Passengers check in for United Airlines flights at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago, Illinois, December 13, 2022.
Scott Olson | Getty Images
Here’s a friendship test: Would you share your frequent flyer miles with friends? United Airlines assumes customers might be open to it.
On Thursday, the airline began allowing MileagePlus loyalty program members to pool their loyalty program miles and use them for travel on United.
The “Pool Leader” can select up to 4 other relations or friends to share the account. The leader have to be no less than 18 years old, but pool members will be of any age, so families can use their kid’s accrued miles to purchase tickets.
Customers will still keep their very own MileagePlus accounts and might resolve how much they need to deposit into the pool. These miles will be redeemed for flights and other products on the United website or app.
Individuals can select how much they contribute to the pool, which comes with a commitment: “Once those miles are in the pool… they stay in the pool,” said Luc Bondar, chief operating officer of United’s MileagePlus loyalty program.
United is not the primary airline to offer rewards point bundling. JetBlue Airlines allows up to seven customers to combine frequent flyer miles, a Frontier Airlines allows up to eight people to combine miles. Airlines often allow customers to transfer miles to others, but this often involves a fee.
“A mileage pooling strategy is about appealing to less frequent and medium-frequent travelers and engaging them and their family members in the program,” said Henry Harteveldt, travel analyst and founding father of consulting firm Atmphere Research Group. “By allowing family members to pool their rewards points, brand preference increases across the family… much like toothpaste.”