United MileagePlus Launches Headliners Miles-for-Experiences Program

CHICAGO, Jan. 4, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- United Continental Holdings (NYSE: UAL) today launched MileagePlus Headliners, an all-new auction program that enables United and Continental frequent flyers to use their miles to bid for a host of experiences, including once-in-a-lifetime trips, airline adventures that money can't buy, and tickets for theater and sporting events.  

More than a dozen unique auction items are available today, including:

• an opportunity to train like a pilot in United's flight simulator in Denver;
• a Mammoth Mountain ski trip, including travel and a private mountain guide;
• local events, including tickets to performances by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra or at New York's Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.

Each month, MileagePlus will offer at least one unique bidding opportunity that includes VIP access. Later in January, members will be able to bid to attend the Team USA Experience at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Later this year, MileagePlus Headliners will offer an opportunity to fly on a United Boeing 787 "Dreamliner" delivery flight. 

"In building the world's leading airline, we are committed to offering customers the world's leading loyalty program," said Jeff Foland, president of Mileage Plus Holdings, LLC. "As we welcome OnePass members to MileagePlus this year, we do so with new opportunities for our loyal customers to earn and redeem miles and to engage with our program in more ways than ever before."

MileagePlus Headliners builds on the popular OnePass Auction program, adding more choices of cultural and entertainment experiences.

A complete listing of auctions is available online at mileageplusawards.com/auctions.

Other MileagePlus Innovations
MileagePlus, voted the best airline loyalty program by Global Traveler readers eight years in a row and the Frequent Traveler Award best elite program two years in a row, offers the industry's richest selection of mileage-earning opportunities and rewards.

In December, MileagePlus launched a new service through which members using Facebook and Foursquare may access special deals from more than 10,000 restaurants participating in the MileagePlus Dining(SM) network, as well as hundreds of merchants at United's hub airports in Denver, Houston, New York/Newark and San Francisco.  

Later this year, MileagePlus will become the first airline loyalty program to offer members the ability to use miles to pay for products and services with select online merchants. United is launching this service in conjunction with ezRez Software, Inc.

About United Continental Holdings, Inc.
United Continental Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: UAL) is the holding company for both United Airlines and Continental Airlines. Together with United Express, Continental Express and Continental Connection, these airlines operate an average of 5,717 flights a day to 376 airports on six continents from their hubs in Chicago, Cleveland, Denver, Guam, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark Liberty, San Francisco, Tokyo and Washington, D.C. United and Continental are members of Star Alliance, which offers more than 21,200 daily flights to 1,185 airports in 185 countries. United and Continental's more than 80,000 employees reside in every U.S. state and in many countries around the world. For more information about United Continental Holdings, Inc., go to UnitedContinentalHoldings.com. For more information about the airlines, see united.com and continental.com or follow United on Twitter and Facebook.

SOURCE United Continental Holdings, Inc.