I too am a lifetime member, but really haven't used Silver Wings for much of anythign but Zone Fares.

FWIW, I did not receive an e-mail telling me anything about the demise of Silver Wings.

FWIW, I did not receive an e-mail telling me anything about the demise of Silver Wings

I didn't receive such an email form UA SilverWings either, but have been forwarded one from Counsellor - thank you.

Well I called them the night they put the "announcement on". It did not actually say they were closing but just gave refund details. I kinda got the message. Well I can't say I am surprised. Most of the zone fares were useless except peak season fares to asia that are tough these days to get low fare inventory. I've done pretty well. $220 to renew for a year and $300 in coupons plus $200 in coupons for cancelation in return. Better return than the stockmarket by far. I too have had problems using the coupons - one time I called the web people and got all kinds of nonsense but they fixed it in the end. It has always taken ages to ticket with the agents. They are very nice and no doubt used to ancient people (like me) but I have to shut them down and tell them I am a 1k and just don't want to hear all the rules etc etc especially as most of the time I knew them better than they did and please get on and ticket for me. Interesting to note the coupon does not work with a roundtrip that has a $55 DEN stop - it sees this as a multisegment which it kinda sorta is but really the fare basis is roundtrip. Maybe the silverwings cards will be worth something in the future a la Pan Am silverware.....

The way I read it, if your membership ceases between now and the date of the SWP program ceasing, you can still get Zone fares, but after the program ceases no-one gets the Zone fares (not even lifers). Note that for international flights a Senior fare is 62+ not 65+ anyway (read the Fare Conditions - and I got the reservations center to confirm that). As recently as a month ago I was talking to a 1K reservations agent who was trying to sell me the benefits of SWP as "UA is mostly phasing out Senior fares" and I told her then I thought SWP was pretty useless. Perhaps UA finally got the message

UA does state this:

If you joined Silver Wings before September 2005, you will retain access to special Zone Fares. Just call United Airlines at 1-800-720-1765 and refer to your Silver Wings member ID for more details.

If Lifetime members were to lose everything I might even start another thread.

I wonder if (even that it says so hidden in the small print somewhere) they just can terminate such a program without any compensation for paid life-long members - I joined (paid) in 1998. Statistically (life expextancy) I could profit from this program for another 23 years ... so I 'lost' in average 23/32 of my paid life-long membership-fee.

I just emailed Silver Wings (I was still able to log in as a Silver Wings member):

Being a live long Silver Wings member (paid membership in 1998) I wonder if for such members there are any ongoing benefits in the future? If not, how do you settle the termination of a paid life-long membership? Greetings Rudi

Next step: If I don't get a reply in the next fortnight (or if no reasonable compensation is offered for the termination of my paid lifelong membership), I will send them a registered letter with the same question.

anyone else here not just letting 'slip' that membership away (for nothing)?

We likewise won't let it slip away, Rudi. Thanks for posting this and please let us know whether or not you get a reply and what your next step will be.

Cheers,
Fredd

Count me in as another lifetime Silver Winger who believes in compensation for termination.

Von: [email protected]
Betreff: Costumer Inquiry, Topic: Member Benefits
Datum: 25. Juni 2007 17:11.29 GMT+2:00

Dear Mr. Rudi,

Thank you for contacting Silver Wings Plus of United Airlines.

As a lifetime member, your benefits will not be terminated even though Silver Wings Plus Program will be discontinued effective July 1, 2007. You will still be able to contact our travel center to book a ticket and you still have unlimited access to zone fares. Therefore, you are not eligible to get any refund.

If we can be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us at 800-720-1765, choose option one.

Our hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (CST).

Best Regards,

Silver Wings Plus Customer Service
(signed with first and last name)

Odd they would end this one.

I can't help but suspect that this program, like some other senior travel programs, is being ended as the major wave of baby boomers retires, e.g. on the Hilton Hhonors site I just noticed that "The Senior HHonors� program is not accepting new memberships or renewals at this time."

Cheers,
Fredd

What other benefits were there? Do you still have everything that you originally paid for?

It's the zone fares that comprised the original program. It'll be "interesting" to see if we can keep accessing those, although most of the time the prices aren't that great anyway.

I just got off the phone with an agent at the Silver Wings Line and I was told, as a Lifetime Member, I am NOT entitled to any kind of compensation because the lifetime members will remain active and still receive benefits.