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Flying Club miles transfers -reciprocal swaps?

PostPosted: 23 Nov 2012, 15:31
by Astacus
I can't find anywhere in the T&C that syas two people can't do a reciprocal exchange of 50,000 miles and get another 10,000 as a bonus, as per my email today? This seems a bit silly, so perhaps I've missed it?












Edit to thread title by mod for clarity.........Nick

Re: airmiles transfers -reciprocal swaps?

PostPosted: 23 Nov 2012, 15:42
by mitchja
There's nothing to stop you doing this, but remember that you are charged at the normal purchase miles rate to also exchange miles.

Re: airmiles transfers -reciprocal swaps?

PostPosted: 23 Nov 2012, 15:46
by joeyc
Which email would this be?

As Mitch says... you are effectively 'buying' 50K miles to transfer from one person to another and getting 10K back.. Not worth it at all!

Were you thinking of bouncing 50K back and forth between accounts and snapping up the bonus? If so there is also a limit on the amount one FC member can receive a year anyway so the bonus would be restricted..

Not the best of plans all in all, but perfectly possible :P

Re: airmiles transfers -reciprocal swaps?

PostPosted: 23 Nov 2012, 16:04
by Astacus
Here's the substance of the email..

Dear Robert,

Lavishing friends and family with love during the season of giving couldn’t be easier…

With Transfer Miles you can share your Flying Club miles to open up an amazing world of flights, upgrades and more for someone special. And, so long as you transfer miles before 21 December 2012 we’ll add 20% bonus miles to the miles you give, making your gift even more generous!

Until the end of this year, we’re even temporarily increasing the maximum you can transfer in one go from 30,000 miles to 50,000 miles. So with our 20% bonus, your chosen one could receive up to 60,000 miles: enough for a Premium Economy flight from London to New York or Chicago.**

And it’s so easy to do. Simply Transfer Miles now.

Re: airmiles transfers -reciprocal swaps?

PostPosted: 23 Nov 2012, 16:05
by Astacus
My understanding of this was that this is a simple, 'no-fee' transfer of A to B. But I can find nothing to say that B can't do the same to A.

Re: airmiles transfers -reciprocal swaps?

PostPosted: 23 Nov 2012, 16:07
by Astacus
Ahh, small rpint..

. All Buy Miles/Gift Milespurchases and Transfer Miles transactions are subject to a £15 transaction fee.

So, 20,000 miles for £30? Worth it? It's a lot of AMEX spending!

Re: airmiles transfers -reciprocal swaps?

PostPosted: 23 Nov 2012, 16:10
by Neil
Unfortunately you are missing the main point, which is that 'transfer miles' is not a free transaction and is chargeable per 1000 miles, for example to transfer 15,000 would cost you £127.50. If you look at the T&C's at the bottom of the email it states:

1. All Buy Miles/Gift Miles purchases and Transfer Miles transactions are subject to a £15/$25 transaction fee.

2. Transfer Miles: A mileage fee is charged dependent on the number of miles transferred.


and full details/terms regarding transferring miles are here on the VS site.

Re: airmiles transfers -reciprocal swaps?

PostPosted: 23 Nov 2012, 16:14
by joeyc
Astacus wrote:My understanding of this was that this is a simple, 'no-fee' transfer of A to B. But I can find nothing to say that B can't do the same to A.


Thanks for posting Robert, have not seen that email yet - perhaps the VS IT gremlins know I am a selfish bod :P

I am sorry to say it is not 'no fee' if you have a gander at their website it will tell you how much it costs per thousand miles n( (not just the £15 transfer fee) - for eg. transferring 30K miles plus a 6K bonus costs £240.. so if you are playing a balancing act you are paying £240 for 6K miles!!! Buy 6K outright costs you £105, hmmm what to do, what to do :P

B can most defintely transfer to A although you are basically giving VS a transfer 'commission' on 50K miles and only getting 10K back... it really is not worth it in my opinion.

Just another way for them to make a bit of revenue I'm afraid the 10K bonus is a sweatener.

Re: airmiles transfers -reciprocal swaps?

PostPosted: 23 Nov 2012, 16:26
by Astacus
OK, I thought it was too good to be true!

"If it looks too good to be true, it probably is!"

I must stop thinking of VA as philanthropic
I must stop thinking of VA as philanthropic
I must stop thinking of VA as philanthropic
(100 lines)

Re: airmiles transfers -reciprocal swaps?

PostPosted: 23 Nov 2012, 16:27
by Astacus
And, thank you to all for clarifying this :-)