Why can't they put a little effort into making a functioning, intuitive website? Recent reduction in benefits for elites coupled with not-too-great prices have me considering switching programs.

Not everything is perfect with UAL, but all in all it's a great airline. Goes where I want to go, usually when I want to go. Redemptions are easy and painless. Being 1K helps during IRROPS. The great "Starnet blocking" myth is long gone and partner flights are easily available. If only they would upgrade their lounges.

Agent was unable to find a Super Saver seat to my destination 6 weeks in advance. Also unable to find me an economy seat that I could upgrade to fist class with miles. I asked when there would be a Super Saver seat available. No one could tell me anything except suggest I call back. No one seems to know anything. Called corporate to complain, could only leave a message with an operator.

What one needs to know about United is that they really, truly, appreciate you when you travel with them at the tune of 100,000 elite-qualifying miles each year, meaning that once you are one of their very top elites (1K), as I have been for the past few years, they'll pamper you as well as or better than any airline loyalty program out there. In short, you need to make it to 1K to see the benefits roll in, after which you will do anything to make sure that you keep re-qualifying your 1K status.

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I am outraged to the use miles to upgrade on a relatively short international flight (MEX to SFO) they want a USD $500 co-pay. Who are they kidding? I regret having bought a United ticket.

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Earning while flying economy is good. Earning via promotions has been slow. Redeeming is a little expensive, and you have to call them to redeem for partner flights. Elite benefits are great with free domestic upgrade and heavy elites gets free international upgrades.

automatic upgrades to first class without having to manually put yourself on the waitlist is amazing.

Unfortunately I am limited to specific times I can travel due to work. Since I have to watch budget and cannot get miles by flying, I use the United credit card to earn miles. There are no benefits other than earning miles...there is no bonus of getting a seat for anytime flying even tough the credit card costs me a healthy yearly fee. I have been pretty loyal to United and the Visa Mileage card...wish United would be loyal to those of us who use their credit card.

United uses Starnet blocking which in essence means you can't redeem with their partners on most popular routes in the USA.

This forces you to use primarily United aircraft - which are usually unavailable for regular miles (low level) redemptions.

In essence, they are very tricky and I only wish that I had never even started collecting their peso miles.

UA is not only the easiest to earn miles with, it is also the easiest to find free seats with. Their website is the nicest in the industry--their travel options are truly revolutionary. Their customer service and timely flights are unmatched: http://j.mp/UnitedOnTime

Parts of the program are strong, but the website and customer service are poor. I have tried to book online with my US Airways FF number and always have to follow-up with a phone call to add me account number. The phone call is typically a 30-minute ordeal that has a 50/50 chance of correcting the problem.

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United throws around miles and upgrades like candy, but award tickets are hard to get and premium class service is pretty bad in comparison to world-class carriers.

Pros: Relatively easy to earn miles. As a member of the Star Alliance, they have an excellent network of airlines.
Cons: When trying to redeem miles, they block their partners' awards, making it extremely difficult to redeem your points for the award you have been saving up for. Until United changes this practice, their points have low value. Furthermore, even with the blocking, they still do not allow a stopover and an open-jaw ticket for international awards. To make matters even worse, they changed the prices for their awards in beginning of 2009, making the same award significantly more expensive than North American partner airlines US Airways and Air Canada.

Very easy to earn points in their program, especially compared to foreign carriers. Relatively easy to redeem points for free flights domestically. However, if trying to redeem miles on one of their partner carriers, especially a premium award seat, it's extremely difficult because United blocks availability of Star Alliance partner awards even though the partners are offering the seats. Their website is one of the worst of the US legacy carriers and is often appropriately referred to as United.bomb

United seems to offer more award tickets per month than other airlines. I rarely have a problem booking an award!

It seems less restrictive then some airlines when trying to redeem points for a free flight. However, don't plan on getting anywhere on time.

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