[Expired] Pump up Your United Airlines MileagePlus Earnings

With the end of Plenti, the times are gone where you could earn points for filling up your car. Normally the gas station loyalty programs only give you a cent-amount off per gallon. For example, you save 5cents per gallon of fuel. Plenti allowed you to earn points per gallon at Exxon/Mobil Stations which you could use at retail stores like Macy’s. Unfortunately, the Plenti Program will shut down by July 10th.

There is good news! You can now earn United MileagePlus Miles by filling up your car at BP stations. This is excellent if you are a United Frequent Flier and earn miles there already. Otherwise, it will take a long time for you to get a free flight. This new program offers only miles per gallon pumped not for the actual price you pay at the gas station.

More: How to use BP Driver Rewards with your Linked Credit Card

However, you can earn up to 3 miles per gallon in addition to any credit card points you earn for this purchase. Some credit cards also have a multiplier for gas stations. Check your credit card. To get the maximum amount of points you have to link your credit card to your BP Driver Rewards account. If you have a credit card that offers bonuses for gas stations, use this one. With a linked card, you don’t have to swipe your rewards card anymore, just use your linked card and you will earn your miles.

You can sign up for a new BP Driver Rewards Account here. Make sure you select “Earn and Use Miles”. The rest of the setup process is self-explanatory.

If you are already a BP Driver Rewards Member, don’t worry. Log-in to your account and change your earning preference to “Earn and Use Miles”.

After that, you get asked to sign in to your United account. Do so to link your accounts.

Now you are almost done. The system will ask you a final time if you really want to change to earn “miles” instead of “cents off”.

Don’t forget to add a credit card for maximum miles earning. If you already earned “cents off”, these will be converted to miles as a courtesy with the rate disclosed at the time of conversion. This is non-reversible and can only occur one-time per person, per Driver Rewards account.

200 Bonus Miles

To get the 200 bonus award miles, you need to select United MileagePlus miles as your reward type and you need to have a linked form of payment in your BP Driver Rewards Account.

Redeeming Miles for Gas

Yes, you can use United MileagePlus miles to get “cents off per gallon” for your fill-up. Use 60 United MileagePlus award miles per gallon for $0.50 off per gallon on a maximum of 20 gallons (for a maximum of $10 off) per fuel purchase. This means to save $10 you have to spend 1200 United MileagePlus award miles. In my eyes, this is not a good exchange rate. If you want to go with “cents off per gallon” you should stick to BP version of it.

The Secret Benefit!!!

Using this new cooperation between BP and United Airlines can help you to stop your MileagePlus miles from expiring. Just go to a BP station once every 18 months and your miles won’t expire. This will help you to earn enough miles to redeem for a flight if you are barely using your United account.

The Problem!!!

This is a good deal if you live on the East Coast. The footprint of BP stations is very small and concentrated along the East Coast. You can use the Station Finder to see if there is a station close by to you. I wish United teamed up with a different gas company. Exxon Mobil, for example, is pretty widespread and you can find them in most states.

Terms and Condition

(copied from United’s website)

1) The 200 bonus award miles offer is open to all BP Driver Rewards members who select United MileagePlus miles as their reward type in their Driver Rewards accounts and have linked a form of payment to their account. To earn the bonus, you must then make a fuel transaction at a participating BP station that earns MileagePlus awards miles. Limit one bonus per account, per person for a maximum bonus of 200 miles.

2) Driver Rewards members who select United MileagePlus® as their reward type in their account will earn 1 award mile per gallon of BP fuel purchased at participating BP locations. Link a form of payment to your Driver Rewards account to earn 1 additional award mile per gallon of regular or mid-grade fuel purchased (for a total of 2 miles per gallon), or earn 2 additional award miles per gallon of premium grade fuel purchased (for a total of 3 miles per gallon). Maximum 20 gallons per fuel purchase. Member must enter their Driver Rewards number or swipe a linked card at the pump.

If you are an existing Driver Rewards member and choose to earn MileagePlus award miles, your existing cents per gallon balance will convert to award miles as a one-time courtesy at the rate disclosed at the time of conversion. If you choose to make the one-time conversation, the transaction is non-reversible and can only occur one-time per person, per Driver Rewards account.

3) Use 60 United MileagePlus award miles per gallon for $0.50 off per gallon on a maximum of 20 gallons (for a maximum of $10 off) per fuel purchase. To be eligible to use miles at participating BP stations, you must have an eligible form of payment linked to your Driver Rewards account and have at least 1,200 miles in your MileagePlus account at the time of purchase. For the option to use miles for cents off per gallon, swipe your linked form of payment at the pump.

Miles accrued, awards and benefits issued are subject to change and are subject to the rules of the United MileagePlus® program, including without limitation the Premier® program (the “MileagePlus Program”), which are expressly incorporated herein. Please allow 6-8 weeks after completed qualifying activity for miles to post to your account. United® may change the MileagePlus Program including, but not limited to, rules, regulations, travel awards, and special offers or terminate the MileagePlus Program at any time and without notice. United and its subsidiaries, affiliates, and agents are not responsible for any products or services of other participating companies and partners. Taxes and fees related to award travel are the responsibility of the member. Bonus award miles, award miles, and any other miles earned through non-flight activity do not count toward qualification for Premier status unless expressly stated otherwise. The accumulation of mileage or Premier status or any other status does not entitle members to any vested rights with respect to the MileagePlus Program. All calculations made in connection with the MileagePlus Program, including without limitation with respect to the accumulation of mileage and the satisfaction of the qualification requirements for Premier status, will be made by United Airlines® and MileagePlus in their discretion and such calculations will be considered final. Information in this communication that relates to the MileagePlus Program does not purport to be complete or comprehensive and may not include all of the information that a member may believe is important and is qualified in its entirety by reference to all of the information on the united.com website and the MileagePlus Program rules. United and MileagePlus are registered service marks. For complete details about the MileagePlus Program, go to united.com.

[Photos courtesy of BP and United Airlines]
[Header Image courtesy of Peter]