United Airlines Gives Away Biggest Frequent Flier Reward of the Year

CHICAGO, March 10 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- It pays to be one of United Airlines' best customers, and United is giving customers 50 million more reasons to become one. Premier Mileage Plus members are teaming up with friends, family members, and coworkers to win their share of 50 1-million-mile prizes in a first-of-its-kind contest.

Members may compete in teams of four during 2008 by earning more miles than last year, and the top 50 teams will split 50 million Mileage Plus miles, with each team receiving one million miles -- 250,000 miles per person.

"We are always looking to give our members diverse ways to accrue and redeem Mileage Plus miles, and this unique competition will be fun and rewarding for our most loyal customers," says Robert Sahadevan, United Airlines vice president -- Mileage Plus. "Whether they flew a hundred or a hundred thousand miles last year, our premier members will have a chance to compete for the biggest reward we will give this year."

Through the United Elite Team Contest, premier members will try to earn more Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM) in 2008 than 2007. Each team will consist of four Mileage Plus members, and the team's total 2008 EQM will be compared to the previous year.

The top 50 teams at the end of the year with the greatest increase will each win the following reward, to be shared evenly among the four team members, all of whom must have premier status with United: one million miles, 50,000 EQM, 50 Elite Qualifying Segments (EQS), eight confirmed regional upgrades, and eight United Red Carpet Club(R) one-time passes. U.S. members who were enrolled in Mileage Plus prior to Jan. 1, 2007 can register for the contest through Sept. 7, 2008 at united.com/2008choice, and full terms and conditions are below.

About United

United Airlines (Nasdaq: UAUA) operates more than 3,300* flights a day on United, United Express and Ted to more than 200 U.S. domestic and international destinations from its hubs in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Denver, Chicago and Washington, D.C. With key global air rights in the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and Latin America, United is one of the largest international carriers based in the United States. United also is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides connections for our customers to 897 destinations in 160 countries worldwide. United's 55,000 employees reside in every U.S. state and in many countries around the world. News releases and other information about United can be found at the company's Web site at united.com.

    * Based on the flight schedule between Feb. 12, 2008 and Dec. 31, 2008.

    TERMS AND CONDITIONS
    2008 United Elite Team Contest

This year-over-year themed contest is open only to Mileage Plus members who are legal residents of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia as of January 1, 2008, and who are 21 years or older as of January 23, 2009. For a team to be eligible to win, all members must have been enrolled as Mileage Plus members as of January 1, 2007, and hold Premier Associate, Premier, Premier Executive, 1K or Global Services membership as of December 31, 2008. Employees of United and Mileage Plus are not eligible to participate. Online registration is required for this contest and must be completed by September 7, 2008. Registration for this contest is separate from registration the Elite Choice promotion -- if a member wants to participate in both, member must register for each separately. A team must be composed of four members that are all registered at the same time, with one member designated as team captain. Prior to registering a team, the team captain must obtain permission from the other team members to participate in the contest. Any unauthorized registering of teammates will disqualify all of the team's members. Once a team of four members is registered, no changes will be made to the team roster under any circumstances. Members are not allowed to participate on multiple teams. To qualify for the offer, qualifying Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM) must be earned between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008 and be posted to Mileage Plus account on/before January 14, 2009, and includes travel flown on United, United Express(R), Ted(SM) and Star Alliance(R). A valid e-mail address with opt-in designation, which will be used to email the team captain updates of his/her team's 2008 year-to-date EQM totals (in or around March, June and September 2008) must be established at time of registration if the member does not already have one on record with united.com. When the team captain registers his or her team online, the captain will be provided the team's combined total Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM) for 2007 as posted to Mileage Plus accounts on/before January 5, 2008, which will be the team's 2007 EQM baseline for the purposes of this contest. The team's combined total EQM for 2008 will be determined as the EQM earned by the team's members between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008 and posted to their Mileage Plus accounts on/before January 14, 2009. Each of the top fifty (50) teams that have the largest year-over-year increase (2008 vs. 2007) in total EQM will earn the following reward divided evenly among its four members: 1,000,000 redeemable Mileage Plus miles, 50,000 Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM), 50 Elite Qualifying Segments (EQS), eight (8) confirmed regional upgrades, and eight (8) United Red Carpet Club one-time passes. The top 50 teams will be notified between January 15th 2009 and January 31, 2009. A team's year-over-year EQM increase for the purposes of this promotion will be calculated as shown in this example: four members of team ABC had a combined total of 123,000 EQM in 2007. In 2008, team ABC ended the year with a combined total of 168,000 EQM. Team ABC's year-over-year EQM increase for purposes of this promotion would be 45,000 (168,000-123,000). If this 45,000 year-over-year EQM increase was one of the top 50 team EQM increases for all teams participating in this contest, then team ABC would earn one of the fifty rewards. In the event of a tie, the team with the highest number of total 2008 EQM will be the winner. Proof of eligibility via a signed affidavit will be required of all winning members.

Approximate Retail Value ("ARV") of the reward is $5,700 USD for each member of a winning team. No transfer, substitution or cash equivalent of prize is permitted except at Sponsors' sole discretion in the event of prize unavailability. Each winning Mileage Plus member is solely responsible for any and all federal, state and local taxes. Winning members will receive a tax form reflecting the actual final value of the entire prize value.

By entering this contest, member agrees to the use by United Airlines of your personal information as described in the United Airlines Privacy Policy, located at http://www.united.com/privacy. Except where prohibited by law, a winner's acceptance of a reward constitutes permission for United to use such winner's name, address (city and state only), team name, statements, photograph, voice and/or likeness for any advertising and other promotional purposes relating to the contest without further compensation, consideration, review or consent. For the names of the fifty (50) winning teams, mail a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: United Elite Team Contest Winners, United Airlines -- WHQUV, 1200 E. Algonquin Road, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007. VT residents may omit stamp. Requests must be received by February 14, 2009.

Only listed reward will be awarded and no substitutions, cash equivalents or redemptions will be made, except that United reserves the right to substitute any reward package with another reward of equal or greater value in the event that the advertised reward (or any component thereof) is not available. All rewards are subject to the rules and regulations of the Mileage Plus program.

Each winning team member will receive 250,000 redeemable Mileage Plus miles. Miles will be credited to the member's account 2 to 4 weeks after winning team's are notified. Miles are redeemable miles and do not count toward elite status. Miles accrued, awards issued and bonus offers are subject to the rules of the United Mileage Plus program, and this program is subject to change without notice.

Each winning team member will receive 12,500 EQM/12.5 EQS for calendar year 2009, which will be deposited in the member's Mileage Plus account 2-4 weeks after winning teams are notified. Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM) and Elite Qualifying Segments (EQS) are not redeemable for flights, but do count toward Premier, Premier Executive and 1K status.

Each winning team member will receive two confirmed regional upgrades, which will be deposited in the member's Mileage Plus account 2-4 weeks after winning teams are notified. Upgrades are valid for 12 months from the date of issue. This upgrade certificate may be used only on qualifying United, United Express or Ted flights (only on multi-cabin aircraft) and not on flights operated by other airlines. Upgrade requests for flights marketed by other airlines but operated by United are only permitted at the airport on the day of travel, subject to availability. 2. Valid Routing: This upgrade may be used for travel on United, United Express or Ted within Region 1, which includes North America, Hawaii, Caribbean and Central America. For specific definitions, please refer the Upgrade Award chart on united.com. Stopovers are not permitted. 3. Upgradeable Booking Classes: This upgrade may be used on United Business(R) (C, D) and United Economy(R) fares (Y, B, M, E, U, H, Q, V, W, S, T, L, K) in Region 1, except where the terms and conditions of sale state that the booking class is not eligible for upgrade. 4. Non-Upgradeable Tickets: This upgrade may not be used on any booking classes not specifically listed as upgradeable, or on any Mileage Plus award ticket. Some Internet sites, such as Priceline.com and Hotwire.com, issue tickets that are not upgradeable. Please check with your Internet site for terms and conditions. 5. Mileage Plus Accrual: The Mileage Plus miles earned will be based upon the class of service purchased, not the upgraded class of service. 6. Ticketing: Ticket must be issued in the purchased United Economy class or United Business class fare. Ticket will not be reissued using this upgrade certificate. 7. Request Upgrade: The upgraded United First NF booking class or United Business NC booking class of service may be requested after ticket is issued in the purchased United Economy class or United Business class fare. If available, the upgraded class will be confirmed and a seat assignment may be requested. The upgraded NF/NC booking class may not always be available on all flights or on all days of the week when traveling. 8. Upgrade Processing: For United-, United Express- and Ted-operated flights, upgrade may be requested anytime after ticketing, and this upgrade will be processed based on the availability of capacity-controlled seating. Upgrades are subject to availability. 9. Upgrade Rules: Multiple certificates or awards may not be combined to obtain a two-cabin upgrade. For flights that stop en route, the upgrade is only permitted when the upgraded seating is available and confirmed on all portions of the flight. 10. Changes/Refunds: The rules of the fare purchased determine the changes or refunds that are allowed. Check with United or a travel professional. 11. Other Important Notes: This upgrade certificate may only be used to upgrade one person. Certificate has no cash value and may not be altered or duplicated. This upgrade is assignable in person at the airport or online at united.com. Valid ID is required for authorization. Lost, stolen, expired or destroyed upgrade certificates will not be replaced. Expiration date will not be extended. This certificate is void if sold or bartered. Other restrictions may apply. Terms and conditions subject to change without notice.

Two United Red Carpet Club one-time passes will be mailed to each winning team member at their address on file with Mileage Plus within 6 weeks of winners being notified. Red Carpet Club one-time pass grants one person one-time access to the Red Carpet Club. Guests are not permitted with a One-time Pass. Access subject to space availability. Valid only in United Red Carpet Clubs.

Excludes United Arrivals Suite(SM) and United First International Lounges(SM). You must be 18 years of age or older to redeem. Void if altered, bartered or sold. Lost or stolen certificates will not be replaced or redeemed for cash or credit. This pass is subject to United Red Carpet Club terms and conditions, which United has the right to amend or modify with or without written notice to its customers.