried to read through all the posts but need some help...we both have accounts but 0 miles...so I need to purchase miles before gifting to my husband ...If I buy 50,000 miles which seems to be the max I can purchase the cost looks like being $1750.00...then once they are credit, I gift him 50,000 so he receives 100,000 ? The do we arrange for him to gift some of those 100, 000 back to me.. or do I need to buy more Sorry I am completely new to this and in the meantime have printed off everything, just need to get the time to read through it all

 

[legroom]

Re: USDM Share Miles 100% Bonus 1 - 15 Oct 2013

My read is that 50,000 is the max you could share, ending up 100,000 in your recipient's account.

In your case, buy 50,000

Share 50,000 to husband ---> 100,000 in his AC

He shares 50,000 back to you ---> 100,000 in your AC (and 50,000 in his)

Round and around you go, I guess

A newbie's view !

Hi All, really interested in this promotion and have tried to read through all the posts but need some help...we both have accounts but 0 miles...so I need to purchase miles before gifting to my husband ...If I buy 50,000 miles which seems to be the max I can purchase the cost looks like being $1750.00...then once they are credit, I gift him 50,000 so he receives 100,000 ? The do we arrange for him to gift some of those 100, 000 back to me.. or do I need to buy more Sorry I am completely new to this and in the meantime have printed off everything, just need to get the time to read through it all

 

[deejo77]

Re: USDM Share Miles 100% Bonus 1 - 15 Oct 2013

If I buy 50,000 miles which seems to be the max I can purchase the cost looks like being $1750.00...then once they are credit, I gift him 50,000 so he receives 100,000 ? The do we arrange for him to gift some of those 100, 000 back to me..

Do not buy 50K - not sure if you "know" anyone well on here but see if someone is missing a "link" and is willing to share with you. If not just buy as little as you think you can bounce backward and forward until you hit the max 50K transfer limit.

**make sure your accounts are at least 12 days old ;-)

 

[Alanslegal]

Re: USDM Share Miles 100% Bonus 1 - 15 Oct 2013

As a USDM virgin, I have a couple of questions about the program (as it seems like exceptional value)
- How often do they do bonus purchase/share promotions?
- What is the value points (a 50% promo? 100% promo?)
- How easy is it to book across multiple accounts? I.e. if I and SWMBO have 150k each, can I book my ticket and hers (acknowledging separate PNRs) or will I have to get her to call up to do it (which will be a pain). I guess I'm asking about the trade-off between getting cheap points in her account vs concentrating on my own for ease of booking.

Frequency of promotions? Well this year has been very very generous. There has been at around one every 6-8 weeks, if not more frequently. Who knows what the future holds however expect none, if there are more, its a bonus.

Value of points? Well at regular prices its $35/1,000 plus tax. At 100% buy it yourself bonus, it works out to be $17.5/1,000 plus tax. Under this share promotion, you effectively are making the points $10/1,000 plus tax +$30.

There is no issue w.r.t booking two tickets using points from two different accounts. Just make sure you let them know before hand so they can reserve/process the seats correctly first go, rather than needing to cancel and start again.

 

[bismarck]

Re: USDM Share Miles 100% Bonus 1 - 15 Oct 2013

Frequency of promotions? Well this year has been very very generous. There has been at around one every 6-8 weeks, if not more frequently. Who knows what the future holds however expect none, if there are more, its a bonus.

Value of points? Well at regular prices its $35/1,000 plus tax. At 100% buy it yourself bonus, it works out to be $17.5/1,000 plus tax. Under this share promotion, you effectively are making the points $10/1,000 plus tax +$30.

There is no issue w.r.t booking two tickets using points from two different accounts. Just make sure you let them know before hand so they can reserve/process the seats correctly first go, rather than needing to cancel and start again.

Thanks for the advice.

As always with these things, make the most while you can

 

[burmans]

Re: USDM Share Miles 100% Bonus 1 - 15 Oct 2013

I think in terms of the risks, just using some simple numbers (and just in US$) and from the top of my head as best i recall, at AA's best promotion of +50% to buy 60,000 miles (plus bonus 30,000) costs something like $1650or so doesn't it (+ probably tax and transaction fee) to end up with 90,000 miles and that's your annual limit... If you already have some USDM miles in your account to end up with a net 100,000 mile increase costs you $1000, $60 TF plus about $75 tax or so...

So 90,000 AA miles for $1650+ or 100,000 USDM miles for about $1165 or so... If these transfer across to AA with the merger at some point then AA would have to devalue the program an awful lot (35%) for them not to at least break even with current AA mile purchases and how happy do you thnk the current AA members and future USDM members would be if the merger was consumated with a devaluation of that magnitude, be hard to see it happening to me...

The biggest risk would probably to be stuck with these miles as the current membership of AA + the new members from USDM overwhelmed the amount of premium OW award seats on offer and you had buckleys of finding them except for 12 months out, but i'm sure you would still be able to find seats to somewhere...

Oh and it has been mentioned before but will do say again, AA have confirmed a 1:1 conversion before. Now I'm not saying they wouldnt change their mind but doing so would be an exceptional way to annoy some of your best customers, not normally the thing you do when in the honeymoon period of a merger!

 

[DontGetMeStarted]

Re: USDM Share Miles 100% Bonus 1 - 15 Oct 2013

Do not buy 50K - not sure if you "know" anyone well on here but see if someone is missing a "link" and is willing to share with you. If not just buy as little as you think you can bounce backward and forward until you hit the max 50K transfer limit.

**make sure your accounts are at least 12 days old ;-)

Thanks appreciate the advice

 

[bigsleep55]

Re: USDM Share Miles 100% Bonus 1 - 15 Oct 2013

Edit: Just tried, it posts immediately (well you do need to sign in/out)

Hi guys, I was just about to do the same (back and forth sharing). The purchase of the initial 1000 points posted straight away but the transfer still hasn't. Anyone getting the same? Both accounts have been open for more than 12 days but with 0 balances.

 

[burmans]

Re: USDM Share Miles 100% Bonus 1 - 15 Oct 2013

Hi guys, I was just about to do the same (back and forth sharing). The purchase of the initial 1000 points posted straight away but the transfer still hasn't. Anyone getting the same? Both accounts have been open for more than 12 days but with 0 balances.

Have you signed in/out, I found when I did this the miles suddenly appeared!

 

[bigsleep55]

Re: USDM Share Miles 100% Bonus 1 - 15 Oct 2013

Have you signed in/out, I found when I did this the miles suddenly appeared!

I have but no luck unfortunately! I'll wait a few hours and try again. I was really hoping I could do it quickly then book some flights..

 

[dk4]

Re: USDM Share Miles 100% Bonus 1 - 15 Oct 2013

When contemplating any potential for post-merger* devaluation, IMO people paying in AUD should consider the implications of future exchange rate fluctuations as well.

I purchased hundreds of thousands of miles throughout the year/last year, much at an exchange rate over 1.05, which means that on AUD paper terms today, I've made around 10% improvement in value just by sitting on them!

Today the exchange rate is ~0.94, who knows where it will be in 6 months. Another fall of ~10 cents would mean that I make a ~20% gain on paper, for the value of my miles held from purchases last year (and ~10% on miles purchased today).

So even if there is a mile devaluation post-merger*, my actual ticket buying power, in real AUD terms at the time of ticketing, may not be effected at all!

YMMV

*subject to regulatory approval

 

[Alanslegal]

Re: USDM Share Miles 100% Bonus 1 - 15 Oct 2013

I have but no luck unfortunately! I'll wait a few hours and try again. I was really hoping I could do it quickly then book some flights..

I'd ring your CC provider and tell them you are making a series of USD transactions. It could be a processing your card hold up issue, that in turn delays points posting. A friend just shared 50K points to me and I received 100K almost that same minute.

 

[burmans]

Re: USDM Share Miles 100% Bonus 1 - 15 Oct 2013

When contemplating any potential for post-merger* devaluation, IMO people paying in AUD should consider the implications of future exchange rate fluctuations as well.

I purchased hundreds of thousands of miles throughout the year/last year, much at an exchange rate over 1.05, which means that on AUD paper terms today, I've made around 10% improvement in value just by sitting on them!

Today the exchange rate is ~0.94, who knows where it will be in 6 months. Another fall of ~10 cents would mean that I make a ~20% gain on paper, for the value of my miles held from purchases last year (and ~10% on miles purchased today).

So even if there is a mile devaluation post-merger*, my actual ticket buying power, in real AUD terms at the time of ticketing, may not be effected at all!

YMMV

*subject to regulatory approval

Yes but as you note "who knows where it will be in 6 months"! It is in my opinion a bit hard to factor in the implications if you have no clue as to what they are, except as a stress test against the worst outcome. This would be if the $ went back up to $1.05, i.e. about a 15% loss. To me these are still cheap even with a 15% loss and of course any gain is just cream.

 

[lmere12]

Re: USDM Share Miles 100% Bonus 1 - 15 Oct 2013

The rules states no share within 12 days but doesn't define what "share" is, i.e. is it the giving only or does it include the receiving. I'd be (in fact I will be) waiting.

My daughter and mother have an account set up 2012, went to share to them but both accounts wouldn't let me log in. Rung US and they said it appeared to not 'fully' register them and created 'ghost accounts' , they re did the accounts using their original USDM numbers but says CANNOT take advantage of share until another 12 days.

 

[bigsleep55]

Re: USDM Share Miles 100% Bonus 1 - 15 Oct 2013

I'd ring your CC provider and tell them you are making a series of USD transactions. It could be a processing your card hold up issue, that in turn delays points posting. A friend just shared 50K points to me and I received 100K almost that same minute.

Thanks. I called Amex but they said everything is okay, no transactions have been declines or flagged. This is a little frustrating...:-|

 

[Marsonline]

Re: USDM Share Miles 100% Bonus 1 - 15 Oct 2013

Thanks. I called Amex but they said everything is okay, no transactions have been declines or flagged. This is a little frustrating...:-|

View attachment 19524

Certain card is slower to clear the fund, wait for another day and check.