Selling during a travel price surge is a classic "double-edged sword." It is smart if you need immediate liquidity or have miles that are gathering dust with no travel plans in sight. However, it is often risky and financially inefficient because the "utility value" of your miles actually peaks during surges. When a $400 ticket jumps to $1,200, your miles are worth significantly more if used for a flight. By choosing to sell United miles for cash at a fixed rate during a surge, you might be trading a high-value asset for a lower-than-market payout. We’ve all seen it happen. You’re looking at flights for the upcoming summer break or the December holidays, and the prices look like a phone number. Suddenly, that "cheap" trip to visit family requires a small loan. In times like these, your United MileagePlus balance looks less like a travel fund and more like a golden parachute. You start to wonder: Is it time to cash out? Deciding whether to sell United m...