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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...

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.

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.

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