The airline company does not require its flight staff to be vaccinated yet, officials said. (Courtesy of Rick Uldricks),
UNITED STATES — United Airlines announced Monday the company will give flyers a chance to win a free year of flights to any of United’s destinations in exchange for getting vaccinated against COVID-19.
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United Airlines’ “Your Shot to Fly” is designed as a sweepstakes for travelers in the airline’s MileagePlus program. Frequent flyers will have until June 22 to upload a photo of their vaccination card or other vaccination record in order to be entered into the giveaway.
The company will announce the five winners July 1. Each winner will get an entire year of travel for themselves and one designated guest. Tickets can be used in any class for anywhere United flies.
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United will also give away 30 pairs of tickets to members for one round-trip flight for two in any class to any airport where United flies.
The airline company said the sweepstakes comes just in time as more popular travel locations loosen coronavirus restrictions and travel orders.
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“We’re proud to do our part to incentivize people to get their shot,” United CEO Scott Kirby said in a news release. “Thanks to the vaccine, more and more destinations are opening up for travel — and we know our customers are eager to fly.”
Those wanting to participate can upload their vaccination verification through a mobile app, which United said it hopes will streamline the travel process if flyers are required to show proof of vaccination to enter a specific state or location.
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United Airlines has not made the vaccine mandatory for flight staff yet, however, citing a lack of available doses in a news conference earlier this month.
Delta Airlines announced last week it will require all new staff to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before servicing flights.
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Many businesses, local and federal governments have offered free products or services as a way of incentivizing vaccines.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 39.3 percent of people in the United States have been fully vaccinated.
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