What Would I Do if I Had 1,000,000 United Airline Miles?

What a question, what a question! A million United Airline miles, all mine? I could take an extravagant trip – to that sweet little vacation spot I’ve been eying for the past year – in style, of course: first class, with an upgrade to the premier cabin. Why, you ask? Well, for the free standard checked bag allowance, the extra spacious and comfy seats, and complimentary beverages. Don’t forget the priority check-in, security line access, and boarding and baggage handling.

A first class trip to Europe would only cost me a little over a quarter of my miles, and once I’m there, I could travel in comfort, exploring the beauty of Italy, the hills of Scotland, and the cuisine of Spain; each inter-Europe trip costs only a fraction of the overall mileage cost initially incurred. If I decided to spend my vacation in a more traditional location, such as the Caribbean (a first class round trip would cost only 160,000 miles), or Hawaii (190,000 miles, with a 5,000 miler inter-island add-on), I would have plenty of miles left to take along my wife and kids, and throw a few relatives to boot. Maybe I’ll head to Japan to form some business contacts, explore the bustling electronics markets, and get a taste of a truly exotic culture. A round-trip to Japan, flying business class, would cost 300,000 miles, leaving more than enough for luxuries along the way.

Speaking of luxuries, I could use my miles to buy upgrades to my hotel suite. Oh Jacuzzi, and pay-per-view, here I come! Another option is to use them to rent a car on my journey, maybe a convertible to cruise along Rodeo Drive or a four wheel drive jeep to rough it on my next adventure. Imagine arriving at the airport to a special pick and drop service ready to take you to your premium hotel suite, or island resort. Since major airlines have also partnered with point-based websites, I could always exchange some miles for points in other loyalty programs, such as for Starbucks points, or on eBay, to purchase magazines to read on my trip, or to get unique discounts on that amazing Hawaiian cruise.

As a United Million Miler, I could enroll my spouse or significant other to share my Premier status, and then have them benefit from the annual rewards and special upgrade features as well. These include in-flight upgrades, special travel awards, and more.

With all these options, what’s a frequent flyer to do?