This blog primarily focuses on the MileagePlus Program and my revised trip plan.
There is good news about the Loyalty Program, especially MileagePlus and SkyMiles Members, who trying to maximum miles accrual.
United had sent out this message via United’s story (Instagram).
In the previous blog not only from COVID-19 but also the upcoming trip plan, I am writing all about the importance of a postponed trip plan for your protection. That is why it is virtual for us to defer travel plans until the COVID-19 is over.
As coronavirus cases are getting worse, I was shocked that the world was a better job in combat the spread. Surprisingly It creates the opposite effect; more new cases are emerging daily, topped over 1.5 million. People, especially travelers, asked me when will the outbreak ends, and I answered, “We don’t know when it will ends. It is an uncertain time frame. If you want to do something instead of worry about the number of cases, you can write a travel blog, like me. You can also refer my lists of things to do here.”
Here what I did.
Instead of checking news for more people’s cases, I was on social media, chatting some of travelers and my church friends to keep in touch with them. Hopefully, we are doing well with the novelty COVID-19 travel restrictions.
While we are in a special quarantine, such as stay-at-home order, I am writing and researching more about my upcoming vacations. Then I jogged down the lists I want to see in both Singapore and Sydney since I am not traveling abroad until late next year. Because of the current health threat, I postponed my solo trips to late 2021 to Singapore and Sydney. You can refer to my blog here. The travel vloggers and travelers had experienced the same thing; they stayed home, and others wrote a journal about a travel experience.
Even through frequent flyers wanted to travel, they waited until the COVID-19 is over.
Why should you reconsider your trip plan to 2021?
There are 3 reasons:
- It may be on lockdown or quarantine abroad, unlike in your hometown.
- Some flights to specific destinations are temporary canceled.
- Please, check this out on the government website such as travel.state.gov.
- It may be new cases abroad.
- Even though your hometown’s COVID-19 is over, new sets of cases will happen daily.
- Some countries are far worse in responding to the COVID-19, which includes no social distancing and no stay-at-home orders, making vulnerable to spreading the disease.
- The vaccine against COVID-19 is not yet available until late this year (earliest).
- It takes lots of time, testing, research, and grant federal approval for both the CDC and WHO to make them public to protect against the novelty virus. Some countries may not have the same level of regulations and health conditions, so double-check about health status here.
Why you always in love with United Airlines?
I have been in love with the United Airlines as well as MileagePlus promotions that benefits me to earn more qualifying miles. Since I am an affiliate with the program, I planned to create a highlight on Instagram as well as change to my public profile.
On March 27, I started with the title from my Instagram: @united Together from highlight to help United to create online gratitude to others. It is essential to be kind and give thanks to family, friends, and the public, just like we are showing appreciation.
Stronger Together!
I also change to the public profile to “United Together” with an existing Continental logo, along with United. There are also I followed:
- @cadellrowe
- @lammdogg_aviation
- @nonrevnick
- @chexp77w
- @fiveholer
- @wemoveord
- @uawelcomeaboard
- @united
Among others who changed when United changed to this profile:
One good news is from my email. On April 5, United sent out to MileagePlus members about the changes in elite status from December 2020 to January 2022.
Why changed elite status?
Travelers, especially frequent flier travelers, had stopped traveling due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and they complained about reaching the minimum elite status (or they can’t fly to reach the status), so United had moved the deadline to January 31, 2022.
If you are a Frequent Flyer member, you should receive it from this email.
United joined Delta in extending of elite status through 2022 (Martin, 2020). While the United elite status looks similar here, you need to know the requirement.
| Delta | United |
| Combining full year of 2020 and 2021. | Combining all of year of 2020 until January 2022. The new elite requirement will be in new effect beginning in February 2022. |
The good news for United Airlines Members:
- United have extended other facets such as subscription-based products like membership to United’s airport lounges have been extended by six months. So if a frequent flyer had a membership expiring in April, it now wraps up in October (Martin, 2020).
- Another good news for United Airlines Members is the flight vouchers; it extended and can be used within 24 months.
- The third good news for United Airlines Members is the change in credit card benefits. Forbes Contributor Martin stated that the United Airlines Explorer Cardholders, “… can be used doubling the premier qualifying points that Explorer cardholders can earn while those holding the premium United Club cards will get quadruple points” (Martin, 2020).
Still, both United Airlines and Delta Airlines members should read the terms and conditions regarding the changes in the loyalty program. All other airlines members should do so too for changes in status.
If you are Delta Airlines Member, you should receive an email about the loyalty program about the elite status. Since I am not a member of Delta, I did not include the benefits except one of the elite statuses through 2022.
If you are neither United nor Delta Airlines Member, you can refer to the website “The Point Guy” complete guide here.
Later in the evening, things get excited for next year.
New jobs, new responsibilities, new goals, new travel plans, new commitments and so on are the new decade revolution.
Wow, united sent out the positive words and…
I replied, “Can’t wait to fly on @united soon 🙌.”
A minute later, united liked my comment.
Will you earn more United miles in the future?
Yes. Since I am a United Airlines member for a decade, I mostly fly on United or partnered airlines such as All Nippon, Asiana, etc. to earn more miles and elite status. I sometimes traveled abroad to visit my cousins and/or to “just travel.” In the future, I will fly on United again sometime in late 2021 first to Singapore for 4-5 days. That is the earliest trip plan I planned.
My current trip plan was initially planned for September 2020 will postpone to September to November 2021 to Singapore, Sydney, Auckland, and parts of Europe. The other trip plan may change to 2022 or later.
My lifetime miles are mine to keep without activity, even though it’s 18 months since the last activity.
For international travel, my nearest airport is Newark International Airport (my recent international trip) to get the best deal. For domestic travel, Philadelphia International Airport.
I can’t wait to fly on United again in 2021.
Reference:
Martin, G. (2020, April 8). United Airlines Joins Delta In Extending Loyalty Program Elite Status And Benefits One Full Year. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/grantmartin/2020/04/08/united-airlines-joins-delta-in-extending-loyalty-program-elite-status-and-benefits-one-full-year/#424e84d75dc4
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