Comments on: United Rewards – Mileage Plus Dining from United Airlines

By: Finance Gourmet

Finance Gourmet — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 22:17:36 +0000

Your experience sounds a little atypical. However, I have also found that finding “available” seats to use miles on a constant challenge. That is why I’ve gone to using non-airline specific credit card travel rewards programs instead for getting free flights. I am still a member of the airline frequent flyer programs (it’s free, why not?) but I use those miles for other things. Unfortunately, even using miles to upgrade to first class has become a battle against tight-fisted airlines more interested in short-term profitability than customer loyalty, the very thing frequent flyer programs were originally designed to build up.

However, there are some things that can be worthwhile in certain circumstances. Free day pass to the membership club can be priceless if you have a long layover or there are delays (get there early and stake out a seat.) Also, some other travel programs allow you to convert over your airline miles. The exchange rate isn’t good, but if you can’t find anything with your miles it might be an option.

Send a letter to the company. Email is good and calls are ok, but old world companies (the airlines are one of them) still respond best to regular old mail. Actually send five letters: one to customer service, one to the manager or director of the same, and then three to whatever executives you can find info for.

One last pointer. I don’t know how long it took you to get 300K but if you are a gold or silver member call the VIP Desk and see if they can’t help. Sometimes, those folks are willing to put a little effort into it.

By: fthomas

fthomas — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 22:12:44 +0000

I presently have close to 300K United Airlines Miles and I have come to the conclusion they are worthless or close to that. I would like to take my family overseas for a trip. I cannot find a single destination with open seats, even a year out, with Standard Miles. I even tried one seat from Denver to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) for every day for a year out. Not a single Standard Mileage opening. I sent United customer service an email with my issue and they have not replied… that was a few months ago.

These mileage programs are like Wall Street and a big implosion of all these programs has occurred, but there is no one to bail them out. United Airlines is just not telling everyone that there is nothing in the accounts to redeem against. A big fat scam.

By: United Dining Rewards Airline Miles Restaurants Earn Free Points | Finance Gourmet

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:38:53 +0000

[...] coupon. For United Airlines Miles, one of the great ways to earn miles free and easy is to join the United Dining Rewards Program, which offers miles for every dollar spent eating out at [...]