United Redemptions

Faced with a possible bankruptcy this fall, United Airlines has launched a major campaign to assure its “Mileage Plus” and “Mileage Plus VISA” cardholders that earned air miles are safe and secure. The company has also gone to great lengths to assure cardholders that award travel will continue to be available despite cutbacks. United said yesterday that during 2001 it processed nearly two million awards for free travel on its airline and nearly 400,000 awards for free travel on partner airlines. United also reported it processed 1,185,966 upgrade requests involving “Mileage Plus” points last year. Totally, the nation’s second largest airline, redeemed more than 3.5 million “Mileage Plus” awards. The redemptions in 2001 were involved in 8% of total passenger miles flown last year. Bank One/First USA issues the “Mileage Plus VISA” for United. In June, the companies introduced a business card version of the program which enables business owners to accrue up to 150,000 air miles per year from all card purchases, including those made to employee cards. In November, First USA and United introduced a “VISA Signature” version of the “Mileage Plus VISA” card which offers a no pre-set spending limit above the credit line. United’s “Mileage Plus” program has more than 40 million enrolled members. (CF Library 11/29/01; 6/13/02)