New 18-month expiration policy preserves award seats for United’s most loyal customers and reduces the company’s frequent flyer mileage liability
Chicago, Jan. 19, 2007 – United Airlines today announced that Mileage Plus frequent flyer miles that are in accounts which are inactive for 18 months will expire. By shortening the amount of time a Mileage Plus account can remain inactive, United’s most loyal customers will compete with fewer people for award seats, making it easier for them to redeem their miles.
“This change makes our Mileage Plus program better for customers who are most loyal to United, reduces our operating costs and brings our program in line with major competitors,” said Dennis Cary, senior vice president – Marketing. “We offer several ways our customers can easily stay active in our Mileage Plus program and enjoy the benefits that come with earning and redeeming miles with United.”
Mileage Plus accounts that have not earned or redeemed miles since July 1, 2006 will have associated miles expire on Dec. 31, 2007. There are several ways customers can keep their Mileage Plus accounts active:
- fly on United or one of its 28 airline partners
- use or sign-up for a Mileage Plus Visa credit or debit card
- purchase products or services from more than 100 travel and retail partners
- use miles by taking a trip to one of the 841 destinations United and its partners serve
- use miles for merchandise, hotel stays and dining
- transfer miles to another Mileage Plus member
- donate miles to the Mileage Plus Charity Miles program
United recommends that its customers go to united.com and update their Mileage Plus account information to receive additional information about this change. Learn more about the New Mileage Plus expiration policy.
About United Mileage Plus
United Mileage Plus, with nearly 48 million enrolled members, has been voted the best frequent flier program by readers of Business Traveler for the past 10 years (Nov.1996-Nov. 2005), by Travel Savvy magazine (Sept. 2004-Sept. 2005) and by Global Traveler (Nov. 2004-Nov. 2005). It also received the 2005 Frost & Sullivan CEO Choice Award for Best Frequent Flyer Program. Members earn miles by flying on United, TedSM, United Express® or Star Alliance airlines, or by purchasing products or services through the comprehensive network of more than 100 participating Mileage Plus partners at more than 10,000 locations worldwide. Mileage Plus also offers one of the most extensive selections of award travel destinations, including 841 destinations in 157 countries. For more information, a complete list of Mileage Plus partners, or to enroll, visit united.com.
About United
United Airlines (NASDAQ: UAUA) operates more than 3,700* flights a day on United, United Express and Ted to more than 210 U.S. domestic and international destinations from its hubs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago and Washington, D.C. With key global air rights in the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and Latin America, United is one of the largest international carriers based in the United States. United also is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides connections for our customers to 841 destinations in 157 countries worldwide. United's more than 55,000 employees reside in every U.S. state and in many countries around the world. News releases and other information about United can be found at the company's Web site at united.com.
*Based on the flight schedule between May 1, 2006 and Dec. 31, 2006.
