United Airlines Takes Giving to New Heights This Holiday Season

Company awarding up to 10 million miles to customers for charitable donations

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Nov 25, 2014, 12:30 ET

CHICAGO, Nov. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines is teaming up with CrowdRise, the popular online crowdfunding platform, to show the power of giving this holiday season. The company will offer up to 10 million bonus award miles to MileagePlus members who donate to some of their favorite charities through Dec. 5, 2014. Each donation will also add one signature United "brick" to the CrowdRise Giving Tower, a soaring virtual structure built in real time that will illustrate the world's combined philanthropic impact.

MileagePlus members who contribute at least $50 to select Giving Tower nonprofit partners may earn up to 1,000 bonus award miles for their donation. Eligible nonprofits include the March of Dimes, American Red Cross, United Nations Foundation, UNICEF, 92Y and It Gets Better Project.

"This is a great opportunity for MileagePlus members to earn something extra for their generosity," said Mark Anderson, senior vice president of corporate and government affairs at United. "We are proud to partner with CrowdRise to help take giving to new heights."

Mileage awards will vary based on the MileagePlus member's donation:

Donate $50-$99 – Earn 250 bonus miles
Donate $100-$249 – Earn 500 bonus miles
Donate $250 or more – Earn 1,000 bonus miles

"United Airlines has been an incredible and awesome partner," said Robert Wolfe, co-founder and CEO of CrowdRise. "They help us create innovative campaigns that do so much good around the globe. We are really excited they are such a big part of this effort."

United and CrowdRise have worked together to raise relief funds for the victims of Superstorm Sandy, Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines and the tornadoes that devastated parts of Central Oklahoma last year. MileagePlus members can watch the Giving Tower grow by downloading the free Giving Tower app from the iTunes store or Google Play, or by visiting CrowdRise.com/GivingTower.

About MileagePlus
MileagePlus is United's award-winning loyalty program in which members earn miles by flying United, United Express, Star Alliance or United's other airline partners, and by purchasing products or services from many partners worldwide. Members may then use their miles for travel, hotel stays, car rentals, merchandise, experiences and other benefits. According to the fifth annual Switchfly Reward Seat Availability Survey, published by IdeaWorksCompany in May 2014, MileagePlus offers the most "Saver" award-seat availability among U.S. global airlines. Plus, Global Traveler magazine has named MileagePlus the "Best Frequent-Flyer Program" for 10 consecutive years.

About United
United Airlines and United Express operate an average of 5,100 flights a day to 374 airports across six continents. In 2013, United and United Express operated nearly two million flights carrying 139 million customers. With U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., United operates more than 700 mainline aircraft. This year, the airline is taking delivery of 35 new Boeing aircraft, including the 787-9 as the North American launch customer, and is welcoming 32 new Embraer 175 aircraft to United Express. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 192 countries via 27 member airlines. More than 85,000 United employees reside in every U.S. state and in countries around the world. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United's parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol UAL.

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SOURCE United Airlines