verso2

A few years ago, United started requiring MileagePlus members to login to their accounts using an alphanumeric username (rather than an email address) and password. I've been doing that, as recently as 9/26.

Today, I tried to login to my MileagePlus account on United.com, using that alphanumeric username, and got this response: "Please enter only letters A-Z or numbers 1-9." Now, there's a long MP account number associated with the alphanumeric username I've been using, so I entered that instead, along with the same password. It worked.

However, the same procedure does NOT work with the United app on iPhone--it still requires the older alphanumeric MP member username.

I've seen no announcement on the United website of any procedure change--and given that United is trumpeting a big deal about using the United app for contactless login at airports during the pandemic, you'd think they'd being trying to get this in order.

Has anyone come across this problem, or have more information?

WineCountryUA

"alphanumeric username" has not been the standard for years. The standard has been UA MP Account Id and a password. Username and at onetime PINs have long been dropped although it appears username continued to work.

ekwang

I just use my MP number and unique password. I think a long time ago I used to use an email address and password, but gosh, it has to have been at least 5-7 years I think. And I think my UA app uses the same log-in credentials as logging into UA on my desktop browser.

verso2

Thanks!

Odd, though--because alphanumeric username is the only one that works on my United app login.

I'm concerned about the erratic behavior--sometimes x works, sometimes y--and perhaps you'll get hung up needing to log in somewhere and can't.

Also odd: United cannot seem to remember who/what you are--constantly saying that it doesn't "recognize this device"--though that hasn't changed, not even down to the build of the browser. Not confidence inspiring.

WineCountryUA

I only use my UA MP account on my mobile device. Andriod user

Never have seen that specific message

There does seem to be a limit on the number of devices / browsers combinations that United will remember before need to do a full security question process.

docbert

When you say Alphanumeric username, do you mean something like AB123456 or ABC12345? And you when say "long MP account number" do you mean something like 03210123456?

If so, you've got your terms wrong. ABC12345 is your Mileage Plus number. It's not a username, it's the MP 'number' assigned to your account.

03210123456 *was* your United Mileage Plus number up until they merged the United and Continental systems and moved over to the Continental-style numbers as above above 8 years ago.

To login to the website (and app, and everywhere else) you should be able to use your MP number (ie, ABC12345). Interestingly, using your old MP number does indeed still seem to work on the website, but that's almost certainly just for legacy reasons and not really what they intend you to go given those numbers aren't used for anything any more.

If your new MP number didn't work, then either the website had a glitch, or you mistyped your username or password.

fumje

There was a period of time (5-ish years ago?) when MP allowed for a username, no? I.e. not the AB123456 and not the 00123456789 MileagePlus identifiers.

docbert

There used to be periods when you could use a username, or even an email address. Both were disabled many years ago for "security reasons" (likely the classic issue of people using the same username/email + password on multiple sites, not an actual UA security issue)

emcampbe

PINs have been dropped for any sort of web activity, but pretty sure the PIN is still necessary for phone transactions sometimes, I think mostly with redeeming MP miles over the phone. Granted it�s been a while since I�ve done this kind of transaction on the phone, but it�s probably been within the last year, so not really that long. Not really one of those super secure systems where they get off the phone and have you type it into an automated system, but the agent will ask for it and verify before preforming the transaction.

uastarflyer

Just checked - Pre merger 00123456789 still works as username

So why did Smisek force a change?

verso2

Yes, the alphanumeric username is ABC99999; the long MP account number is all digits. So thanks for sorting out the terminology.

However, the confusion is this: the United website yesterday would NOT ACCEPT the "new" alphanumeric account number--it would only accept the "old" all-numeral account number. There was a message "Please enter only letters A-Z or numbers 0-9"--ie, the mixture of letters/numbers in the "new" account numbers would not work, although it did work on 9/26.

WineCountryUA

The 11 digit, all numeric id is obsolete but some parts of the system will still take it -- it could disappear anytime.

The 8-char MP account id -- starting with 2 or 3 chars -- is the official account id.

Other older usernames or emails not longer work.

Does the 8-char MP account id not work today?
Are you sure you have the right account id?

Works fine for me.

every so often, the logon proceedure does not work for a short bit. rare and it corrects itself in minutes usually

verso2

Thanks to all for advice/explanations/help.

No, the 8-char MP account id did not work for several days (on the website; the United app on iPhone was OK).

I finally had to call United, but 1) did not have a huge phone-tree problem in getting to talk to a rep; and 2) the guy I talked to was able to reset my account, which then started working correctly again.

So: problem solved, and keep the rep/reset option in mind if you have sudden, odd problem in logging in.

verso2

I spoke too soon, it turns out.

I attempted to login into my MP account on the website, only to see the **** message:

"Please enter only letters A-Z or numbers 0-9." when I entered my CURRENT, and for several years, alphanumeric MP account ID.

Since United went to alphanumeric account IDs several years ago, this should not even be possible.

WineCountryUA

Do you have some unusual keyboard / character set option selected?
have you tried all upper case / all lower case? case does not matter normally