CHICAGO, Sept. 20, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- United Airlines, the official airline of the U.S. Olympic Committee for 35 years, is recognizing the extraordinary achievements of the U.S. Paralympic Team athletes by awarding "Gold for Gold." United is awarding MileagePlus Premier Gold status to the 59 Team USA athletes who earned a gold medal in the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.

"All of the U.S. Paralympic Team athletes have inspiring stories of how hard work and commitment helped them achieve their Paralympic dreams," said Julia Haywood, United's executive vice president and chief commercial officer. "United employees take pride in supporting the athletes along the way and look forward to helping this year's gold medal winners continue to pursue their dreams."

The MileagePlus Premier Gold status award will continue through January 2018.

Premier-level MileagePlus members earn a host of benefits that upgrade their travel experiences, including:

• Priority ticket counter check-in lines, security screening lines, boarding and baggage handling;
• Complimentary premium-cabin upgrades on domestic flights when space is available;
• Complimentary access to extra-legroom United Economy Plus seating;
• A complimentary checked-baggage allowance; and
• Benefits when traveling on Star Alliance member airlines.

"The performances by Team USA athletes at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games were the product of incredible talent and intense preparation," said Rick Adams, USOC chief of Paralympic Sport. "United's dedication to flying Team USA spans more than 30 years, and we are thrilled that United's commitment to celebrating the achievements of America's elite athletes remains as strong today as ever."

As the official airline of the United States Olympic Committee, United Airlines has flown Team USA athletes to Olympic and Paralympic Games for 35 years. Through the USOC partnership, the airline has also offered customers opportunities to bid MileagePlus miles for once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to attend Olympic and Paralympic events and has hosted send-off celebrations for athletes flying to the games. United and the USOC recently extended their partnership through 2020.

(For photos of Team USA send-off events in August 2016, visit: http://newsroom.united.com/TeamUSARioSendOff?view=category&mode=gallery.)

About United

United Airlines and United Express operate more than 4,500 flights a day to 339 airports across five continents. In 2015, United and United Express operated more than 1.5 million flights carrying more than 140 million customers. United is proud to have the world's most comprehensive route network, including U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. United operates more than 720 mainline aircraft, and this year, the airline anticipates taking delivery of 21 new Boeing aircraft, including 737 NGs, 787s and 777s. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 192 countries via 28 member airlines. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United's parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol UAL.

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SOURCE United Airlines