Fpdonald From United States of America, joined Aug 2002, 430 posts, RR: 0 Posted (10 years 5 months 2 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 1601 times:
Firstly, my heartfelt best wishes go out to the hardworking employees of United Airlines. I wish each and every one of you well, now and in you future endeavors, whether with United Airlines or beyond. Thank you.
From a purely selfish standing, I have spent more than a decade as an infrequent traveler amassing those elusive frequent flyer miles. I have 46K Mileage Plus miles, somewhat short of what I had planned to do with them. I am sure that there are many others in the same situation?
I’ve read most of the news, and until the inevitable happens there really seems no firm answer to how those accounts will be handled; however, what would you do with your hard earned miles? What did you do when other airlines filed for bankruptcy, scaled back, closed down, etc? A lot of what I’m reading mentioned the absolute loyalty to their Mileage Plus members; however, how realistic is that loyalty in the current climate?
What would you do?
Thanks in advance for your opinions and experiences.
CMK10 From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 513 posts, RR: 4 Reply 1, posted (10 years 5 months 2 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 1587 times:
I have a goosegg (0) for Mileage Plusers, I had just joined because I might be taking AC this summer.
DC-10's Forever
"Traveling light is the only way to fly" - Eric Clapton
UALPHLCS From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (10 years 5 months 2 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 1579 times:
USe them if you want to. Keep them if you want to. UA isn't going anywhere for a long time.
You can earn miles on:
All the Star alliance partners and US, DL and a whole mess of other airlines.
Look at US for a recent example of what haapen under bankruptcy. The plane go in and the planes go out. And we keep going a good job for the customers.
FYI NBC nightly news reported that UA will be very loyal to its frequent flyers. The Mileage Plus program generates $1 billion for UA.
Trickijedi From United States of America, joined May 2001, 3266 posts, RR: 5 Reply 3, posted (10 years 5 months 2 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 1575 times:
I'm not going to do a damn thing! I'm going to continue to fly United and continue to claim rewards and upgrades through United.
And to tell you the truth I'm not all that worried either. I have complete confidence that United's bankruptcy will not affect their Mileage Plus program because if they tinker with it, it would alienate all of the customers that represent their most profitable business. United needs their Mileage Plus members and it needs for them to stick around and continue earning miles.
US Airways, currently operating underbankruptcy protection, continues to award and honor their Dividend Miles.
And besides, even if United folds completely, other airlines will snap up the Mileage Plus program and honor the United miles as a way to attract future business. Keep in mind that when American Airlines acquired TWA it converted TWA miles into American Advantage miles.
Its better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air than be in the air wishing you were on the ground. Fly safe!
N175dz From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2000, 274 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (10 years 5 months 2 weeks 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 1494 times:
Fpdonald,
I've put almost 40,000 MP miles into my account this year and they're staying put. I fully propose to continue flying United as they've given me excellent service this year (my first year of flying with them and the Star Alliance) and I have at least a couple of trans-atlantic trips booked for the start of next year.
I also agree with UALPHLCS and Trickijedi, MP isn't going anywhere. It generates revenue for United and in the event of Chapter 7, which I'm sure that even 'if' it does happen (and I don't think it will) is a long way off, they could be used as a marketing tool by other carriers. I know lots of people site Ansett as an FF system that was lost totally, but IMHO this is different. If UA does fold, each and every FF will have to choose a new carrier and only so many of those decisions can be made based on geograhical location. There's going to have to be some incentive to choose one carrier over another.
But I'm getting ahead of myself. It states on ual.com that MP won't change, despite the "challenges currently facing the company," so I for one don't think there's anything to worry about right now.
American 767 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 3321 posts, RR: 14 Reply 5, posted (10 years 5 months 2 weeks 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 1461 times:
I think I can forget about mine. In my whole life, I made a total of close to 30000 miles with United, used 25000 for a free domestic roundtrip ticket, and the last few miles I had left have all expired...no problem for me. Last time I flew United was 4 years ago.
For those of you who still have a lot of miles in your Mileage Plus account, I hope you can accumulate more miles and use them on flights with other Star Alliance members.
Ben Soriano
Brussels Belgium
"Aimer jusqu'a l'impossible, c'est possible". Tina Arena.
USAFHummer From United States of America, joined May 2000, 10685 posts, RR: 54 Reply 6, posted (10 years 5 months 2 weeks 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 1458 times:
I have about 20,000 UA miles, gained mostly through Star Alliance carriers on my trip to Australia last year, and Im not too sure what I'm going to do...maybe transfer them into my US Dividend Miles account since I have a lot more of those and it can do some work there for a change...
Greg
Chief A.net college football stadium self-pic guru
N175dz From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2000, 274 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (10 years 5 months 2 weeks 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 1454 times:
Greg,
Is it possible to transfer miles between UA MP and US DM? I don't think it is? I was under the impression that the US/UA agreement was only to earn and redeem miles and status on each other's metal. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think it's possible.
Aussiestu From Australia, joined Mar 2001, 778 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (10 years 5 months 2 weeks 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 1386 times:
Sorry my answer is spend them while you can. If UA continues to fly, and we hope they do, then you can accumulate more if you use them as your chosen carrier. What will you be saying if god forbid they did go and you have 40K useless miles. Spend spend spend!!!
BCal DC10 From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 717 posts, RR: 5 Reply 10, posted (10 years 5 months 2 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 1316 times:
I just tried to upgrade my flight from LHR to JFK on sunday as a UAL mileageplus member and UAL were just RUBBISH about this, as was their attitude compared to everyone else who ploughs the transatlantic route......
my tale...
I have read alot of threads about United Airlines over the past week or so. I'd like to share an experience and I wonder whether other travellers have similar experiences or not...
This evening I phoned UAL in the US, from the UK because United Airlines have no reservations number from the UK in the evening, to ask if I could upgrade my fare on UAL on sunday to JFK from LHR from economy to bizness, and was told after a lengthy wait and a very long and drawn out convo that it wasn't going to be possible due to reasons that were beyond United Airlines' control and I would have to call my travel agent in the UK to discuss....
Now I was able to do all this kinda stuff on Delta Air Lines website there and then last month without all this hasssle. Surely UAL could have told me this via their webiste... maybe they can but it wasn't obvious to me.
Now if UAL need to save costs and streamline the organisation, maybe they should start looking at basic stuff, like global systems for reservations and being able to sort simple stuff like airfare upgrades on the internet and not thru lengthy international telephone conversations with slow agents over the phone..... VERY POOR SERVICE FROM UNITED AIRLINES YET AGAIN and as one of the largest airlines it shouldnt be happening!!!!
Trickijedi From United States of America, joined May 2001, 3266 posts, RR: 5 Reply 11, posted (10 years 5 months 2 weeks 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 1290 times:
Aussiestu,
Personally, I think spending miles for the sole sake of the fear of an airline going bankrupt and/or going out of business is spending miles unwisely. I beg to differ with your strategy. My advise is to hold on to your miles. IF United does go under, you will have ample time to transfer your miles to another carrier (ie. converting MP miles to Diners Club Rewards and then transferring them over to AAdvantage or Worldperks, etc). But don't burn/waste your Mileage Plus miles because of pure speculation and fear. You will probably end up regretting making that decision once United gets back on its feet. If you do use up your miles, do it because you really want to go somewhere or purchase something.
BCal DC10,
I know how you feel! I've had similar experiences in the past. Unfortunately UAL Mileage Plus reps are probably some of the lesser trained out there (bad leadership = bad training) and the ones who know their stuff the least, compared to other FF program reps. However, I usually give them a break because United's MP program is pretty complicated and does take time to fully comprehend due to it's multi-level structure. I hate to say this but the best way to get around that and the best strategy that's worked for most people is to politely hang up and then call back. Keep doing it until you get your desired response... or at least a decent explanation of why your request can't be processed.
It's worked for me (particularly with discrepancies in claiming bonus miles due to a United error).
Its better to be on the ground wishing you were in the air than be in the air wishing you were on the ground. Fly safe!
Boeingfan From United States of America, joined Aug 2001, 385 posts, RR: 1 Reply 12, posted (10 years 5 months 2 weeks 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 1290 times:
What would you normally do with your airline loyalty program miles?
Mileage Plus is not going anywhere, use them, save them or donate them to charity. Your miles are there. Mileageplus is one of the more profitable divisions of the company and will be an important part of UA's future.
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