Wishful thinking? Baloney. We all know that airlines occasionally make offers of status bonus miles. Northwest did that earlier this year. Here United clearly conned its customers who relied on their original offer. Any self-respecting business would make good on such an offer to any customer who made a purchase before they changed the terms of the offer. For example, Northwest earlier this year screwed-up certain terms of a 10,000 bonus offer. When they changed the terms of the offer, they grandfathered anybody who qualified before the change. Here, your treatment by United smacks of arrogance--this is what we're going to do and what are you going to do about it buddy? I hope you pursue this and wish you luck DLB.

FWIW, I would never have understood any bonus offer on UA to be for status miles. I've been in MP since 1984 and don't recall EVER seeing such an offer from United.

I cannot say the same thing about other airlines...

RAD

Thank you ohmark, Rssrsvp, Kremmen and others. You have added lots of insight and knowing that Northwest, Delta, Quatas and possibly others have offered (and then fulfilled) their "flight miles" (or status miles)offers certainly should give United food for thought. I surmise someone in their marketing department made a mistake in initially offering "double FLIGHT miles" because it was later changed to double miles, but many loyal United customers relied upon their initial offer. So far only junior people have responded to me, but I am hoping more level headed seniors review and prevail by fixing this.

I posted an invitation to United execs to do just that in the United forum at http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum50/HTML/007038.html

Let's hope they can see the screw up and want to protect United's rep.

Thanks again for all the input and keep it coming.

I too say give it up. Unless they were very specific in saying that the double miles would apply towards elite status there is nothing to complain about. Lots of promotions say "double miles" and the like. They are VERY specific (and very infrequent) when they say that other ways of earning miles apply towards elite status. Sorry about that.

I would suggest a different tack. If your goal is simply to achieve Premier Exec status, why not forego the mileage argument altogether and ask MP to "settle" the issue by confirming your Exec status renewal
(preferably in writing).

It's sort of like losing the battle but winning the war. They just might do it!

I do recall several (3-4?) years ago there was a short promotion in which class of service bonuses, or some such thing, did count for status (perhaps it was on certain routes, can't recall all the details). However, I do remember that UA was very explicit about how the additional miles were to be counted for status, as that was the centerpiece of the promotion.

(UBB Edit)

[This message has been edited by UAL Traveler (edited 07-12-2001).]

From UA's schedule for June 7 to July 8, page 16:

"The paid qualifying flight miles you earn on Star Alliance carriers count toward Mileage Plus Premier status."

UA makes a similar distinction in what it says we earn when flying mainline United: "United Economy -- 100% of your paid flight miles, based on origin and destination, or 500 miles -- whichever is greater. United Business -- 125% of miles."

Although we all know that UA has historically not counted bonus miles toward Premier status, if it said that DLB would earn "flight miles" then it should give DLB flight miles and count them toward Premier status.


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"If you want to win the game, write the rules."

I stand partially corrected. While I don't recall having seen such a promotion myself in the Denver market (since 1984), it's certainly possible a targeted promotion did make such an offer to selected individuals.

RAD

(Edited for formatting)

[This message has been edited by RAD (edited 07-13-2001).]

<snip>
Law Lord, my emphasis above, but couldn't it be that first you have to be on a "paid qualifying flight" before the miles count as opposed to "flight miles" counting?

DLB Thank Woody, good advice.

I don't care how I get to Prem. Exec. only that I do.

The subject travel was a "mileage run". It was a very long and needless trip taken only because of United offer of "double FLIGHT miles" (not their usual double miles). I trusted United's wording, since it was different and distinguished from their usual promos. Thanks for your posting, Woody, and the others who are coommenting too!