SONY AND UNITED AIRLINES OFFER MUSIC REWARDS TO MILEAGE PLUS MEMBERS
Las Vegas (CES, Booth #N109) - Jan. 7, 2004 -- Sony Corporation of America and United Airlines today announced a unique and exciting program that enables United Mileage Plus® members to earn and redeem Mileage Plus miles for music. Through the agreement, Sony Connect Inc. will develop and maintain a co-branded Mileage Plus music website that will offer a broad range of albums and tracks supplied by the new Connect™ music service, which is being launched by Sony Corporation of America in the spring of 2004.
"We are very excited about our partnership with United Airlines," said Jay Samit, General Manager, Sony Connect Inc. "This is a great opportunity to introduce millions of consumers to our new Connect music service, which will offer an easy-to-use and secure means of acquiring music online and downloading it to a wide variety of Sony portable devices."
"United Airlines is always looking to strengthen the world’s leading frequent flyer program, Mileage Plus," said Robert Sahadevan, Senior Vice President, UAL Loyalty Services. "This exclusive arrangement with Sony, the worldwide leader in electronics and entertainment, provides an innovative and exciting way for Mileage Plus members to earn and redeem miles. Connect is poised to become an important part of our members' everyday lives, and we are very pleased to be partnered with it."
There are currently over 43 million Mileage Plus members around the world. The Mileage Plus music site plans to launch simultaneously with the launch of the Connect service in the spring of 2004. Mileage Plus members will receive more information
about earning and redeeming miles for music through member emails, statements, and at www.mymileageplus.com.
About Sony Connect Inc.
Sony Connect Inc., based in Santa Monica, California, is a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America. The mission of Sony Connect Inc. is to create a consumer friendly and device-integrated download service for Sony hardware owners, which offers a seamless audio experience and drives incremental sales of Sony music players. It also aims to extend its distribution to third-party devices, and expand its business to other forms of content distribution, including visual content.
About Mileage Plus
Enjoy award travel worldwide with United® Mileage Plus®. With over 43 million enrolled members, Mileage Plus has been voted the number one frequent flyer program by readers of Business Traveler magazine for eight years running. Mileage Plus members can earn miles and redeem awards to nearly 700 destinations in more than 120 countries by flying United or any one of the 15 Star AllianceTM member airlines. Members can also earn miles when traveling by staying at partner hotels or renting a car, and can earn miles everyday by purchasing goods and services with the Mileage Plus Visa®, making phone calls, surfing the Internet, dining at partner restaurants, and shopping at participating retail and grocery partners. For more information or to enroll, visit www.united.com/mileageplus.
About United Airlines
United and United Express operate more than 3,400 flights a day on a route network that spans the globe. News releases and other information about United can be found at the company's web site at www.united.com.
