Consumers to trade airline miles for music downloads
United Airlines and Sony Connect have launched a scheme through which Mileage Plus frequent flyer programme members can redeem their airline miles for online music downloads.
The Sony Connect and MileagePlusMusic.com services were launched with a special performance by Sheryl Crow onboard a United Airlines flight from Chicago to Los Angeles on May 4th.
A frequent flyer first Mileage Plus members can now use the miles in their accounts to purchase music online, which is a first for a frequent flier programme.
"We're proud to partner with Sony to encourage legal downloading, and to provide our passengers with another benefit of joining Mileage Plus," said Martin White, senior vice president of marketing for United Airlines.
"We hope through this relationship that we are able to introduce Mileage Plus' 44 million members to the Connect music store," added Jay Samit, general manager for Sony Connect.
Redemption options All Mileage Plus members are eligible to redeem miles for music at either of the two web sites (see links below), and tracks can be obtained in two ways:
- 10,000 miles for 100 tracks (applies to US$0.99 tracks only)
- 10,000 miles for 10 albums (applies US$9.99 albums only)
To redeem miles for music, members simply go to the MileagePlusMusic web site where they receive a 'coupon code' after entering their Mileage Plus number.
They can then go to the Sony Connect web site at any time and download the SonicStage software, which allows them to visit the Connect music store directly. There they enter the coupon code and can begin redeeming their miles for any qualifying tracks.
Visa card bonus Additionally, holders of the Mileage Plus Visa card are able to earn double miles (for example, 2 miles for every US$1 spent at Sony Style, or 40 miles for every US$20 spent at the Connect music store) for all qualifying purchases of music or Sony products through the Sonystyle.com web site, through Sony Style stores (there are 8 stores throughout major US cities), or the Connect music store.
For additional information: · Visit MileagePlusMusic at http://www.mileageplusmusic.com · Visit Sony Connect at http://www.connect.com