Exchange your undesirable present playing cards for United miles

Editor’s be aware: This is a recurring put up, often up to date with new info.

Did you obtain present playing cards for the vacations that you just aren’t that enthusiastic about?

We have some excellent news: You can flip these undesirable present playing cards into United MileagePlus miles by way of United’s MileagePlus Gift Card Exchange. Here’s the way it works.

Which present playing cards are eligible?

On the MileagePlus Gift Card Exchange touchdown web page, United notes that “over 100” varieties of service provider present playing cards are accepted. At the underside of that web page, there’s a hyperlink to an inventory of the retailers whose present playing cards this system will take, together with Best Buy, Sears, Starbucks and Walmart.

However, be aware that some retailers on its listing aren’t truly accessible for alternate on the web site, akin to Home Depot and Southwest Airlines. And there are many retailers accessible for alternate that aren’t on the listing, together with North Face and HP.

There’s even an airline choice. If your loved ones didn’t know you have been loyal to United and gave you an American Airlines present card, you could possibly commerce this present card in for United miles. However, the MileagePlus present card alternate doesn’t purchase present playing cards from Alaska, Delta, Frontier, Hawaiian, JetBlue, Southwest, Spirit or Sun Country.

Related: 30 methods to earn miles with the United MileagePlus program

Is it value it?

United has a chart itemizing the “minimum award miles awarded,” which might make you suppose that some choices supply extra miles than these charges. But, I checked dozens of various retailers and the mileage supply was the identical for each.

Despite the chart, you aren’t restricted to $25, $50 and $100 present playing cards. You can alternate any present card with not less than a $15 minimal stability. From the proof we have now gathered, the calculation is the present card worth instances 26.6, rounded as much as the closest 10 miles. This price imputes a worth on the United miles of between 3.70-3.76 cents per mile, relying on how a lot you’re buying and selling in. For instance:

• $15 present playing cards = 400 United miles (3.75 cents per mile).
• $20 present playing cards = 540 United miles (3.70 cents per mile).
• $25 present playing cards = 670 United miles (3.73 cents per mile).
• $30 present playing cards = 800 United miles (3.75 cents per mile).
• $40 present playing cards = 1,070 United miles (3.74 cents per mile).
• $50 present playing cards = 1,330 United miles (3.76 cents per mile).
• $100 present playing cards = 2,660 United miles (3.76 cents per mile).

This price is far increased than TPG’s valuation of 1.13 cents per United mile, that means that you just’re not getting an excellent worth out of your present playing cards. But, if you happen to’d reasonably have the miles than the present card, it could be value making the most of this manner of offloading them.

Also, not less than United is being constant. When United isn’t working a purchase miles promotion, you may purchase United miles at a price of $35 per 1,000 United miles. After taxes and charges, this price can also be successfully 3.76 cents per mile.

Related: The greatest bank cards for getting factors and miles

Limitations to bear in mind

To promote present playing cards by way of the MileagePlus Gift Card Exchange, your MileagePlus account should have been open for not less than 90 days. Also, this system’s phrases and circumstances be aware your account should “have a positive account balance.”

Although United will provide you with a quote for $10 present playing cards, the phrases and circumstances state: “Gift cards accepted must have a $15 minimum balance on the card and may have a maximum imposed.” It additionally seems that the alternate will solely settle for present playing cards as much as $100.

If you resolve to promote a present card by way of the MileagePlus Gift Card Exchange, the miles ought to arrive in your United account inside 5 enterprise days.

Related: Exchange your undesirable present playing cards for Hotels.com present playing cards and extra

Bottom line

While you’re not going to get a wonderful price from buying and selling in undesirable present playing cards, it’s good to have the choice to liquidate these present playing cards for one thing that you just would possibly truly need. That mentioned, it may be value checking on-line for an additional present card alternate program (akin to CardMoney) that will provide you with a greater price.

The solely argument for utilizing the MileagePlus Gift Card Exchange is if you happen to want United miles for an upcoming redemption, have tapped out your Chase Ultimate Rewards factors and are holding a qualifying present card. If your solely different choice is to purchase United miles, you would possibly as nicely liquidate the present card — particularly if it’s one that you just wouldn’t use quickly anyway.

Additional reporting by Emily Thompson.