The program, called 'Miles Pooling', allows up to five family and friends to link their MileagePlus accounts together.
United Airlines has launched a miles pooling program for families and friends.
United Airlines has announced that it will now allow its MileagePlus members to pool their miles with up to five other family and friends. The program, called 'Miles Pooling', allows the initiating traveler or 'pool leader' to create a linked account for free and invite up to four others who can then add as many of their personal miles as they want into the pool. Contributed miles cannot be taken out of the pool after 24 hours but can be reversed within that time frame. The program is designed to make it easier for families and friends to book flights using MileagePlus miles.
United MileagePlus now lets you pool your miles with family and friends
Up to five members can be in a pool, including the pool leader
Contributed miles cannot be taken out of the pool after 24 hours but can be reversed within that time frame
Accuracy
Miles can be used to book award travel redemptions only on United metal flights
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in that it presents the new MileagePlus miles pooling feature as a positive development for families and friends who want to travel together. However, there are several limitations on this feature that make it less useful than other methods of transferring or using United miles.
The article states 'Pooling miles will not affect a member's status: Contributing miles to a pool account will not affect an individual's Premier status.' This statement is partially true. While contributing miles towards the pool does not directly impact an individual's Premier status, it can indirectly impact their ability to earn qualifying points for that tier if they are using those miles on award flights.
The article states 'You can reverse a transaction within 24 hours: As previously mentioned, once you contribute miles to a pool, you cannot take them out if you decide to leave. However, there is a 24-hour period after you contribute miles in which those miles are not available, and you can choose to reverse the transaction.' This statement is misleading as it implies that the contributor has full control over their contribution and can change their mind at any time within 24 hours of contributing. However, this is not entirely accurate as once a mileage transfer occurs from one account to another, it cannot be reversed.
The article states 'Up to five members in a pool: You are only allowed up to five members in a pool (which includes the pool leader). Pooling miles for award flights only works on United metal; therefore, you cannot pool your miles for a Star Alliance partner redemption.' However this is not entirely accurate. While it's true that there can be no more than 5 members in a single pool, it's also possible to have multiple pools with different groupings of people. Additionally, the article fails to mention that once you contribute your miles to a pool account, they cannot be taken out if you decide to leave.
The article states that 'MARIO TAMA/GETTY IMAGES For example, let's say you want to book a one-way flight for you and your son from New York to Orlando at 25,000 miles per person. If your 5-year-old son only has 4,000 United miles in his account, but you have 48,000 miles, you can now pool your miles in a joint account and contribute your miles to cover both your ticket and your son's ticket.' However this is not an accurate representation of how the feature works. In order for this scenario to be possible, all members of the family would need to have MileagePlus accounts with at least 4,000 miles each in order for them to contribute their miles towards a joint account. Additionally, it's important to note that pooling only works for United-operated award flights and not Star Alliance partner redemptions.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article discusses the new feature of United MileagePlus that allows members to pool their miles with family and friends. The author provides details about how it works and its benefits for families. However, there are some fallacies present in the article.
> Luc Bondar, chief operating officer of MileagePlus, said via a press release:
United MileagePlus now lets you pool your miles with family and friends
Up to five members can be in a pool, including the pool leader
Contributed miles cannot be taken out of the pool after 24 hours but can be reversed within that time frame
Accuracy
Miles can be used to book award travel redemptions only on United metal flights
Deception
(50%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by stating that United Airlines is the first major U.S. airline to allow its members to pool their miles with loved ones and friends.
> The new feature, United told Travel + Leisure, will allow groups of up to five MileagePlus members to share and redeem their miles through one linked account.
United Airlines now allows frequent flyers to pool miles in a joint account.
, Miles pooled into the joint account cannot be transferred back into individual accounts.
Accuracy
United MileagePlus now lets you pool your miles with family and friends
Up to five members can be in a pool, including the pool leader
Contributed miles cannot be taken out of the pool after 24 hours but can be reversed within that time frame
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title of the article suggests that frequent flyers can pool miles with any four people they want to join a joint account. However, this is not entirely true as it states that each person must be a member of MileagePlus program and there are no age restrictions for members joining the account except for one member who has to be over 18 years old. Secondly, the article mentions JetBlue and Frontier previously launching similar miles-pooling programs but does not provide any details about these programs or how they work which could have been useful in understanding this new program better. Lastly, the statement 'Miles pooled into the joint account cannot be transferred back to individual accounts' is misleading as it implies that once miles are pooled, they can never be returned to an individual account but according to Luc Bondar COO of United MileagePlus program, miles can still be transferred out of a joint account.
The statement 'Miles pooled into the joint account cannot be transferred back to individual accounts' is misleading as it implies that once miles are pooled, they can never be returned to an individual account but according to Luc Bondar COO of United MileagePlus program, miles can still be transferred out of a joint account.
The title suggests that frequent flyers can pool miles with any four people they want. However the article states that each person must be a member of MileagePlus program and there are no age restrictions for members joining the account except for one member who has to be over 18 years old.
Fallacies
(70%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(75%)
The article is biased towards the new miles-pooling program launched by United Airlines. The author mentions that this feature allows frequent flyers to pool their miles with four other people in a joint account and redeem discounts when purchasing tickets on United's website and mobile app. However, they do not mention any drawbacks or limitations of this program.
United Airlines now allows frequent flyers to pool miles in a joint account.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Marielle Descalsota has a conflict of interest with United Airlines as she is reporting on their miles pooling program. She also has a personal relationship with Luc Bondar who was quoted in the article.
Luc Bondar, an industry expert and frequent flyer, told Business Insider that he believes the new miles-pooling feature will be popular among United's customers.
United Airlines is now letting people pool and share their frequent-flyer points with family and friends.
JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines already offer pooling with varying rules from one to another.
Accuracy
<br>JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines already offer pooling with varying rules from one to another.<br>
Frequent-flyer programs remain popular despite complaints that the value of miles and points decline over time because airlines raise the requirements for redeeming them for flights or other items. The programs are valuable to the airlines by increasing customer loyalty and giving consumers a reason to get an airline-branded credit card.
United's credit cards are issued by Chase.<br>
<br>According to NerdWallet, United points are in the middle of the pack for value among programs at U.S. and international airlines.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive because it implies that United Airlines' new feature of pooling and sharing frequent-flyer points is a novelty or an innovation when in fact some smaller carriers have already been offering this option for years. The author also fails to mention the drawbacks or limitations of the pooled accounts, such as possible fees, expiration dates, or blackout periods. Additionally, the article does not provide any comparison with other frequent-flyer programs in terms of value or benefits. By presenting this feature as a big advantage for customers without disclosing its potential downsides or alternatives, the author is trying to manipulate readers into perceiving United Airlines as more customer-friendly and innovative than its competitors.
The article is deceptive because it implies that United Airlines' new feature of pooling and sharing frequent-flyer points is a novelty or an innovation when in fact some smaller carriers have already been offering this option for years. The author also fails to mention the drawbacks or limitations of the pooled accounts, such as possible fees, expiration dates, or blackout periods.
The article does not provide any comparison with other frequent-flyer programs in terms of value or benefits.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by stating that United Airlines is now letting people pool and share their frequent-flyer points with family and friends. This statement implies that the practice of sharing miles is a new development when in fact it has been offered by some smaller carriers for a while.
United said Thursday that a “pool leader” can pick up to four other people to set up a joint account in its MileagePlus program.
Frequent-flyer programs remain popular despite complaints that the value of miles and points decline over time because airlines raise the requirements for redeeming them for flights or other items.
Bias
(75%)
The article is biased towards the idea of sharing frequent flyer miles with family and friends. The author uses language that implies it's a great thing to do when in fact there are many people who don't have enough miles for free flights.
]Don’t have enough airline miles for that free flight? United Airlines is now letting people pool and share their frequent-flyer points with family and friends, a feature currently offered by some smaller carriers.
Frequent-flyer programs remain popular despite complaints that the value of miles and points decline over time because airlines raise the requirements for redeeming them for flights or other items.
The programs are valuable to the airlines by increasing customer loyalty and giving consumers a reason to get an airline-branded credit card. United's credit cards are issued by Chase.
United MileagePlus now lets you pool your miles with family and friends
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(30%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the author presents this as a friendship test when it's not really about testing friendships but rather promoting United Airlines' new loyalty program feature. Secondly, the author uses emotional manipulation by implying that sharing frequent flyer miles with friends and family will increase brand preference across families just like with toothpaste.
The article presents this as a friendship test when it's not really about testing friendships but rather promoting United Airlines' new loyalty program feature.
Fallacies
(70%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(75%)
The article presents a positive view of the new frequent flyer mile pooling feature offered by United Airlines. The author uses language that portrays this as an appealing and convenient option for customers. Additionally, the author quotes Henry Harteveldt who describes it as a way to increase brand preference across families.
The airline on Thursday started allowing members of its MileagePlus loyalty program to pool their frequent flyer miles and tap into that stash for trips on United.
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