Hartmann

I am helping some friends plan a service trip to India and was going to purchase a few coach tickets for them using my miles, but reading some of the recent threads about accounts being closed has me worried.

I am not receiving any compensation and I know everyone personally. Should I be hesitant to do this? Originally I was going to be making the trip with them but the dates changed and I can't make them work.

lhrsfo

I principally use my miles to book trips for family, rather than for myself. So far, the only problems I have had have been when I have booked for myself - with SAA and with COPA. Never had a problem with family bookings on UA, but I am worried about a booking for my son on Air China.

mherdeg

The only concern you should have is that you'll want to contact United and the operating carrier every week to ensure that the itinerary has not been canceled. And you'll need to ramp that up to "once a day" in the week before travel.

This is mostly good practice anyway — you really ought to reconfirm reservations about once a week to check for schedule changes, seat changes, or equipment swaps. The part which is a little dicey is the recent reports of UA cancelling third-party award bookings with short notice (within 24 hrs in the case of a CM award reported recently).

But as long as you're willing to not only (1) book the trip for someone but also (2) babysit the reservation for them and act as a travel agent in watching out for them, it's fine to book an award for friends. If you just do (1) and not (2) it's kind of like giving someone a slightly unhealthy animal as a gift — uh, gee, thanks, but now I gotta take care of this forever? I guess I'm happy but, uh, jeez.

noah

There is *nothing* prohibiting you from booking tickets for friends or family provided you aren't selling the miles. I do it 10x a year. I would not hesitate.

WineCountryUA

I would have zero concern. One, if this was a common issue we would be seeing dozens of these everyday. Two, the occasional case we do hear about always seems to have some extra twist.

If you wish, something I do in what could have been considered problematic, is call or at an airport have an agent place a comment in the PNR concern the nature of the trip.

I do family members with a different ethnicity last name multiple times a time. I have done complete unrelated individuals, that was to support a charitable clause -- a few times.

This caution is probably unneeded but if it makes you feel better ... its your choice / time.

Kacee

Agree.

I would stay away from Coupon Connection, but would not hesitate to legitimately book awards or give upgrades to friends and family.

Hartmann

Thanks for the opinions!

Since I know everyone who will be traveling personally and hang out with them on a regular basis, I feel a little more comfortable.

WineCountryUA

The one other thing you could do is provide a letter for the travelers with your name, contact info and permission -- and clearly state this was gifted. In at least one recent case, the traveler probably had no idea who was supporting the travel. If an agent gets an odd comment from the traveler, that can trigger an investigation.

emcampbe

Go ahead and book. I've booked for other family members, some with different last names and have never had an issue.

The threads you have read about account closing are nothing more than drama from folks doing shady things. They share a similar theme - they start with only part of the story and often explicitly saying that there is no reason they have to close the account. Then, as questions are asked and answered, it becomes increasingly clear that the situations involved breaking T&Cs of the program and that there is indeed evidence of this.

If his is really "family" that happens to have bought "advice" or your promise to provide them with tickets on eBay, Craig's list, etc., then yes, you should definitely worry about having your account closed. If you are booking for actual family and friends and not selling the tickets to them, forget about those threads.

FlyWorld

The recent reports of MP accounts being closed and miles being confiscated from people who claim to have not violated any MP T&Cs and who claim that UA refuses to even so much as provide an explanation, who claim that UA won't answer the phone, won't call back, won't respond to written correspondence, who claim that accounts are summarily closed w/o warning, w/o discussion, w/o any adjudication, w/o any conversation, and w/o any dispute process - this has made me very nervous about gifting miles to in a fully compliant manner to anyone, even family.

Your case doesn't sound dissimilar to one case in particular where the poster also claimed to be donating miles for use in a charitable endeavor.

If I were you, I'd be very hesitant to do this. In fact, given recent posts, I wouldn't do it.

If this is something you really want to do, I wonder if it would be a good strategy to write to MP and ask for pre-clearance. Perhaps that might be an appropriate CYA measure to protect against these alleged unilateral confiscations.

bmwe92fan

OP - yes you should be worried as the recent aggressive activity by UA justifies it - but since it's clear that your activity is within the rules I wouldn't worry too much... For example - I just submitted some requests for upgrades for friends with no familial relationships - I was called immediately and confirmed it was me - this is new but when asked how I know the people traveling I simply said its none of their business - and they was fine.... Bottom line is don't worry - you are fine....

LaserSailor

The reaction I had to these same threads was that grifters got caught. Read the AA forum versions,,, invariablely these threads have untold details

FlyWorld

Is gifting considered cause for confiscation of miles?

I thought gifting was OK, only selling was a problem.

Perhaps there are untold details. I agree. But, we don't know.

JBord

+1, they're may be some honest mistakes but I don't trust any of these stories.

I gifted around 10 separate tickets to family members, including 3 with a different last name, during 2015. No problems at all.

airzim

I thought this was complete tongue and cheek given that its absolutely incredulous that this would happen as stated in those postings, and with no response whatsoever. It doesn't make sense. Until you said the following:

What? MP has something like 30 Million members earning and bring millions of miles per day for friends and family on airlines around the world. No issue at all. Two unconfirmed reports on a whining website doesn't really substantiate the hysteria in my opinion.