flaii

I have just moved to the Netherlands to attend school, and am wondering if I should change the address for my Mileage Plus account to my new European address? I still have the option of sending mail to my US address though.

I am wondering if there are any different (better or worse) offers for European residents vs. US residents, or different benefits for Premiers? I have been 1P for the last 7 or 8 years, but will likely only be 2P next year.

Any insights from members who have experience with both European and US sides of MP are welcome! (And yes, I did do a search for this but didn't find relevant results).

flyin´ruddl

Don´t think there´s a big difference. Years ago the non-US members got free RCC membership from 1P upwards. Nowadays I recall some slight difference in the Choice Rewards Program. Bad thing for non-US based MP members is the absense of these mileage accruing Credit Cards .

F.R.

lhrsfo

The Elite Choice is slightly more limited for us non-US based members, but that largely reflects UA not offering things which are not relevant to those living abroad.

As it happens, certainly in the UK, there is a mileage earning credit card (from Amex, I think) but the offer is very weak - there's an annual charge for it, which is unusual in the UK, where generous cash back cards with no charge are easy to get. In any event, credit card offers are determined by the card issuer, not UA.

For those of us with an address in both locations, you have to look at the bank's rules and they will probably determine your residence by reference to your tax residence - ie are you claiming to your home state that you are no longer resident.

This does have some relevance to UA, however, because when you book flights you can only use the site in the country where your credit card registered address is. You may find it convenient to have a US card and a Dutch card as flight prices can be inexplicably different and offers may be limited to one country of the other (for example UK-US fares seemed cheaper than US-UK fares for much of this summer).

As far as I can see, whether you book on the US site or an overseas site, it doesn't seem to make any difference to your MP account. So, I would keep it in the US to get the wider Elite Choice and accept your membership pack might take longer to reach you.

jgsx

It is easier to get systemwide dollar off vouchers as compensation when you have an international address.

LAX

Non-US based UA*Gs don't have RCC access on domestic itineraries any more (not necessarily in the form of RCC membership, but access with *G cards)?

Besides credit cards, aren't some promotions limited to certain geographic areas?

LAX

weero

You might miss out on some important promos if you are not US resident - such as last year's DEQM which was limited to the US members.

ivoryboi

There is no annual fee for the UK MBNA AMEX card.

ivoryboi

Or just simply tell them you travel mostly internationally - or better yet, fake a non-American accent

trflyer

I'm not sure most replies understand your choices. You're not UK you're Netherlands and imho there is no way you should give up your US address I am in Belgium temporarily and far prefer the US MP membership than I would the foreign one. There are many post on FT by foreign members lamenting the restricitions they have vs US members. Plus that will be banking and access issues in the EU that you don't have at home. In my view moving your address would be a big mistake.

flaii

All - thank you so much for taking the time to read and reply to my question! RCC membership for 1P would have been great, but no more. I guess all of your advice leads me to keep my address where it is.

lhrsfo - Thanks for the tip about checking fares on both the US and Dutch websites!

flyin´ruddl

I didn´t talk about the entry-rules for lounges. I received an anually RCC membership from about 1999-2003 or so. That was additional to all the *G privileges.

F.R.

BE-58

First, let me apologize if this has been addressed in another thread. I searched without success.

I am looking at the possibility of taking a short-term assignment in the UK and am thinking about the possible advantages (and disadvantages) of changing my MP mailing address during my stay. Would this impact anything meaningful -- GS qualification, promos, etc.?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.