MileValue is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers. Terms apply to American Express benefits and offers. Enrollment may be required for select American Express benefits and offers. Visit americanexpress.com to learn more.

Note: Some of the offers mentioned below may have changed or are no longer be available. You can view current offers here.


How many miles would it cost to book a United award in economy from Aruba to Panama City to Bogota to the Galapagos with stops for as long as you’d like in each place? Screen Shot 2015-10-26 at 3.33.36 AM

 

There is a layover in Quito, but that doesn’t affect the price. For reference, this single award would look something like this:Screen Shot 2015-10-26 at 3.33.46 AM

 

 

This award costs only 20,000 United miles. As you can see from United’s award chart, travel within the Caribbean, Central America, and Northern South America is only 10,000 miles each way in economy.

Screen Shot 2015-10-27 at 1.00.22 AM Screen Shot 2015-10-27 at 1.00.39 AM Screen Shot 2015-10-27 at 1.00.52 AM

 

United allows one stopover per “roundtrip award.” United allows two open jaws per roundtrip award, and is very permissive about those open jaws. Combined, you can pretty much put together any three one way awards into a roundtrip award.

As seen above, I put three itineraries that would cost 10,000 United miles each, and they cost me 20,000 miles total. 1 + 1 + 1 = 3, but for United 10,000 + 10,000 + 10,000 can equal 20,000. I’ll have another post soon exploring some awards you can book to take advantage of United’s stopover and open jaw rules when you have no interest in a roundtrip award.

Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

Just getting started in the world of points and miles? The Chase Sapphire Preferred is the best card for you to start with.

With a bonus of 60,000 points after $4,000 spend in the first 3 months, 5x points on travel booked through the Chase Travel Portal and 3x points on restaurants, streaming services, and online groceries (excluding Target, Walmart, and wholesale clubs), this card truly cannot be beat for getting started!


Editorial Disclaimer: The editorial content is not provided or commissioned by the credit card issuers. Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of the credit card issuers, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the credit card issuers.

The comments section below is not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all questions are answered.