username

Just got an e-mail about this...

10,000 miles for TSA Precheck: https://securityfees.mileageplus.com/

Can't find pricing for WIFI (e-mail says "as low as 300 miles") and it is for Airbus Only for now.

Not great value but at least another option.

wco81

Yeah me too.

I didn't even know they sell TSA Pre-Check. I thought it was a perk for being an elite.

JBord

Miles for wifi is a nice option. I'd like to see pricing, but I have more RDMs than I need and this is better than shelling out $14 or whatever it is for wifi that only works 25% of the time.

entropy

10k miles for an $85 fee? not a good deal...

Syzygies

As TSA pre-check started, United seeded it with frequent travelers, including me. At random, one still ends up sometimes without a TSA Pre-Check boarding pass. After several flights in a row without precheck, I learned that one's odds improve with an actual "Known Traveler Number" (KTN).

One gets a KTN by applying for either TSA Pre-Check or Global Entry (or NEXUS or SENTRI). Each of these programs have fees. Global Entry is a few dollars more, and as a perk also includes Global Entry, so it seems the no-brainer choice even if one only flies international once during a five year period. You'll thank yourself eventually.

Global Entry Program

The wait is substantial for the interview, for either program. Get started, now.

Once you receive a KTN, log in to United.com, "View Account", scroll to "Profile" and click on "Edit Traveler Information". Now update your Known Traveler Number. This needs to be on file with United (and anyone else you fly) to have any effect.

So yes, a form of TSA Pre-Check was free to elites, but it was inferior to the form one pays for. You get what you pay for.

WineCountryUA

Elite PreCheck is not an ongoing program. You can get it as a part of programs like Global Entry or you can purchase a 5 year subscription for $85 (or airline miles) or you can get it intermittently due to past history or you can randomly get it.

However, the old airline elite program has closed. Appears many who qualifies in the past are continuing to qualify but no guarantees.

STS-134

I think you mean includes TSA PreCheck, right?

If you are persistent and willing to constantly refresh the website, you can often get an interview within 1-2 weeks. And by "persistent" I mean I was watching a basketball game and refreshing every time the ball changed possession.

qisu

On a flight this week, one of the inflight wifi paying option was $5.99 paid or 750 miles, for one hour.

sbm12

Pay with points for wifi has been around since last November. That it is still only on a small portion of the fleet is hardly something to brag about IMO. Not a great CPM number but it is a small purchase generally and I'm sure the company will get takers.

n.b. The link above is to my blog or to one which I am a regular contributor. FT rules require that I disclose that in the post.

prometa

They may say Airbus only, but I recently used 1250 miles for 2 hours of service on a 739 (UA 1797 IAD-SFO). I believe the equivalent cash pricing was $8.99

They offer 1 hour, 2 hour and all flight service, which, IIRC, is
-$5.99, $8.99, $15.99 if you pay cash
-750, 1250, ??? if you use miles -- i can't remember the full flight miles price.

I mostly used miles as a curiosity since it was the first time I had seen the option, and paid for wifi on the return (SFO-DCA, same pricing). 1250 miles vs $8.99 is a poor deal, as it values the miles at $.007/miles, and I can get $.02/mile buying saver Y tickets, or $.0375/mile buying one way upgrades. One nice thing about the new pay-with-miles option is that wifi is linked to the MP account, which means saved credit cards can be used--saving a tedious 5 minutes of typing in my address and CC# every flight.

Syzygies

TSA Pre✓® is 5 years for $85. Global Entry is 5 years for $100. The primary purpose of either program is to provide a Known Traveler Number. For an extra $15, Global Entry also provides Global Entry.

physioprof

I paid 2000 miles for WiFi on a 787 LAX-EWR ps flight in July. I have such an absurdly huge pile of miles, that the marginal value of 2000 for me is close to zero, so I love using them to pay for WiFi.

MojaveFlyer

I always get Pre on United, status related for sure. I did not buy it, and so far have resisted because it annoys me no end that the American way seems to be to make life hard for all, then sell an easy way out for those who can afford it.

But now I fear I won't get my UA Pre because they can monetize it...

thejaredhuang

You shouldn't worry, its not controlled by UA.

LXFlyer

Well, it's controlled by the government. Maybe that means they should worry even more?