United: Making deals to make amends?

United Airlines experienced a disastrous summer of mind-numbing delays, frustrating cancellations, and contentious labor problems.

Those three factors contributed to a decrease in passenger traffic, a decline in its stock price, and lower-than-expected third-quarter results.

United is now aggressively trying to lure back customers by waiving some fees, easing ticket restrictions, cutting fares, and doling out extra frequent-flier bonus miles.

The bonus-mile incentive is for elite-status members of United's Mileage Plus frequent flier program. They will receive additional bonus miles added retroactively from May 1 and will continue to be added for flights through the end of the year.

One of the sales incentives is a partnership between United and Expedia.com for a 30 percent discount on a future United flight. The rules are simple: Go to Expedia's Web site (www.expedia.com) and purchase a United ticket between now and Oct. 31 for travel through Dec. 15. You will then receive a 'reward' for 30 percent off a future United ticket that can be used between Dec. 1 and Feb. 28, 2001.

To find out if there are other deals on United tickets in your market, call United at 800-241-6522.

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