US Airways has brought back a bonus on purchased or gifted miles, after only a little more than two weeks. And as last time the bonus is only on purchases for yourself or purchases to gift to others — not on transfers of miles between accounts.

The bonus runs through September 15, and this time though it’s not a straight 100% bonus. Rather, it’s a tiered bonus from 25% to 100% depending on the number of miles you buy.

    1,000 – 9,000 miles – 25% Bonus
    10,000 – 24,000 miles – 50% Bonus
    25,000 – 39,000 miles – 75% Bonus
    40,000 – 50,000 miles – 100% Bonus

And 50,000 bonus miles is the most that can be earned from the promotion, except that the gift miles offer is stackable with the 25% bonus running all year for elites gifting miles. So elites doing the gifting will generate an extra 25% bonus for mileage recipients, on top of the bonus of up to 100% under this offer.

Last year the price for purchased miles was 2.5 cents apiece and this year they raised it 10% to 2.75 cents, I’m guessing because of high demand for miles under these promos and they realize if they’re running a 100% bonus all the time that they can squeeze more money out of those transactions.

During the last purchase miles promotion, the best line (which I recall repeating on an Upgrd Podcast is that US Airways seems to have become the official consolidator for Star Alliance premium cabin seats. Buy miles from them cheap to redeem for otherwise unsold business and first class seats on their Star partners. Crazy stuff.

  1. UA-NYC said,

    Sounds great – just have to hope that US won’t lock and audit your account when you try and use them!

  2. US 100% bonus on buy or gift miles is here again - TMtravelworld said,

    [...] Via View from the wing [...]

  3. US Airways 100% bonus on purchased miles is back - One Mile at a Time said,

    [...] of the hat to Gary) [...]

  4. Brian said,

    @Gary – What are some of your favorite award bookings with US Airways miles? Anything crazy like you do with Aeroplan?

    http://boardingarea.com/blogs/viewfromthewing/2010/07/10/the-beauty-of-air-canada-aeroplans-routing-rules-and-mini-round-the-world-award-itineraries/

  5. Jack said,

    I’d like to know some US routings too

  6. Chris said,

    UA-NYC you make a VERY VERY VERY strong point. US screwed over a few of their customers earning miles via these promos and I wouldn’t trust them at all.

  7. US Airways offering elite qualifying miles for purchasing redeemable miles - One Mile at a Time said,

    [...] level and have absolutely no time to take a flight. But I just admire US Airways’ creativity. Gary is right when he calls US Airways the official Star Alliance premium cabin consolidator. [...]

  8. Three Offers I Didn’t Have Time to Write About Yesterday (Outsourced Blog Post Edition) - View from the Wing said,

    [...] Airways offering elite qualifying miles for purchasing redeemable miles – One Mile at a Time on US Airways Brings Back Up to 100% Bonus on Purchased MilesChris on US Airways Brings Back Up to 100% Bonus on Purchased MilesNick on $10 Per Night Discount on [...]

  9. US Airways 100% Bonus on Purchased or Gifted Miles is Back… Again! - View from the Wing said,

    [...] they ran the bonus from mid-August through mid-September the full 100% bonus was only available on larger mileage purchases, this time the full 100% bonus [...]

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