Some frequent fliers received what looked like a great offer from United Airlines this week. Under the headline “Get the Year End Bonus You Deserve,” the promotion offers Mileage Plus members from between 2,000 and 40,000 bonus miles, just for flying United. The miles increase from the first to the third trip between Oct. 1 and Dec. 15, 2008, with higher bonuses for international travel.
Sounds great, right? Well, maybe. It turns out the promotion is only valid on certain fare types — H class and above. Internet fares, special sales and super saver fares are excluded.
A few examples: The lowest fare available San Francisco to Seattle for a Friday early evening, Sunday afternoon roundtrip in November is $159. The lowest fare eligible for bonus miles? $535.
A midweek trip from Los Angeles to Boston? $384 compared to $813.
International fares are not as different because of taxes and fuel surcharges, but an eligible coach ticket in November between Washington and Frankfurt would cost at least $300 more than the lowest published United fare.
Many of these less expensive ineligible fares require at least a week or two advance notice, though some are last minute fares. Leisure travelers who need miles can buy them much more cheaply. For example, simply buying 5,000 miles (the “bonus” level for two domestic roundtrips) from United costs only $196.25.
Clearly the promotion is aimed at business travelers. And it puts those travelers who really want extra miles squarely at odds with their company budgets. Some may resist, others may be tempted just to book the higher fares, and still others may simply wait until less expensive fares are sold out.
This isn’t the first promotion United has done that is limited to higher fares, and they are probably not the only culprit. In tough times, the idea of encouraging travelers to fly more with bonus miles is a good one. But this offer is more like giving free sodas with a $20 snack box.
