United Air Lines Bumps Silver Wings Plus
United Air Lines has announced it will be ending its only senior fare program, Silver Wings Plus, this year. Starting July 1, 2007, Silver Wings Plus will no longer offer annual memberships and effective immediately, Silver Wings Plus will no longer activate, renew or extend annual memberships.
United Air Lines decision to end its senior program goes along with the industry trend. In recent years American, Continental and Delta dropped senior fare programs leaving Southwest as the only airline still offering decent incentives to attract senior travel. Southwest charges seniors 65 or older nonrestricted set fares of $159 (or less) each way for all flights in the 48 contiguous states.
United Air Lines posted a statement on its Web site giving the reason for discontinuing the Silver Wings Plus program: "As part of United Airlines' efforts to control costs, optimize revenue and respond to customer feedback, we have decided to discontinue the Silver Wings Plus program."
If you are currently a Silver Wings member with travel credits, United will allow you to use them for travel through June 30, 2008. However, if you are holding tickets booked with Silver Wings, you should contact the ticket supplier (airlines, car rental companies, hotels, cruise lines, etc.) directly after July 1, 2007, for any changes to itineraries. If you joined Silver Wings before September 2005, you will retain access to special Zone Fares.
For anyone interested in receiving a refund for the unused portion of your membership, log onto your Silver Wings Plus account.
I am a lifetime member of Silver Wings Plus, #00623714128. Please advise if any benefits remain or any refund due.
Thank You!
I am a lifetime member of Silver wings Plus,
# 00113290382. Do any benefits remain?
In 1995 I joined Silver Wings Plus as a life member for $225. Do I have any benefits now? Do I recieve any refund?? Thank you, Betty B. Smith 00115953770
I have purchased a life time membership to United’s Silver wing plus. Although, it never provided any special deals, I have been flying UA on its FF program. Never notified on the discontinuation of SWP, shoudn’t I be reimbursed for the premium I paid?
It is my understanding that as of June 30, 2007, United stopped accepting new memberships and renewals and then on June 30, 2008 all Premium memberships were terminated.
United supposedly was offering prorated refunds of payments received by members. You should check with a United customer service representative to verify this information and to find out if there is any reimbursements available for you.
Contact information found on the United website:
Written contact:
Silver Wings Plus
21798 Network Place
Chicago, IL 60673
By phone:
Toll free: 1-800-720-1765
Hours: Monday through Friday, 9am – 5pm CST.
Hope this helps.
Donna Montaldo