Tips for United Frequent Flyers
Posted by bilofsky on November 14, 2009
As the "Friendly Skies" become increasingly unfriendly, frequent fliers need every break we can get.
Here's one. If you're close to elite status with United this year, sign up here and double your qualifying miles for flights between Sept. 3 and Dec. 15. No charge, no catch.
This is the second "Double Qualifying Miles" promotion that United has run this year. If you missed the first one, you should sign up for United's email newsletters. Yes, it's more in-box to wade through - but picking up on these promotions has gotten us an extra tier higher with Mileage Plus this year.
Elite status is extra valuable for several reasons. On United, it gets you into Economy Plus on every flight, with four inches of extra legroom. It also waives most baggage fees and adds a bonus percentage on miles flown. Second tier - Star Alliance Gold - gets an extra baggage allowance and preferred boarding on most Star Alliance partners worldwide, and admission to Lufthansa's First Class lounges (but not stingy United's Red Carpet Clubs). And last but certainly not least, there's a better chance of talking to an American reservation agent on the 800 number instead of the poorly-trained Indian ones.
If you're still short of elite status at the end of the year, don't lose hope. United in past years has offered the opportunity to "buy up" a few thousand qualifying miles. Because of the waived fees and other benefits, it could be worth the cash, not to mention better treatment. These offers go out in early January by email, so make sure United has your email address.
And although most Mileage Plus credit cards don't help with elite status, here's one that does. The fees are higher, but so are the benefits, and part of the fee may be waived for higher level elites.
An astounding amount of information and inside tips on United Airlines and Mileage Plus can be found on Flyer Talk Forums. Unfortunately, finding that info requires wading through hundreds of "Woo-Hoo" posts from business travelers exulting in their latest upgrades or increases in status. And you might need the glossary link at the bottom to translate cryptic abbreviations. (For example, "BIS" means miles actually flown - as in "Butt in Seat".) But the nuggets of information can be worth it.
Here's one. If you're close to elite status with United this year, sign up here and double your qualifying miles for flights between Sept. 3 and Dec. 15. No charge, no catch.
This is the second "Double Qualifying Miles" promotion that United has run this year. If you missed the first one, you should sign up for United's email newsletters. Yes, it's more in-box to wade through - but picking up on these promotions has gotten us an extra tier higher with Mileage Plus this year.
Elite status is extra valuable for several reasons. On United, it gets you into Economy Plus on every flight, with four inches of extra legroom. It also waives most baggage fees and adds a bonus percentage on miles flown. Second tier - Star Alliance Gold - gets an extra baggage allowance and preferred boarding on most Star Alliance partners worldwide, and admission to Lufthansa's First Class lounges (but not stingy United's Red Carpet Clubs). And last but certainly not least, there's a better chance of talking to an American reservation agent on the 800 number instead of the poorly-trained Indian ones.
If you're still short of elite status at the end of the year, don't lose hope. United in past years has offered the opportunity to "buy up" a few thousand qualifying miles. Because of the waived fees and other benefits, it could be worth the cash, not to mention better treatment. These offers go out in early January by email, so make sure United has your email address.
And although most Mileage Plus credit cards don't help with elite status, here's one that does. The fees are higher, but so are the benefits, and part of the fee may be waived for higher level elites.
An astounding amount of information and inside tips on United Airlines and Mileage Plus can be found on Flyer Talk Forums. Unfortunately, finding that info requires wading through hundreds of "Woo-Hoo" posts from business travelers exulting in their latest upgrades or increases in status. And you might need the glossary link at the bottom to translate cryptic abbreviations. (For example, "BIS" means miles actually flown - as in "Butt in Seat".) But the nuggets of information can be worth it.