[jma]

I have been a United Airlines Mileage Plus member since the 70’s. I hope you can help with a problem with my account. I have already filed an on-line complaint with United (to which they have responded they will not reinstate my miles without my spending $100 to purchase miles) and have written to Glenn F. Tilton, President and CEO, UAL Corporation, 77 West Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60601, who has not responded at all.

As of July 2010, I had about 49,000 miles. I was looking forward to using these for an overseas trip within the next year. I got notification that the miles were expiring in September 2010 and I needed to have some activity in my account.

A few years ago, I had accepted an offer of a United Airlines Mileage Plus Chase Credit card. It was free for a certain period. When the time came to assess a yearly fee, I was told I could change to a different type of account with fewer perks, but still linked to my Mileage Plus account.

So, when I needed activity in my account in September, I considered donating miles, but I checked with Mileage Plus and was told that using my credit card for a purchase would count as activity. So I used it and figured I’d done what I needed to keep my miles.

In November, I found all my miles had disappeared. After half a dozen phone calls to Chase and Mileage Plus, and about 2 hours on the telephone, I learned that this credit card is not linked to my Mileage Plus account and that all 49,000 miles have been lost. Yet, on the same day, some Mileage Plus agents I spoke told me the Chase card was linked to my Mileage Plus account and that using it should have counted as activity to keep my miles.

I don’t know whose mistakes or misunderstanding this is. But I know I did what I was told I needed to do to keep my miles from expiring. I know it is not my fault if I was given wrong information. I should not be penalized because someone else made a mistake. United Airlines should have to stand behind the information given by their agents.

I am requesting that my miles be reinstated for a limited time, perhaps as little as two or three months. During that time, I will be sure to have activity on my account.