Earning MP miles on UA's air partners

[WindFlyer]

When it comes to earning miles on UA's air partners, MP tries to keep it generally along the lines of flying UA earning:

• 150% actual miles for paid First Class (FC)
• 125% actual miles for paid Business Class (BC)
• 100% actual miles for paid Economy (EC)

However, as MP states that

...the miles accrual of United marketed code share flights operated by other carriers is based on the accrual rule of the operating carrier...

there are exceptions to this general guideline. These are scattered throughout the various UA websites and summarized in this thread.

The information below may not be the most up-to-date and may be incomplete (see BD, for example), as the FFPs can often change with little or no notice and the websites can be slow in updating. Please report errors, omissions, and changes in the program, or if your information or experience differs from that below, so as to keep this current and accurate.

Thank you for all your contributions.

I hope these charts are of value to all of you.

[WindFlyer]

The FAQs

• Flight miles earned *A partners count both as redeemable miles (RDMs) and toward elite status (EQMs).
• Premier Boni (25% for 2P, 100% for 1P/1K) are only earned on all US flights and on LH transatlantic flights, although there have been instances of Premier Boni posting on other LH flights.
• Flight miles earned *A partners count toward the 125k- and 150k-BIS-mile thresholds for extra SWUs in 2004.
• Miles earned on *A partners do not count for MM status, or 10k thresholds for e500 or CR-1 upgrade certs.
• When flying on a *A partner code share, the operator of the flight must also be a UA partner for the flight to earn miles.
  Example: OS flight number on AF metal = no miles earned
• For information on the earning schemes of *A partners' FFPs check out Sydfly's excellent thread on the *A forum.

THE CHART

US Airways (US)

FC: 150% actual miles, 500-mile minimum; all FC booking classes
BC: 125% actual miles, 500-mile minimum; all BC booking classes
EC: 100% actual miles, 500-mile minimum; all EC booking classes

As noted above, US flights earn Premier Boni, which do not count as EQMs.


Lufthansa (LH)

FC: 150% actual miles, 500-mile minimum; booking classes F, A
BC: 125% actual miles, 500-mile minimum; booking classes C, D, Z; class R earns 0%
EC: 100% actual miles, 500-mile minimum; booking classes Y, B, M, H, Q, V, W, S, G, K, L, T; classes N and E earn 0%

As noted above, LH transatlantic flights earn Premier Boni, which do not count as EQMs.


Air Canada (AC)

WORLDWIDE:
BC: 125% actual miles, 500-mile minimum; booking classes J, C
EC: 100% actual miles, 500-mile minimum; all EC booking classes

DOMESTIC FLIGHTS WITHIN CANADA:
BC: 125% actual miles, 500-mile minimum; booking classes J, C
EC: 100% actual miles, 500-mile minimum; full-fare booking EC classes Y, M
EC: 50% actual miles, 250-mile minimum; all other discounted EC booking classes


Air New Zealand (NZ)

FC: 150% actual miles; booking class F
BC: 125% actual miles; booking classes C, D, Z
EC: 100% actual miles; booking classes Y, A, B, H, T, V, W

NOTE:

• Assume booking classes not listed above do not earn miles.

All Nippon Airways (NH)

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS:
FC: 150% actual miles; booking classes F, A
BC: 125% actual miles; booking classes C, D, J
EC: 100% actual miles; full-fare EC booking classes Y, B
EC: 70% actual miles; discounted PEX fares, EC booking classes M, H, K, W, S
EC: 50% actual miles; tour GIT and IIT fares, EC booking classes G, T

DOMESTIC FLIGHTS WITHIN JAPAN:
BC: 125% actual miles; full fare Super-seat (booking classes TBP)
BC: 100% actual miles; discounted Super-seat (booking classes TBP)
EC: 100% actual miles; full fare (booking classes TBP)
EC: 70% actual miles; discounted published fares (booking classes TBP)
EC: 50% actual miles; tour IIT fares (booking classes TBP)
EC: 0% actual miles; tour GIT fares (booking classes TBP)


Asiana (OZ)

FC: 150% actual miles; booking classes F, A, P
BC: 125% actual miles; booking classes C, D, J, Z; class R earns 0%
EC: 100% actual miles; booking classes U, Y, E, B, M, H, Q, V, K, W, L, T; classes G, N earn 0%


Austrian (OS)

Due to recent changes in OS's program this information may be outdated as of 9/30/04.
Will post updated information as available.
BC: 125% actual miles; all BC booking classes
EC: 100% actual miles; all EC booking classes; class P earns 0%


British Midland (BD)

TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHTS:
If you have information on this please post it.
BC: ??? miles; (booking classes?)
EC: ??? miles; (booking classes?)

UK <-> EUROPE FLIGHTS:
BC: 750 miles; all BC booking classes
EC: 250 miles; all EC booking classes

DOMESTIC FLIGHTS WITHIN UK:
BC: 500 miles; all BC booking classes
EC: 250 miles; all EC booking classes


LOT Polish Airlines (LO)

TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHTS:
BC: 125% actual miles; all BC booking classes
EC: 100% actual miles; booking classes Y, B, M, H, Q, V, G
EC: 50% actual miles, 500-mile-minimum; booking classes W, S, E, K, T, L

FLIGHTS WITHIN EUROPE:
BC: 125% actual miles; all BC booking classes
EC: 50% actual miles, 250 mile-minimum; booking classes Y, B, M, H, Q, V, G
EC: 25% actual miles, 250 mile-minimum; booking classes W, S, E, K, T, L


Scandinavian Airlines (SK)

BC: 125% actual miles; all BC booking classes
EC: 100% actual miles; all EC booking classes

EXCEPTIONS:

• No accrual on flights within Norway.
• No accrual on STO-GOT, STO-MMA, STO-LLA, STO-UME, STO-AGH, STO-RNB, STO-SFT.

Singapore Airlines (SQ)

FC: 150% actual miles; booking classes F, A, P
BC: 125% actual miles; booking classes C, D, J, Z
EC: 100% actual miles; booking classes Y, B, M, H
EC: 0% actual miles; booking classes Q, V, G, N, T

NOTE:

• According to SQ, if any sector of an itinerary is booked in a non-earning class, the entire itinerary will not earn miles.

Spanair (JK)

Due to recent changes in JK's program this information may be outdated as of 9/30/04.
Will post updated information as available.
BC: 125% actual miles, 500 miles minimum; all BC booking classes
EC: 100% actual miles, 500 miles minimum; all EC booking classes


Thai Airways International (TG)

FC: 150% actual miles; all FC booking classes
BC: 125% actual miles; all BC booking classes
EC: 100% actual miles; all EC booking classes


Varig (RG)

FC: 150% actual miles; all FC booking classes
BC: 125% actual miles; all BC booking classes
EC: 100% actual miles; all EC booking classes

EXCEPTION:

• No accrual on CGH-SDU.

[WindFlyer]

The FAQs

• Miles earned with these partners are redeemable miles only (RDMs) and do not count as status miles (EQMs).
• No Premier Boni are earned with these partners.
• Code-shared flights operated by partners of the carriers in this chart are excluded.

THE CHART

Aeromar (VW)

EC: 100%, 250 mile-minimum; all classes


Air China (CA)

FC: 150% actual miles; all FC booking classes
BC: 125% actual miles; all BC booking classes
EC: 100% actual miles; full-fare class Y only
EC: 70% actual miles; all discounted EC booking classes

NOTES:

• Only applicable on CA-operated flights with a UA codeshare flight number.
• Excludes China-Japan flights.

Aloha Airlines (AQ)

100%, 500-mile minimum; all booking classes

NOTES:

• Includes Island Air-operated flights (AQ5000-5999).
• Excludes Marshall Islands flights (HNL-KWA-MAJ)

BWIA West Indies Airways (BW)

FC: 150%, 300 mile-minimum; all FC booking classes
BC: 150%, 300 mile-minimum; all BC booking classes
EC: 100%, 300 mile-minimum; all EC booking classes


Cayman Airways (KX)

100%, 500-mile minimum on U.S.-Cayman Islands flights; all booking classes
100%, actual miles on inter-island flights; all booking classes


Emirates (EK)

FC: 150% actual miles; booking class F
BC: 125% actual miles; booking class J
EC: 100% actual miles; booking classes Y, B, K, H, Q, L, V, G, M


Virgin Blue (DJ)

You may earn UA miles while flying on select DJ intra-Australia flights (all EC) as follows:

• You must be booked on the UA codeshare (see this post for a current list of codeshares)
• Your intra-Australia segments are part of a UA transpac revenue ticket

No details available on percentages, minimi, or booking classes.
Some more information and discussion can be found here and there.

[WindFlyer]

(reserved for future use)

[jasonheard]

Excellent post with valuable info - can the moderator make this a sticky?

[Sydfly]

Originally Posted by WindFlyer

EQMs
Flight miles (not counting Premier Boni) earned on a *A partner also count as EQMs.

Lufthansa (LH):

• FC: 150% actual mileage; (booking classes F, A)
• BC: 125% actual mileage; (booking classes C, D, Z; class R earns 0%)
• EC: 100% actual mileage; (booking classes Y, B, M, H, Q, V, W, S; classes N and E earn 0%)

As noted above, LH transatlantic flights earn Premier Boni, which do not count as EQMs.

I think LH also has booking classes G,K,L and T in economy which should still earn 100% miles, too. Personally, I haven't had a tix with G, K or L class, but certainly T class does exist.

[glg]

Originally Posted by jasonheard

Excellent post with valuable info - can the moderator make this a sticky?

Should be added to the FAQ, not a sticky by itself. (I just added a request for it to the FAQ thread).

[The Lurker]

Thanks for the great info! I would suggest that this be added to the FAQ, if not made a "sticky" in its own right.


Also, one point of clarity:

The mileage accrual of United marketed code share flights operated by other carriers is based on the accrual rule of the operating carrier.

My understanding is that this rule states that if you are on somebody else's metal, the rules for earning on that carrier will prevail, even if the flight is marketed with a UA flight number.

Here is an example for clarity. You purchase a United issued discount economy ticket for United flights UA9681 and UA9682 in M class of service (routing IAD-NRT-IAD). These flights are "United marketed code share flights operated by other carriers". Even though the flight has a UA flight number, you will earn miles "based on the accrual rule of the operating carrier" which in this case is ANA.

If this were in fact a United operated flight, you would normally earn 6752 miles each way (13504 miles roundtrip). However, flights on ANA only earn 70% mileage in discount economy, so, even though you purchased a ticket on a flight with a United flight number, you still only earn 4726 miles each way (9452 miles roundtrip). You are also not eligible for any Premier Bonuses.

[wannabe_plat]

In other words, does this mean don't bother to pay the extra money for the codeshares (vs booking *A) as you are treated as an elite of a partner airline, not a native elite, with no accompanying benefits ?

[WindFlyer]

Originally Posted by The Lurker

Here is an example for clarity. You purchase a United issued discount economy ticket for United flights UA9681 and UA9682 in M class of service (routing IAD-NRT-IAD). These flights are "United marketed code share flights operated by other carriers". Even though the flight has a UA flight number, you will earn miles "based on the accrual rule of the operating carrier" which in this case is ANA.

If this were in fact a United operated flight, you would normally earn 6752 miles each way (13504 miles roundtrip). However, flights on ANA only earn 70% mileage in discount economy, so, even though you purchased a ticket on a flight with a United flight number, you still only earn 4726 miles each way (9452 miles roundtrip). You are also not eligible for any Premier Bonuses.

Thanks for the example. I think I get it: mileage is earned on the MP accrual rules for the operating carrier (basically, the charts MP publishes that I summarized above) rather than on the rules of the FFP of the operating carrier.

I will note that above.

[starjunkie]

It seems UA credits 125% for business class travel with most Star Alliance airlines. Are these EQM? Is there any way (status, business class, other) to get more EQM than actual miles flown when flying with other Star Alliance Carriers? Thanks for any thoughts.

[SEA_Tigger]

Originally Posted by starjunkie

It seems UA credits 125% for business class travel with most Star Alliance airlines. Are these EQM?

UA published Business Class fares (C, D, Z bases) earn 150% EQMs and 125% RDMs (ReDeemable Miles - used for awards and upgrades).

Is there any way (status, business class, other) to get more EQM than actual miles flown when flying with other Star Alliance Carriers? Thanks for any thoughts.

All Star Carriers offer EQM bonuses for paid First and Business travel to various degrees when credited to both their own mileage programs and to UA Mileage Plus (though some, like LH, offer better bonuses to their own mileage programs). UA offers it on Y/B Economy fares, as well, which I believe is unique (most Star carriers offer only 100% and then often only on a Y fare).

[ual744777sta]

SQ's program is appaling! Are those all the booking classes in Economy?

[Kiwi Flyer]

The no mileage on whole itin booking codes referred to for SQ are cheap econ fares.

[wannabe_plat]

It doesn't help that the SQ website invariably books your itinerary with one or more legs in an FFP-ineligible class. And they deserve a medal for the web-based booking design: presenting three or four seemingly random choices for every search. How brilliant. Now maybe they want to write a primer on how one should input the date/time/city info to get meaningful search results.