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Old May 24, 2021, 9:28 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
United Sweepstakes Gives Vaccinated Customers a Shot to Win Free Flights, a Year of Travel
"Your Shot to Fly" sweepstakes aims to encourage COVID-19 vaccinations in support of the Biden administration's national effort to encourage people to get vaccinated
United is only U.S. airline where customers can upload COVID-19 testing and vaccination records directly to the airline's app and website via the Travel-Ready Center

CHICAGO, May 24, 2021 -- United Airlines is offering its loyalty program members the chance to win free flights for a year's worth of travel, in support of the Biden administration's national effort to encourage more people to get their COVID-19 vaccination.

Under the terms of the "Your Shot to Fly" sweepstakes, any new or existing MileagePlus® member who uploads their vaccination records to the airline's mobile app or website between today and June 22 can be entered to win a roundtrip flight for two, in any class of service, to anywhere in the world United flies. United will give away 30 pairs of tickets throughout the month of June. In addition – on July 1 United will announce five randomly selected lucky MileagePlus members who have entered our sweepstakes for a grand prize of travel for a year for themselves and a companion – also in any class of service, anywhere in the world United flies. For video and photos of the upload process, click here.

United remains the only U.S. airline that gives customers the ability to upload COVID-19 testing and vaccination records directly to the airline's digital platforms including its award-winning mobile app though the airline's Travel-Ready Center. By uploading your vaccine record with United, customers will save time at the airport and be confident they are ready to fly to destinations where showing proof of vaccination is required.

"We're proud to do our part to incentivize people to get their shot," said United CEO Scott Kirby. "Thanks to the vaccine, more and more destinations are opening up for travel – and we know our customers are eager to fly. We're excited to give people one more reason to get vaccinated so they can reunite with friends and family or take that long-awaited vacation which all could be just one shot away."

United is giving sweepstakes winners – and all customers - more options to visit dream destinations, as the airline is launching brand-new routes to Croatia, Greece and Iceland, and resuming flights to Italy, Portugal, Spain and France this summer. The airline is also growing its presence in Africa, with new nonstop flights from New York/Newark to Johannesburg, South Africa starting June 3* (*subject to government approval), complementing recently launched service from Washington, D.C. to Accra, Ghana and seasonal nonstop flights from New York/Newark to Cape Town, South Africa. United will also resume service between San Francisco and Tahiti in June.

The sweepstakes is open to any resident of the United States who is at least 18 years old and a MileagePlus member. For more information and to enter, visit United.com/YourShotToFly.

*NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. Sweepstakes runs from 12:00:01 am ET on 5/24/21 to 11:59:59 pm ET on 6/22/21. Sweepstakes open to legal residents of 50 US, DC, PR, USVI & Guam who are 18+ or age of majority, whichever older, at entry. To enter online, visit united.com & complete entry form with valid COVID-19 vax card. For mail entry (if you are vaccinated and concerned about privacy or aren't vaccinated due to health or religious reasons), send your email address, name, full address, phone number & MileagePlus number to MileagePlus Vax Sweepstakes, PO Box 158, Freeburg, IL 62243-0158. Your info must match MileagePlus account info. Limit 1 entry per person & per MileagePlus member. 30 1st prize drawings. Odds depend on # of elig. entries received for each drawing. 5 Grand Prizes: 1-year free flights for 2 (traveling together and limited to 26 roundtrip flights) & $275,000. ARV: $784,600 each. 30 1st Prizes: roundtrip flight for 2 worldwide & $7,700. ARV: $27,300 each. Total ARV of all prizes: $4,742,000. For prize drawing deadlines & full rules, visit United.com/yourshottofly. Sponsor: United Airlines, Inc., 233 S. Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL 60606. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Official Rules:United MileagePlus® Your Shot to Fly Sweepstakes

Official Rules

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER AND WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. The United MileagePlus® Your Shot to Fly Sweepstakes (“Sweepstakes”) begins on or around 12:00:01 a.m. (Eastern Time (“ET”) on May 24, 2021 and runs until 11:59:59p.m. ET on June 22, 2021 (the “Sweepstakes Period”). The Sweepstakes is intended solely for eligible participants in the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands only and will be construed and evaluated only according to applicable laws within those jurisdictions. Sponsor’s clock will be the official Sweepstakes clock. This Sweepstakes consists of 30 first prize drawings (each, a “First Prize Drawing”) and a grand prize drawing (“Grand Prize Drawing”).

ELIGIBILITY: Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands who are at least 18 years of age or the age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence at the time of entry. Entrants must be current MileagePlus members to participate. Participation in the MileagePlus program is free, and you may join at https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/mileageplus.html. Employees, officers, directors and agents of United Airlines, Inc. (“Sponsor”), Elser Interactive (the “Administrator”), Momentum Worldwide, and of any of Sponsor’s media partners; printers; advertising and Sweepstakes agencies; and of the respective parent, subsidiary and affiliated companies of the foregoing entities (collectively, the “Sweepstakes Entities”); and those individuals’ immediate family members (including spouse, mother, father, siblings, and children and spouse of any of the foregoing) and those living in the same household of each (people who have shared the same residence at least three months over a period of one year prior to the start of the Sweepstakes Period) are not eligible to participate or win. Employees of other airlines are also not eligible to participate or win.

HOW TO ENTER: There are three ways to enter—online, United mobile app (the “App”) and by mail. To enter online and via the App, you will be required to have completed your COVID-19 vaccination shot regimen (Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, or Pfizer) and have a valid COVID-19 vaccination card as provided by the CDC or other official evidence showing the date(s) of shot(s).

Online Method: During the Sweepstakes Period, visit United.com (the “Website”) either sign into your MileagePlus® account or enroll by accurately completing the online MileagePlus® enrollment form then follow the instructions below:
  1. Go to the “Profile and Preferences” page for your MileagePlus account.
  2. Select “Upload vaccination record” under “COVID-19 vaccination documentation.
  3. Upload your vaccination record and accept the terms.
  4. Enter the information as it appears on your vaccination document.
  5. Press “Submit” to save your information to your MileagePlus profile and be registered for the sweepstakes
Mobile App Method: During the Sweepstakes Period, visit the App to either sign into your MileagePlus® account or enroll by accurately completing the in-App MileagePlus® enrollment form then follow the instructions below:
  1. Sign in to your MileagePlus account and from the My Account page, select “Add record to my profile.
  2. Upload your vaccination record and accept the terms.
  3. Enter the information as it appears on your vaccination document.
  4. Press “Submit” to save your information to your MileagePlus profile and be registered for the sweepstakes.
You will be required to indicate your agreement to be entered into the Sweepstakes and with these Official Rules in order to complete your registration. If you are not vaccinated because you are unable to be vaccinated due to religious requirements or health reasons or if you have been vaccinated, but you have privacy concerns about United storing your vaccine card, you may enter by mail. To enter by mail, send a slip of paper with your valid email address, name, address, city, state, ZIP code, phone number, and MileagePlus number to MileagePlus Vax Sweepstakes, PO Box 158, Freeburg, IL 62243-0158. Mail-in entries must be hand-written and original. Limit one mail-in entry per outer mailing envelope. Mail-in entries must be post-marked by the end of the Sweepstakes Period and received by the deadlines set forth below. Limit one entry per person and per MileagePlus account, regardless of method of entry. Any attempt by an entrant to obtain more than the stated number of Entries by using multiple/different email addresses, identities, registrations, or any other methods may void that entrant’s Entries if discovered by Sponsor and that entrant may be disqualified, and any potential prize may be forfeited. Entries generated through a third-party website or software or in any way other than the manner set forth in these Official Rules is prohibited, and Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any entrant(s) using such methods.

RANDOM DRAWING AND WINNING:

There will be 30 First Prize drawings starting on or about June 1, 2021 and continuing through June 30 as follows:

There will be a First Prize Drawing on or about June 1, 2021 from all eligible entries received through 11:59:59 p.m. ET on May 31, 2021. Each First Prize Drawing for June 2, 2021 – June 23, 2021 will occur on or about the day after the preceding Sweepstakes day, and will include all eligible, non-winning online and mail-in entries received as of 11:59:59 p.m. ET on the date for which that First Prize Drawing is held. For example, the First Prize Drawing for June 15, 2021 will take place on or about June 16, 2021 and will include all eligible, non-winning entries received before 11:59:59 p.m. ET on June 15, 2021. There will be additional First Prize Drawings held after the close of the Sweepstakes Period (i.e., for each day from June 23 through June 30). For each of those First Prize Drawings, non-winning online entries received as of the close of the Sweepstakes Period and non-winning mail-in entries postmarked by the close of the Sweepstakes Period and received by the day for which that First Prize Drawing is held. For example, the First Prize Drawing for June 25, 2021 will take place on or about June 26, 2021 and will include all eligible, non-winning online entries received by the close of the Sweepstakes Period and all eligible, non-winning mail-in entries received by June 25, 2021. For each First Prize Drawing, independent judges (“Judges”) will select a winner in a random drawing from among all eligible entries received for that First Prize Drawing. Non-winning entries will roll into subsequent First Prize Drawings. On or about July 1, 2021, the Judges will select five Grand Prize winners in a random drawing from among all eligible, non-winning online entries received during the Sweepstakes Period and all eligible, non-winning mail-in entries postmarked by the end of the Sweepstakes Period and received by June 29, 2021. Judges' decisions are final and binding on all participants.

ODDS: Odds of winning depend upon the total number of eligible entries received for each drawing.

CLAIMING PRIZES: Each prize claim is subject to verification by the Sponsor. Sponsor will attempt to notify potential winner, via phone, email, and/or overnight mail using the information associated with the MileagePlus account at the time of the drawing, approximately one business day from the date of the drawing. Potential winner must respond within 72 hours of initial notification attempt. Winner must complete, sign and return the Affidavit of Eligibility, Waiver of Liability and, except where prohibited by law, Publicity Release Forms within three business days of receipt of prize notification or prize may be forfeited (TN residents need not sign the publicity releases). A winner who entered via the mail-in entry may be required to execute an affidavit certifying that the winner did not receive the COVID-19 vaccination because they are unable to be vaccinated due to religious requirements or health reasons or that the winner has been vaccinated as of entry, but has privacy concerns about United storing participant’s vaccine card. Winner agrees to be subject to a personal background check. Guest (and parent or legal guardian if guest is a minor), if any, must sign and return a Travel Companion form prior to accompanying winner on prize flights. If the guest is a minor, the guest must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. Guest who is over the age of 18 will be required to show proof of full COVID-19 vaccination (or doctor certification if guest is unable to get vaccinated for a medical reason). Guest must be a member of MileagePlus program in good standing at time of travel.

Winner agrees to complete Form W-9 and promptly return it to Sponsor upon request. If required by law, an IRS 1099-MISC Form will be prepared in the winner’s name and submitted to the IRS for the value of the winner’s prize. Sponsor will cause a copy of any submitted 1099-MISC Form to be sent to winner’s last known address.

If the potential winner is not in compliance with these Official Rules; if prize notification or attempted notification is returned as undeliverable; if Sponsor does not receive timely response to prize notification; if potential winner refuses to participate in a background check, if Sponsor discovers something in the background check that Sponsor, in its sole discretion, determines is a disqualifying issue from Sponsor’s perspective; if potential winner does not provide required identification or documents by the deadlines set by Sponsor; and/or if potential winner declines prize offered, prize will be forfeited and an alternate winner may be chosen by Sponsor if time permits. By participating in the Sweepstakes, all entrants acknowledge compliance with and agree to be bound by these Official Rules, and the decisions of Sponsor and/or Judges, which are final in all respects. By accepting a prize in the Sweepstakes, you consent to the use of your name, image, likeness, voice, biographical information and other indicia of your persona by Sponsor in any media for commercial purposes without compensation, except where prohibited by law (TN residents need not consent). Potential winner must meet all eligibility requirements and comply with these Official Rules to receive prize.

PRIZES: Grand Prizes (5): Each Grand Prize is one year of free airfare for winner and guest on United Airlines or United Express and $275,000 awarded in the form of a check. One year of free airfare will be awarded in the form of 26 travel certificates. Each certificate will be valid for one roundtrip airfare for two anywhere in the world on United Airlines or United Express, all classes of service. Approximate retail value (“ARV”) of each Grand Prize: $784,600. First Prizes (30): Each First Prize is a certificate valid for one roundtrip airfare for two anywhere in the world on United Airlines or United Express, all classes of service and $7,700 awarded in the form of a check. ARV of each First Prize: $27,300. Total ARV of all prizes is $4,742,000.

CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO PRIZES: More information about MileagePlus is available at https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/mileageplus.html. Limit one prize per winner. Certificates are valid for 365 days from date of issue, and travel must be completed within that year. Grand Prize winner may designate only one guest, and that individual will be the only person allowed to take prize trips with the Grand Prize winner. The one guest may not travel without the Grand Prize winner. If Grand Prize winner is not accompanied by designated guest, Grand Prize winner will not be allowed to designate a different guest. Winner’s guest must fly on the same itinerary as the winner. All air travel is subject to United’s Contract of Carriage. Certain restrictions may apply, and certificates are subject to terms and conditions thereon. Certificates have no cash value. Travel must be requested at least 5 business days in advance and follow instructions provided at the time the prize is confirmed. All travel is for personal use only—no commercial use. ARV is fixed based on the right to fly in any cabin systemwide on United, and independent of the winner’s specific travel pattern. Winner will not be entitled to receive any cash or other compensation for such difference between the market fares and the ARV, or in the event that some travel certificates are not used. Flights are subject to availability and reservations are required. Airline tickets are non-refundable/non-transferable and are not valid for frequent flyer miles, Premier credits, status upgrades, or segment credits. All travel must be roundtrip. All flights must originate within the 50 United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, or the US Virgin Islands. All airline tickets are subject to flight variation, work stoppages, and schedule or route changes. Lost, stolen, or damaged airline tickets, travel vouchers or certificates will not be replaced or exchanged. Sponsor shall not be responsible for any flight cancellations, delays, or diversions.

Winners and guests are solely responsible for any costs or expenses associated with prize acceptance and use not specified above as part of prize description, including without limitation, ground transportation, additional air transportation and accommodations, meals, tips, gratuities, beverages, sightseeing, souvenirs, excursions, baggage fees, incidentals, and personal items, including any taxes associated with travel except taxes and fees associated directly with airline tickets. Winners will be responsible for all taxes (federal, state and local of all applicable jurisdictions) and all expenses not listed herein related to acceptance and use of any prize. No costs, fees, or expenses are included as part of the prize unless specifically listed herein. Winner and guest are solely responsible for all required travel documents and/or identification (e.g., a valid government-issued photo ID, valid passport where required). Winner and guest are solely responsible for obtaining any travel insurance (and all other forms of insurance) at their option and hereby acknowledge that Sponsor has not and will not obtain or provide travel insurance or any other form of insurance. Sponsor, at its sole discretion, reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value if a prize becomes unavailable. There will be no prize substitution or cash redemption except as provided herein. Prizes are non-transferable and may not be sold or bartered. Any unclaimed prizes will not be awarded. All properly claimed prizes will be awarded, but in no event will more prizes be awarded than are provided for in these Official Rules.

CONDITIONS: All received entries become the property of Sponsor and will in no event be acknowledged or returned, and no correspondence will be entered into except as set forth in these Official Rules. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, postage-due, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible, or misdirected entries, which will be disqualified. If there is a dispute as to who submitted an entry, the entry will be deemed submitted by the Authorized Account Holder of the MileagePlus account submitted at the time of entry. “Authorized Account Holder” is defined as the natural person assigned to a MileagePlus account by United Airlines. Persons found tampering (or attempting to tamper) with or abusing any aspect of the Sweepstakes, or whom Sponsor believes to be causing malfunction, error, disruption, damage or affecting the proper administration of the Sweepstakes will be disqualified. If a dispute arises regarding compliance with these Official Rules, Sponsor may consider, in its sole discretion, data reasonably available to Sponsor through information technology systems in Sponsor’s control, but Sponsor will not be obligated to consider any data or other information collected from any other source. Sweepstakes Entities and their respective parent, subsidiary, and affiliated companies, and all of their employees, contractors and agents (“Released Entities”) are not responsible for any: (a) telephone, computer, printer, hardware, software or programming malfunctions, or errors or interrupted or unavailable network, server or other connections, network malfunction, or other technical failures or errors, or failure to properly process entries; (b) communication disruption or other forces beyond the reasonable control of the Sponsor, including inability to access the Sweepstakes, or other disruption related to Internet traffic, virus, bug or non-authorized intervention; (c) damage caused by computer virus or otherwise resulting to any computer from entrant’s access to the Sweepstakes, whether human, mechanical or electronic; or (d) incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by the Sweepstakes device or home page or by any of the programming or equipment associated with or used in the Sweepstakes. If, for any reason, the Sweepstakes is not capable of running as planned by reason of technical issues or failures, including but not limited to, corruption of the database of entrants, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, or any other technical failures which Sponsor deems could corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Sweepstakes (“Disruption”). Sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to cancel, modify or suspend the Sweepstakes and winners of remaining First Prizes and the Grand Prizes will be selected as set forth above from among all eligible, non-suspect non-winning entries unaffected by the Disruption and received prior to the action, provided Sponsor is able to do so. Sponsor will post notice of such action on the Website and/or the App.

LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY: BY PARTICIPATING IN THIS SWEEPSTAKES, PARTICIPANTS HEREBY WAIVE AND RELEASE AND AGREE TO HOLD HARMLESS, RELEASED ENTITIES, FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, AND TWITTER FROM AND AGAINST, ALL RIGHTS, CLAIMS AND CAUSES OF ACTION WHATSOEVER THAT THEY MAY HAVE, OR THAT MAY ARISE, AGAINST ANY OF THEM FOR ANY LIABILITY FOR ANY MATTER, CAUSE OR THING WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY INJURY, LOSS, DAMAGE, WHETHER DIRECT, COMPENSATORY, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL, TO PERSON, INCLUDING DEATH, AND/OR PROPERTY, ARISING IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, FROM THEIR ACCEPTANCE, POSSESSION, USE OR MISUSE OF ANY PRIZE, OR THEIR PARTICIPATION IN THIS SWEEPSTAKES, OR ANY PRIZE-RELATED ACTIVITY, OR FROM THE COVID-19 VACCINATION SHOT REGIMEN.

GOVERNING LAW/JURISDICTION: ALL ISSUES AND QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE CONSTRUCTION, VALIDITY, INTERPRETATION AND ENFORCEABILITY OF THESE OFFICIAL RULES OR THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF ENTRANTS OR SPONSOR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SWEEPSTAKES WILL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, USA WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ANY CHOICE OF LAW OF CONFLICT OF LAW RULES OR PROVISIONS THAT WOULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF ANY OTHER STATE’S LAWS.

DISPUTES: As a condition of entering, entrants agree (a) under no circumstances will entrant be permitted to obtain awards for, and participant hereby waives all rights to claim punitive, incidental, consequential, or any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses; (b) all causes of action arising out of or related to this Sweepstakes, or any prize awarded, will be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the appropriate court in the state of Illinois, to which participant submits to personal jurisdiction; and (c) all claims, judgments and award will be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, excluding attorneys' fees and court costs. If there is a discrepancy or inconsistency between disclosures and other statements contained in any Sweepstakes materials and the terms and conditions of these Official Rules, these Official Rules will govern. Neither the failure of Sponsor to insist upon or enforce strict performance of any provision of these Official Rules nor the failure, delay or omission by Sponsor in exercising any right with respect to any term of these Official Rules, will be construed as a waiver or relinquishment to any extent of Sponsor’s right to assert or rely upon any such provision or right in that or any other instance.

WINNERS LIST: For the Sweepstakes winners list visit united.com/yourshottofly. Winners list will be posted once prizes have been awarded and available until July 31, 2021.

SPONSOR: United Airlines, Inc., 233 S. Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606..
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Vaccine status in app, "Your Shot to Fly" sweepstakes, Unlimited Free Flights for 1yr

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Old May 25, 2021, 2:13 pm
  #166  
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 5,001
Originally Posted by WineCountryUA
Lots of angst for 5 winner out of a possible 100,000,000+ ( still 1,000,000 if only 1% signup), most of which are not in a 50%+ (fed,state, local, ..) tax bracket.

Personally I'm more interested in if UA eventually finds a way to help my future travel now they have my vax info. This cover affect far more of us. But not too hopeful.
Add the 275K cash plus minimal flight redemptions of another 100K and you will have earned 375K in the eyes of the IRS. That will definitely put you in a high tax bracket (minimum 35% federal). I assume most will have other income and will likely be pushed well over 400K if they win this prize.
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Old May 25, 2021, 2:53 pm
  #167  
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Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4éme
Posts: 12,045
Originally Posted by zombietooth
If I am going to be paying 3.5-4K per J ticket in taxes (and no, I would never fly in Y on an international flight), I am not going to casually fly somewhere just for dinner or a concert. Not to mention travel time; flying to Asia and back eats up 2-3 days of your time. So would I be willing to spend 2-3 days of my life flying/transiting in airports/riding in taxis, etc., and thousands in taxes, to spend 2-3 days on the ground at my destination enjoying myself? No, I would not. Perhaps I am atypical.
Well that's my standard INTL trip, leave Thursday return Monday. I have no clue about the financial side of this contest but will figure it out if I am a winner.
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Old May 25, 2021, 3:01 pm
  #168  
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 5,001
Originally Posted by TomMM
Well that's my standard INTL trip, leave Thursday return Monday. I have no clue about the financial side of this contest but will figure it out if I am a winner.
I fly about 40 weeks a year for business, but that's my job. For leisure, there is no way I would do a 4-day international turn.
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Old May 25, 2021, 3:50 pm
  #169  
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: IAH & CMH
Programs: UA GS, UA MM, Marriott Ambassador, Hilton Diamond, Uber Platinum :)
Posts: 773
Originally Posted by WineCountryUA
Lots of angst for 5 winner out of a possible 100,000,000+ ( still 1,000,000 if only 1% signup), most of which are not in a 50%+ (fed,state, local, ..) tax bracket.

Personally I'm more interested in if UA eventually finds a way to help my future travel now they have my vax info. This cover affect far more of us. But not too hopeful.
I was more excited for the expedited travel significance than thinking I’d actually win. Now that euphoria had subsided I’m not sure the Vax info is for anything other than the sweepstakes?
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Old May 25, 2021, 3:52 pm
  #170  
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: ATL
Programs: DL Scattered Smothered Covered Medallion, Some hotel & car stuff, Kroger Plus Card
Posts: 10,745
Originally Posted by zombietooth
There is no doubt that this is a net win for the prize winner. I am just pointing out that the 275K is set in stone (while the flight compensation is variable), and you will pay 33-50% taxes on that amount depending on your state, etc. So, a minimum of 90K comes off of that, leaving you with 185K net. How much of that 185K do you want to pay in taxes for your flight redemptions? So, let's say you and a SO decide to fly in J as much as possible. At ~7.5-8K in taxes per trip, you'll have 23-24 trips before you spend all of your bonus cash.

The question is, would you fly every 2 weeks and use up all of your bonus cash paying taxes or would you fly less and only take trips that would allow you significant time to enjoy yourself on the ground? My argument is that most would choose the later and, if that is the case, there will be significant breakage to UA's benefit.
Yeah I mean....I guess I'll have to make that decision if I win.

I agree that most people won't max out 26 trips. And even if someone uses 26 trips, they're not all going to be int'l J. I love int'l J trips as much as anyone, but I'm sure I'd use a couple of those to go to the beach, or visit friends, or grab dinner at that one restaurant I liked in Napa.

But also, weren't you previously arguing that it's going to be really hard to argue UA's declared valuation if the 1099 you for the full $784k? The most likely scenario is that whoever wins this just accepts UA's declared ARV, allows UA to withhold the entire $275k (conveniently almost exactly 35% of the ARV), and proceed to take like 10 little trips and maybe one or two big trips. Oh, and have their photo taken for UA marketing. I'd argue that if any meaningful portion of that $275k hits the winner's bank account, they've got an advisor or CPA who has already sorted all this out for their particular tax situation and/or is willing to assist in filing a FMV for the prize that is significantly different from UA's ARV.
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Old May 25, 2021, 3:56 pm
  #171  
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 5,001
Originally Posted by Dyce
I was more excited for the expedited travel significance than thinking I’d actually win. Now that euphoria had subsided I’m not sure the Vax info is for anything other than the sweepstakes?
That was my hope as well. I really have a lot of pent-up business to attend to in Japan and I was thinking that this UA database would expedite me getting back to business over there. Sadly, it seems that it's really just a marketing ploy.

I'd love it if there were a federal database of vaccinated travelers like Global Entry or some such that would allow other countries to verify our vaccinated status and thus, expedite our return to international business travel.
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Last edited by zombietooth; May 25, 2021 at 4:35 pm
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Old May 25, 2021, 3:56 pm
  #172  
22H
 
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 23
I have had sweepstake entries accepted for myself and my wife with mix of NHS (UK) me, and CDC (US) Walgreens her - both however US residents. Hope this helps.
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Old May 25, 2021, 4:07 pm
  #173  
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 5,001
Originally Posted by gooselee
But also, weren't you previously arguing that it's going to be really hard to argue UA's declared valuation if the 1099 you for the full $784k? The most likely scenario is that whoever wins this just accepts UA's declared ARV, allows UA to withhold the entire $275k (conveniently almost exactly 35% of the ARV), and proceed to take like 10 little trips and maybe one or two big trips. Oh, and have their photo taken for UA marketing. I'd argue that if any meaningful portion of that $275k hits the winner's bank account, they've got an advisor or CPA who has already sorted all this out for their particular tax situation and/or is willing to assist in filing a FMV for the prize that is significantly different from UA's ARV.
My understanding is that you will only receive a 1099 for the ARV of the trips you actually take so, if you took no trips at all, you would only receive a 1099 for the 275K. It would be a false official document if UA were to give you a 1099 for the value of travel you never used. As far as the ARV of the trips you actually take, it would be a waste of time to argue for a lesser amount on the 1099 IMO. Believe me, I've got high-dollar accountants and lawyers working for me and they are incredulous at what happened in my case with my recent 1099 fiasco.

I am also thinking that UA will offer reasonable valuations for the trips you actually take and probably list the ARV as the lowest available fare for your cabin. So, if only Z is available in biz, I believe that they'll document the value of your trip as the prevailing Z-fare on the date of booking. I don't really see them assigning a 9.8K ARV to an SFO-EWR booking, for instance. That would just be malicious.

Last edited by zombietooth; May 25, 2021 at 4:42 pm
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Old May 25, 2021, 5:59 pm
  #174  
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Originally Posted by zombietooth
I always tell my family and friends that government lotteries are the "tax on the stupid."
I have long said that they are a "tax on people poor at mathematics".

Fortunately, unlike the lottery, this UA sweepstakes has no entry fee.
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Old May 25, 2021, 6:33 pm
  #175  
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Originally Posted by zombietooth
My understanding is that you will only receive a 1099 for the ARV of the trips you actually take so, if you took no trips at all, you would only receive a 1099 for the 275K. It would be a false official document if UA were to give you a 1099 for the value of travel you never used. As far as the ARV of the trips you actually take, it would be a waste of time to argue for a lesser amount on the 1099 IMO. Believe me, I've got high-dollar accountants and lawyers working for me and they are incredulous at what happened in my case with my recent 1099 fiasco.

I am also thinking that UA will offer reasonable valuations for the trips you actually take and probably list the ARV as the lowest available fare for your cabin. So, if only Z is available in biz, I believe that they'll document the value of your trip as the prevailing Z-fare on the date of booking. I don't really see them assigning a 9.8K ARV to an SFO-EWR booking, for instance. That would just be malicious.
Ahh yes...this version of a 1099 seems far more reasonable.

All that said, I hope to be the one who needs to figure this all out.
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Old May 25, 2021, 6:46 pm
  #176  
 
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Originally Posted by gooselee
Ahh yes...this version of a 1099 seems far more reasonable.

All that said, I hope to be the one who needs to figure this all out.
Good Luck! I hope you're one of the winners.

I really work too much to exploit this even if I were lucky enough to win.
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Old May 25, 2021, 7:41 pm
  #177  
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Originally Posted by gooselee
YThe most likely scenario is that whoever wins this just accepts UA's declared ARV, allows UA to withhold the entire $275k (conveniently almost exactly 35% of the ARV), and proceed to take like 10 little trips and maybe one or two big trips. Oh, and have their photo taken for UA marketing. I'd argue that if any meaningful portion of that $275k hits the winner's bank account, they've got an advisor or CPA who has already sorted all this out for their particular tax situation and/or is willing to assist in filing a FMV for the prize that is significantly different from UA's ARV.
Why not park the $275k in some form of stable interest/dividend investment instrument?
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Old May 25, 2021, 7:48 pm
  #178  
 
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Cool Time off?

Dear boss... I'll be taking a trip every two weeks to someplace amazing, compliments of United Air Lines. I hope you understand.
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Old May 25, 2021, 8:00 pm
  #179  
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Originally Posted by k_jupiter
Dear boss... I'll be taking a trip every two weeks to someplace amazing, compliments of United Air Lines. I hope you understand.
Mine would. I've been working 4 day weeks for the past 10 months to keep my PTO under control.
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Old May 25, 2021, 8:13 pm
  #180  
 
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Uploading proof of one's virus vaccination to an airline's website/app in hopes for a win of their sweepstakes leads to dozens of posts regarding taxes....
.....only on FT!
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