Creation of a single frequent-flier program is being called a major milestone in the merger of United and Continental airlines.
United’s MileagePlus loyalty program — which will fold in Continental’s OnePass program effective in 2012 — will feature four tiers of elite status, new upgrade possibilities and new lifetime benefits for million-mile-plus customers.
“We will provide a wide range of benefits to our most loyal and most valuable members, while offering new redemption opportunities for all of our members,” said Jeff Foland, a United executive vice president and president of Mileage Plus Holdings LLC.
In the first quarter of 2012, United will automatically enroll OnePass members in MileagePlus and deposit into MileagePlus accounts the miles equal to the OnePass miles balance.
United and Continental became the world’s largest airline on Oct. 1, 2010, in a $3.2 billion stock-swap deal.
Ann Schrader, The Denver Post
