You Can Win Free Flights on United

United Airlines (UA) is offering the chance to win free round-trip flights for one year as a way to encourage more people to get a COVID-19 vaccination.   The airline is the latest entity to offer an incentive to get more of its customers inoculated. 

Companies and state governments have been offering inducements to the as-yet-unvaccinated in an effort to get more vaccines into more people.  The coronavirus has killed nearly 600,000 Americans, according to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.

The giveaways are aimed at overcoming vaccine hesitancy and have become more common in recent weeks as vaccine interest has waned nationwide.   Last month, a CNN poll found that 26 percent of Americans said they would not get the COVID-19 vaccine.

To enter United's contest, travelers who are part of the airline's MileagePlus program must enter a photo of their vaccine card online by June 22.  United will select five winners to receive a year of free flights — that’s 26 round-trip tickets — in any class for themselves and one traveling companion.  An additional 30 customers will be chosen to win one round-trip flight for two.

United’s promotion reads, "With more dream destinations reopening for travel (ciao, Roma!), your COVID-19 vaccine is your ticket to the world."