Originally Posted by ani90

Yes, but not itself an illogical one. Why should lifetime miles reflect miles credited to MP as opposed to miles flown in UA? In theory, lifetime miles should include each time one flew in a United jet - United is still getting your life of patronage and cash even if you credited redeemable miles to another *A program. Of course the rules are the rules, and we agreed to them, but in an ideal world with good IT systems, the lifetime mileage program could register each time anyone flies United, regardless of other factors, regardless of if the reward for milestones is a gift from the loyalty program. Afterall the program according to united is
emphasis being on flying a million miles on their airline and not on logging a million miles with MP.

It is an unusual question but thinking about it I wonder why not been asked before.

Originally Posted by bmwe92fan

I thought the same thing -- I then I remembered the one immutable fact -- It's all about the money....

Originally Posted by ani90

Yes but if you have flown 1 million miles on UA you have spent a lot of money (on United flights), United has made a not insignificant amount money from you, and you have (typically) patronized United substantially for a decade or more, so there is a reason for United to reward and incentivize you, regardless of whether you credited those million miles to United, another *A program, or indeed any loyalty program. So if the reward is for those who have flown a million miles on United, why not give the reward to all. It is probable that the rule exists because historically, the only means to track lifetime miles was through miles credited to the MP program; but assuming that a means exists outside MP program to accurately tally lifetime miles then is there a logical reason not to use that?

Originally Posted by ani90

Yes but if you have flown 1 million miles on UA you have spent a lot of money (on United flights), United has made a not insignificant amount money from you, and you have (typically) patronized United substantially for a decade or more, so there is a reason for United to reward and incentivize you, regardless of whether you credited those million miles to United, another *A program, or indeed any loyalty program. So if the reward is for those who have flown a million miles on United, why not give the reward to all. It is probable that the rule exists because historically, the only means to track lifetime miles was through miles credited to the MP program; but assuming that a means exists outside MP program to accurately tally lifetime miles then is there a logical reason not to use that?

Originally Posted by ani90

Yes, but not itself an illogical one. Why should lifetime miles reflect miles credited to MP as opposed to miles flown in UA? In theory, lifetime miles should include each time one flew in a United jet - United is still getting your life of patronage and cash even if you credited redeemable miles to another *A program. Of course the rules are the rules, and we agreed to them, but in an ideal world with good IT systems, the lifetime mileage program could register each time anyone flies United, regardless of other factors, regardless of if the reward for milestones is a gift from the loyalty program. Afterall the program according to united is
emphasis being on flying a million miles on their airline and not on logging a million miles with MP.

It is an unusual question but thinking about it I wonder why not been asked before.

Originally Posted by ani90

Yes but if you have flown 1 million miles on UA you have spent a lot of money (on United flights), United has made a not insignificant amount money from you, and you have (typically) patronized United substantially for a decade or more, so there is a reason for United to reward and incentivize you, regardless of whether you credited those million miles to United, another *A program, or indeed any loyalty program. So if the reward is for those who have flown a million miles on United, why not give the reward to all. It is probable that the rule exists because historically, the only means to track lifetime miles was through miles credited to the MP program; but assuming that a means exists outside MP program to accurately tally lifetime miles then is there a logical reason not to use that?

Originally Posted by ani90

Yes but if you have flown 1 million miles on UA you have spent a lot of money (on United flights), United has made a not insignificant amount money from you, and you have (typically) patronized United substantially for a decade or more, so there is a reason for United to reward and incentivize you, regardless of whether you credited those million miles to United, another *A program, or indeed any loyalty program. So if the reward is for those who have flown a million miles on United, why not give the reward to all. It is probable that the rule exists because historically, the only means to track lifetime miles was through miles credited to the MP program; but assuming that a means exists outside MP program to accurately tally lifetime miles then is there a logical reason not to use that?

Originally Posted by Repooc17

If you are a predominantly economy flyer, at an average of 5cpm, you can get to MM with $50K of spend over 10 years assuming a 100K/yr clip, that's $5K year. Is that a lot? Surely does not sound like a lot to United over a 10 year period, getting even less than $5K year after removing taxes/fees, and that's just topline revenue.

Originally Posted by bmwe92fan

*A is predominantly a marketing alliance -- there is no such thing as a *A "loyalty" program -- wish there was.... When OP flew on UA and credited the miles to SAS UA had to pay SAS for the liability that was created on SAS - that's what I meant by the money, thereby reducing UA's profit -- which as we all know in the airline business is low single digit profits (if any) -- while the mileage programs make / are worth billions.... When you credit to another airline you are a cost -- it's simple economics....

Originally Posted by jsloan

That said, I emphatically agree with the point that UA has been trying, for years, to get rid of low-yield customers.

Originally Posted by SS255

UA has proven to be very creative in monetizing their product. The OP raises a very interesting question. I would fully expect UA to say �no.� But, what if UA would be willing to sell the BIS miles back to customers who had credit their UA metal flights to another program or flew on award tickets? I credited all of my UA metal flights to US from about 2002 - 2008, after which I switched my loyalty to CO. I have been suffering from buyer�s remorse ever since the CO-UA merger. I mourned the loss of those UA BIS miles (I have no idea how many). I don�t know that I would be willing to buy them and my miles flown on award travel back if UA were willing to sell them to me. But, I know that I would like to have the option!!

Originally Posted by mmolesky

Yes, I do fear it would be quite involved on their end, and for that reason alone I could see why they would reject the request - but maybe they would be able to look back to 2021. That's very helpful to know from an infrastructure standpoint, I'll update if I'm able to engage the support team.



Indeed, that is what I will do!


Evidently this touches a bit of a nerve for folks! Despite the tenor of some comments, fortunately I don't think this situation is quite the Romanovs asking their cousin King George V for a flight to safety from the Bolsheviks 😆

To reiterate one of my earlier points, I would have no problem transferring these mileage credits away from SAS and over to United if it were allowed as a one-time exemption to go back further than 12 months. Such a change would not have affected my status or benefits with SAS during this period, and I have plenty of miles banked in that account to remove if needed. I'm under no illusions that we're talking business here on all sides. It's a genuine question about an unusual situation, and a valuable (I'd argue, reasonable) incentive United could provide to a relevant group of itinerant EuroBonus elites.

As an unexpected bonus, some of this thread gives me an amusing throwback to a Monty Python classic:

MAN: [Aggressively Shouting.] What do you want?
CUSTOMER: Well I was told outside �
MAN: [Shouting.] Don�t give me that, you snotty-faced heap of parrot droppings!
CUSTOMER: [In Shock.] What?
MAN: [Continuing aggression.] Shut your festering gob, you t*t! Your type makes me puke! You vacuous, toffee-nosed, malodorous perv*rt!
CUSTOMER: [Yelling.] What? I came in here for an argument!
MAN: [Apologetic.] Oh! Oh. I�m sorry! This is abuse.
CUSTOMER: Oh! [Audience laughter.] Oh I see! Well that explains it.

Originally Posted by ani90

..... Why should lifetime miles reflect miles credited to MP as opposed to miles flown in UA? In theory, lifetime miles should include each time one flew in a United jet - United is still getting your life of patronage and cash even if you credited redeemable miles to another *A program. ....

Originally Posted by LaserSailor

In the new world order chasing MM is such a fools game. The drawbridge will be pulled up before long , and no more lifetime 1k or GS will be minted

the other way the J product will be protected tiers of soft product for spend vs award travel

there will be flying in J and j