After a thunderstorm, air traffic control issues and operational challenges Thousands of stranded passengersUnited Airlines is provide 30,000 miles for passengers who are delayed overnight or do not reach their final destination between June 24 and 30.
However, this is not an automatic deposit. Instead, you must proactively take steps to ensure mileage is deposited into your account.
Here’s how you can claim your 30,000 United miles — and how to put them to use when they arrive.
How to claim your miles
In the immediate aftermath of the disruption, some affected United customers received emails saying that United would send instructions on how to claim goodwill miles.
If you receive an email from United with a link to claim your miles, follow the instructions. Are customers affected? MileagePlus members (or those who have traveled with a Star Alliance partner account) will receive registration instructions in this email.
You can also visit this site and log in to your MileagePlus account to get 30,000 goodwill miles. If your flight is affected and you already have your MileagePlus number when booking, you can follow the instructions to get your mileage.
Once you claim your mileage, it will appear immediately in your MileagePlus account.
If your flight is delayed overnight or you do not reach your final destination between June 24 and 30, but compensation site shows that you are not eligible, you can submit a customer service request at united.com/feedback. When submitting the form, include your MileagePlus and confirmation or e-Ticket number.
How to use your miles
While you can use your United miles for some ancillary fees like Wi-Fi and in-flight food, these redemption options are not conducive to maximizing your mileage. Ideally, you should plan to redeem your miles for reward flights.
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Unfortunately, United increase bonus rates on some routes to more than 100% earlier this year, this reduced the value of MileagePlus miles. our new valuation United miles is pegged at 1.1 cents per person, so 30,000 miles is worth $330. Of course, your mileage may vary, but you should aim to get around $330 in value from these United miles.
While United miles never expire, you should consider redeeming your miles as soon as possible, as historically, loyalty rewards have been long-term investment is not good.
Note that United occasionally offers bonus sales that can increase the value of your miles. For example, the airline offers round-trip flights to Australia and Tahiti from just 42,000 miles a few months ago. And you can always book flights and recharge your miles for future flights if United offers a bonus discount. As of January 1st, United no longer charges a resend fee.
Finally, qualify United MileagePlus cardholders And senior members receive special member price on flights operated by United and United Express.
If you don’t already have access to special member rates (that is, you don’t have UN status or a qualifying credit card), opening one of these credit cards will give you the Special for economy and bonus miles members, allowing you to extend your 30,000 goodwill miles even further:
- United Club Infinite Card: Earn 80,000 bonus miles and 1,000 Premier tier points after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening. Offer ends on August 9th.
- Unity quest card: Earn 70,000 bonus miles and 500 PQP after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open. Offer ends on August 9th.
- United Explorer card: Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open.
- unified business card: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases in the first three months your account is open.
Club Infinite cardholders also save about 10% on economy savings prizes operated by United and United Express within the continental US or between the continental US and Canada.
Here are some examples of award tickets you can book with these 30,000 miles:
Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to Licenciado Gustavo Díaz Ordaz International Airport of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (PVR)
- Regular pricing: 5,500 miles
- Special membership price: 5,500 miles
- Club Infinite Price: 5,500 miles
Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) to London Heathrow Airport (LHR)
- Regular price: 31,800 miles
- Special membership price: 31,800 miles
- Club Infinite Price: 31,800 miles
Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to Baltimore/Washington’s Thurgood Marshall International Airport (BWI)
- Regular pricing: 15,000 miles
- Special membership price: 11,100 miles
- Club Infinite Price: 10,000 miles
Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport (ORD) to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
- Regular pricing: 15,000 miles
- Special membership price: 14,400 miles
- Club Infinite price: 13,000 miles
Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to San Diego International Airport (SAN)
- Regular pricing: 14,800 miles
- Special membership price: 14,800 miles
- Club Infinite Price: 13,300 miles
Denver International Airport (DEN) to Vancouver International Airport (YVR)
- Regular pricing: 32,000 miles
- Special membership price: 15,000 miles
- Club Infinite price: 13,500 miles
Perk multi-city tour of Hawaii
- Regular pricing: 23,200 miles
- Special membership price: 23,200 miles
- Club Infinite Price: 23,200 miles
Related: How to travel fewer miles with United’s Excursionist Perk
bottom line
If you’re eligible for United’s 30,000 goodwill miles, make sure to claim them. Even though United increased the bonus rate earlier this year, 30,000 miles is still worth $330 at TPG’s valuation.
Now is a great time to start looking for bonus flights to see if you can maximize your United miles.
