United MileagePlus is selling miles again under a midsummer purchase promotion, and the offer window still has weeks left for members who can see a strong bonus on their account.
AwardWallet reports that targeted members can buy United miles with up to a 100 percent bonus or up to a 50 percent discount through August 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Central, with a best published tier near 1.88 cents per mile.
LoyaltyLobby independently documents the same end date and quotes United’s promotional terms, including the rolling purchase caps that now define how useful this sale can be.
If you are a few thousand miles short of an award or you already see a saver business seat that still costs real money in cash, the traveler job is pure math. Confirm the exact bonus on your MileagePlus account, stay inside the 50,000 mile rolling limit, and buy only when the non-refundable purchase still beats paying cash.
- Window: Terms run July 13 to August 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Central.
- Best rate: About 1.88 cents per mile at the top 100 percent bonus or 50 percent discount tier.
- Cap that matters: 50,000 miles per rolling 90 days, including bonus miles.
- Annual cap: 200,000 purchased miles per calendar year, bonus included.
- Caveat: Offers are targeted, purchases are non-refundable, and miles do not earn Premier status.
What United is selling right now
United does not publish a single public bonus table that every member sees. Members log into the buy-miles flow and receive an account-specific chart.
AwardWallet’s team reports multiple live variants of the current wave, including a full 100 percent bonus, a 95 percent bonus, a 50 percent discount, and smaller 40 percent discount charts. LoyaltyLobby’s July 15 report focuses on a 45 percent discount example that priced miles near 2.1 cents each.
The shared rules matter more than any one screenshot. Official United buy and gift terms set a 2,000 mile minimum purchase, 1,000 mile increments, a 50,000 mile rolling 90-day maximum, and a 200,000 mile calendar-year maximum for buy, gift, and multiply activity.
Promotional bonus miles count toward both the 90-day and annual ceilings. That is the practical change travelers feel most, because a 100 percent bonus can use half of a 50,000 mile window on the bonus alone.
LoyaltyLobby quotes the current promotional window as starting 8:00 a.m. Central on July 13, 2026, and ending 11:59 p.m. Central on August 20, 2026, with purchases processed through Points.com on United’s buy-miles site.
Miles usually post when the transaction completes, though some purchases can take up to 72 hours.
Purchased miles are non-refundable and do not count toward MileagePlus Premier status.
How the top-tier math works
Without a promotion, United’s retail buy rate is about 3.76 cents per mile. The current sale only becomes interesting when your account shows a high bonus or a deep discount and you have a specific redemption already in mind.
AwardWallet’s 50 percent discount example prices 40,000 to 50,000 base miles at about 1.88 cents each. Its 100 percent bonus example reaches the same 1.88 cent floor when members buy 20,000 to 25,000 base miles and receive the full bonus.
Lower purchase bands often carry weaker discounts. Buying only 2,000 to 4,000 miles can still show the full 3.76 cent retail rate, so small top-ups may not clear the value test even during the sale.
Federal excise tax recovery fees and Canadian sales taxes can still apply depending on residency. Run the checkout total, not only the headline cents-per-mile number, before you confirm a non-refundable charge.
Because the 50,000 mile rolling limit includes bonus miles, a 100 percent bonus purchase of 25,000 base miles can deliver 50,000 total miles and close the window until 90 days pass. Plan family accounts carefully if more than one person needs a top-up.
When buying United miles can still make sense
Buying miles is usually a last resort. It works best when you already found award space, you are short by a bounded number of miles, and the cash fare is expensive enough that 1.88 to 2.3 cents per mile still wins.
United metal awards are dynamic, so the same route can price very differently day to day. Partner awards often follow more predictable bands, which is where a measured purchase can still close a gap.
AwardWallet cites examples such as United or partner business from the United States to Europe starting around 80,000 to 88,000 miles one way depending on cardholder pricing, and deep South America awards near 80,000 miles in Polaris when space is available.
Those numbers are not guarantees. They are reference points for comparing a purchase bill against the cash fare on the exact dates you want.
If the cash ticket is 900 dollars and you need 20,000 more miles at 1.88 cents, a roughly 376 dollar top-up can beat cash. If you need 70,000 miles from zero, the 50,000 mile cap alone can block the plan.
Purchased miles also do not create Premier status, so do not buy under this sale to chase elite qualification.
Use the promotion only to complete an award you already intend to book.
Travelers comparing United award economics with bag costs, seat product, and change rules can start from Deep Arrival’s United Airlines planning guide and the carrier’s baggage fee page before locking a purchase.
What to verify before you pay
Log into the official buy-miles path and screenshot the exact bonus chart shown for your account. Targeted offers differ, and a 40 percent discount is a different decision than a 100 percent bonus.
Confirm remaining room under the 50,000 mile rolling 90-day limit and the 200,000 mile calendar-year limit after including any bonus. Prior gift or multiply activity can already consume part of that room.
Search the award again after you know the purchase cost. If the saver space disappears while miles are still posting, you still own non-refundable miles and may need a different date or cabin.
Accounts younger than 10 days generally cannot buy or receive purchased miles under United’s terms. Family top-ups should use established accounts.
Pay with a card that is either working toward a welcome bonus or earns strong everyday rewards. Points.com purchases usually do not code as United airfare for cobrand card bonuses, even though some United cards can still earn on the purchase amount under their own rules.
If the award is on United metal, also recheck basic economy versus standard economy cash alternatives and bag needs on the same itinerary. A cheap cash fare plus a checked bag can still beat a mediocre miles purchase.
| If you… | What to do |
|---|---|
| Already hold award space and need under 25,000 more miles | Log in, compare your exact bonus, and buy only if the checkout cents-per-mile beats the cash fare. |
| See only a weak discount under about 25 percent | Skip the sale unless a small top-up is cheaper than reissuing a cash ticket. |
| Need more than 50,000 total miles including bonus | Split across eligible household accounts or wait for the 90-day reset; do not force a full award buy. |
| Want Premier status from the purchase | Do not buy. Purchased miles do not count toward Premier qualification. |
| Have no specific award yet | Hold cash. Speculative purchases remain non-refundable if award prices rise. |
- Act before August 20: Confirm your account chart and complete any useful purchase by 11:59 p.m. Central on August 20, 2026.
- Count the bonus against the cap: Treat bonus miles as part of the 50,000 mile 90-day ceiling before you submit payment.
- Book after miles post: Allow up to 72 hours for posting, then lock the award while inventory remains.
- Keep a cash backup: Non-refundable miles are not a free option if the award seat disappears.
- Recheck bags and fare families: Compare the purchase bill with a cash itinerary that includes bags and seat needs.
United’s current buy-miles wave is real, time-limited, and highly account-specific. Treat the 1.88 cent floor as a best-case target, not a guarantee, and let the award math decide whether the purchase is useful.
When does the United MileagePlus buy-miles promotion end?
Reporting and quoted promotional terms run through August 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. Central Time, so verify the timer still shown in your account before paying.
How many United miles can I buy during this sale?
Official terms cap buy, gift, and multiply activity at 50,000 miles in any rolling 90-day period and 200,000 miles in a calendar year, including promotional bonus miles.
Do purchased United miles count toward Premier status?
No. Purchased miles do not count toward MileagePlus Premier qualification or status challenges based on miles alone.
Can I refund United miles after I buy them?
No. United and Points.com treat purchased miles as non-refundable once the transaction is accepted.
Where do I buy United miles for the current bonus?
Use United’s official buy-miles flow at buymiles.mileageplus.com while logged into your MileagePlus account, then confirm the bonus chart before checkout.
