In carriers’ never-ending quest for added revenue to help off-set fuel prices, this news: United Airlines is now offering flyers the option of purchasing extra MileagePlus miles when they fly.
UA is billing the effort as Award Accelerator, and the airline says it will afford flyers “choice and flexibility.”
Customers can buy redeemable MilagePlus miles. Thus, they would earn extra miles on the trip in addition to the miles they would normally rack up on a specific itinerary. In most instances the miles available for purchase are pegged to the actual mileage on each leg of the trip.
It’s probably easier to illustrate the mechanics of this by looking at some specific itineraries. From Chicago O’Hare (ORD) to Cleveland Hopkins flyers would normally get 316 base miles in coach. If you want to double that number to 632, pay $9 more. If you’d like to triple it to 948 miles, fork over an extra $19. The accelerator really kicks in on long hauls, and so does the price. A flight on United from Washington, DC Dulles (IAD) to London Heathrow (LHR) regularly gets you 3,677 miles in coach. Double that number to 7,354 for $110, and to 11,031 for an extra $221.
Visit www.united.com/traveloptions for more information, or purchase Award Accelerator miles through the EasyCheck-in online option. Later this year United says flyers will be able to purchase Award Accelerator miles prior to check-in at United’s Web site (www.united.com).
© Cheapflights Ltd Jerry Chandler
