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Re:United Airlines awards hackers millions of miles for reve... by baakss on Thursday July 16, 2015 @11:55AM (#9897968)
I'd be curious if it also qualifies the person who found the bug for their million mile lifetime membership programs.

http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/account/lifetime.asp...

Re:United Airlines awards hackers millions of miles for reve... by SeoxyS on Thursday July 16, 2015 @12:35PM (#9898263)
The million mile lifetime status is based on "Lifetime Flown Miles," which is different than EQMs (elite-qualifying miles), and "Award Miles." EQMs reset every year, and are used only to set your frequent flyer status level. Award Miles are equivalent to a currency, and you can accumulate them and spend them on award tickets and other things. The reward for the bug bounty is only in award miles.
Re:United Airlines awards hackers millions of miles for reve... by ubernostrum on Thursday July 16, 2015 @12:30PM (#9898224)
Almost certainly not.

Although it was different in the past, all the US carriers now differentiate between miles earned by actually flying (in the industry and the frequent-flyer community referred to as "BIS", or "butt-in-seat" miles), and miles earned from all other associated programs (credit cards, affiliate shopping, etc. etc.).

Only the mileage from actual flying counts toward frequent-flyer status, lifetime benefit thresholds and so on.