Instead of collecting dust in your wallet, unused gift cards could be the key to your next adventure. Thanks to United Airlines, you can now convert those less-than-ideal holiday gifts into MileagePlus points, getting fresh value for otherwise forgotten funds.
Gift cards are a popular gift choice these days, with the National Retail Federation reporting that Americans spend over $29 billion on them each year, according to Travel + Leisure. Yet, many of these little pieces of plastic go unused, often tied to retailers that aren’t preferred by the recipient or subject to obscure fees.
But now, United Airlines’ Mileage Plus Gift Card Exchange Program offers a practical solution, helping its loyalty program members to transform unwanted gift cards into future travel opportunities. For every $25 in gift card value, participants receive 670 United MileagePlus miles. So, a $50 card translates to 1,330 miles, while a $100 card nets 2,660 miles.
The process is straightforward: MileagePlus members can visit the "trade gift card" section on United's website and submit their gift card details, selecting the retailer and entering the card’s balance. The system will then present the number of miles they’ll receive in exchange.
There’s no cap on the number of gift cards you can convert, and the entire transaction is handled electronically. There’s no need to mail in the physical gift card, making the process quick and convenient
For an idea of how far these points could take you, consider that a one-way flight from Newark (EWR) to Orlando (MCO) might cost as few as 9,100 miles. By exchanging $350 worth of gift cards, you could cover the cost of that ticket, turning unused credit into travel for a memorable vacation.
The program accepts gift cards from a wide array of popular brands, including Walmart, Target, Starbucks, American Eagle, Pottery Barn, Best Buy and more—even competing airlines like Southwest and American Airlines. Once the transaction is complete, the miles are typically deposited instantly, although in some cases may take up to five business days.
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