I am looking for a solution to stimulate United to honor its side of contracts that were created when United sold us lifetime Silverwings memberships.

United’s most recent pronouncement concerning the Silverwings program can be found here- silverwingsplus.com

The pronouncement acknowledges United’s obligation to service the contracts it has with lifetime members. Also note that the site states that Silverwings zone fares remain available for members who purchased lifetime contracts in the Silverwings program. Zone fares are valid both domestically and internationally.

Reading through the information shown at the above United site sounds great - But, it is not so great when we realize and encounter incessant obstacles that prevents most members from accessing the program and actually purchasing a Silverwings flight ticket.

I do not believe the obstacles were (are) intentional. Quite simply, the program is ignored by management and the program went into disarray. This is despite the existence of a valid contract United has with those of us who purchased lifetime Silverwings contracts.

It is still possible to use the Silverwings program. This possibility exists only if one is willing to invest a lot of time and complain, repeatedly, to United about the near impossibility to purchase a Silverwings ticket. Most members give up due to frustration with the countless problems encountered in trying to book a Silverwings flight ticket.

Early on, in 2007, when I first began to have problems with the program, I was told by United that there were only a handful of lifetime memberships sold, which I suspect is not accurate.

I was also told that we (lifetime members) are elderly and probably will not be flying much, if at all.

Further, that widespread training of United employees in the Silverwings program was not necessary and would be a waste of United’s resources because we (lifetime Silverwings members) will not be using the program very long.

I was and remain a complainer to United about the program. I have friends who are lifetime members who also complained. Yet the problems with booking a Silverwings fare remain.

One lifetime member consulted the DOT and other agencies in connection with United not keeping its part of the lifetime contract. As a result of his complaints, he was able to get United to sell him Silverwings fares.

Through encouragement from the above-mentioned member, I continued my complaints to United over the impossibility to purchase Silverwings fares. In response to my numerous complaints, United put me in touch with one of its employees in the Chicago Corporate office. The employee confirmed that the telephone number provided to lifetime members was generally ineffective and the United employee also confirmed that united.com would not issue Silverwings tickets except on rare occasions.

After confirming that the Silverwings program was essentially “broken” the United employee wrote many international Silverwings fares for me since March of 2008. Due to the merger, the employee was reassigned and is no longer available to issue Silverwings fares.

In addition to the Silverwings program being mismanaged by United, the Terms and Conditions shown at silverwingsplus.com you will find inconsistencies and statements that seem to be contradictory.

For example, at item number 2 of the Terms and Conditions, it states that tickets must be purchased 14 days in advance of travel - - but no later than October 31, 2011. Then at item number 3, it states that fares listed for travel have to be completed by October 31, 2011 (the same day). Then, at item 6, it states that a Saturday night stay is required for all Silverwings fares. In other words, according to the Terms and Conditions, you can buy a ticket up to October 31 but your travel must be completed by October 31 and also you have to complete a Saturday night stay and buy your ticket 14 days before you travel. Another example is at item number 4 where it states that there are no “blackout dates” but if you call the 800-720-1765 (the number the site tells you to call for reservations or assistance) and if you are lucky enough to reach someone at the number, you will be told there is a black out period beginning November 1 through December 31. In the years I was able to purchase Silverwings tickets, there never was a blackout period. I find the Terms and Conditions lacking clarity or simply wrong.

I recently wrote and complained to United’s new CEO about the broken Silverwings program. My correspondence was specific and gave examples and a history of the problems many of us have encountered while trying to use the Silverwings program.

I emphasized the fact that the telephone number assigned to Silverwings either went unanswered or was usually answered by a person unfamiliar with Silverwings. I also wrote that the employee at United in Chicago (the one who had been manually processing my Silverwings tickets) confirmed that united.com would rarely process Silverwings tickets, if at all.

Incredibly, the response I got from my communication was for me to use united.com to purchase future tickets. The response also suggested incorrect instructions for accessing Silverwings material on the United site.

The response was not written by the new CEO, but rather the response came from a United employee assigned to answer my correspondence. It was obvious my correspondence to the CEO had not been read, considering the answer I received.

The purpose of this long post is my hope to find a solution to fix the broken Silverwings program.

Is there any lifetime Silverwings member reading this thread who has had similar problems with Silverwings? Does anyone who is reading this thread have a relative or know anyone who is a lifetime Silverwings member?

Can anyone offer a solution or recommendation for how we might get United to honor its side of the contract that was created when we purchased lifetime Silverwings contracts?

By the way, although I sometimes use other airlines, United Airlines is my carrier of choice. I have million-mile status on United and I have maintained the category of 1k for many years. I like United but I don’t like their mismanagement of the Silverwings program.

Responding to this thread is fine or a PM to me would also be appreciated. Thanks in advance.