UNITED AIRLINES PRESS RELEASE

Sheryl Crow to Team with United Airlines And Sony Connect For a Live Performance at 30,000 Feet to Celebrate "Miles for Music"

Taking Downloading to a New High, United, Sony Connect and Sony Hi-MD Digital Walkman Players Host In-flight Performance on May 4th to Launch Sony Connect Online Music Service, www.mileageplusmusic.comand Hi-MD Walkman Recorders

Chicago, April 20, 2004 - United, Sony Connect and Sony Electronics today announced that Sheryl Crow will give an unprecedented live performance onboard a United Airlines flight on May 4 from Chicago to Los Angeles. The special event will officially launch a unique new program between Sony Connect and United that enables United Mileage Plus members to earn and redeem Mileage Plus miles for music at Connect.com. Passengers on the plane will be invited guests by the host companies.

The event also marks the official launch of Sony's Hi-MD(TM) digital Walkman(R) players. Compatible with the Connect online music service, Hi-MD Walkman recorders use Hi-MD removable media and provide music lovers with unlimited storage capacity to build an infinite library of their favorite songs.

Select tracks from the performance will be available for download at www.mileageplusmusic.com in early May 2004. More information about the partnership will be announced at a press conference on May 4 in Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

Live and Inflight with Sheryl Crow

For one flight, and one flight only, Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter, Sheryl Crow, will be playing to a sitting-room only audience (until, that is, the captain turns off the seatbelt sign) aboard a United airplane traveling from Chicago to Los Angeles in a first-of-its-kind concert that will launch the new partnership between United Mileage Plus and Sony.

And LiveFlyer was able to snag a front-row seat. Well, maybe not front row, but it's a good seat. All right, all right, we're in row 38, but we wouldn't trade it for the world.

Thanks to the partnership, Mileage Plus members will be able to download 100 songs at a redemption cost of 10,000 miles -- an innovative benefit that is sure to appeal to music-loving frequent travelers. Full details and redemption rules on the "Music for Miles" program will be available in early May on the www.mileageplusmusic.com Web site.

After checking his beloved iPod at the gate, LiveFlyer's Randy Petersen will join several other invited guests on the flight and will enjoy a 40-minute acoustic set by Crow and an accompanying guitarist.

You weren't invited, you say? Not to worry. Before, during and after the event Randy will post updates and pictures right here so you too can enjoy the experience. You'll feel like you're right there in his seat watching and listening to Sheryl Crow, only without the hassles of reclining seat backs and shared armrests.

So grab your favorite drink and a lighter, and join us onboard (or online, as the case may be).

(view all the photos...)

- Posted 11:32pm

"The End..."

As the music fades and the guests stream back on the buses for points across the U.S., we sense a renewed vigor from United to make their marketing really work with their members. Each executive asked me one question, over and over again - what do we need to do with our Premier program? I only have one answer on your behalf - whatever it is, it only matters if it is deliverable. I think the past few years are starting to be that - the past, and my guess is that we're all going to see plenty of excitement from Mileage Plus through the remainder of 2004. I saw it up close and personal and, as you know, I told all of you they would make it through bankruptcy and that your miles were safe. So far, so good and if I were a betting man, I'd say they are on a mission.

Bottomline: Miles really have never sounded so good. And considering what else you can get with 10,000 miles, this is a start in a very exciting direction. Hope you enjoyed the show.

And stay tuned to FlyerTalk.com because in the next few days we'll announce how you could be the lucky winner of the Connect/Mileage Plus on board goody bag including the one-of-a-kind concert t-shirt.

- Posted 11:23pm

"Back To The Miles That Never Sounded So Good"

Observation: everyone in LA drinks Corona beer.

We throughly enjoy a nine song concert by a warm up band called Todd Widell. They play a set outdoors while the indoors is being set up for Sheryl. Good listening music and it's very much appreciated.

But the time has come and we head for the few seats available and get ready to rock. While it seems LA sees plenty of this type of stuff, the crowd and the media are out in force. Lots of buzz, lots of Corona beer and lots of anticipation for yet another round of Sheryl Crow music - live!

Observation: a huge number of people are involved in setting up for two people to sing and play their guitars. There are at least three dozen people scurrying around and again the star is the the guitar tuner. The place is crowded and I assume they are all interested in using their miles to download music. I can hope can't I?

A very loud crowd welcomes Sheryl again and in row three, no more than 15 feet from the lady that can sing, I'm clapping and enjoying the music as well as anyone.

I'm amazed at the number of guitar changes and the sound is absolutely perfect. The music surrounds us all and after just a few songs, it is over - a lifetime of memories for all.

- Posted 11:14pm

"Sony Music Campus"

Back on the bus after a quick round of work (remember, this is all for you...) and jog up and down the board walk area of Santa Monica. It could be I'm the only one without a tatoo, but then again, I didn't check everyone for this irregularity.

The Sony Music place is very, very cool. After storming the gates - and lovely gates they were - we are impressed with some of the tallest bamboo I've ever seen. With fountains and koi swimming around we all decide that life in LA is going take an adjustment - even if we are only here for 15 hours.

There is food everywhere and, of course, I devoured every California Roll I could find - when in California...

They have a room set up to demonstrate the mileageplusmusic.com Web site. Also on a huge flat screen is a DVD segment of the video shot this afternoon on the plane - Sheryl performing one of her songs. Gee, we all love this instant concert film we are staring in.

There are three buzz topics making the rounds that might interest the Entertainment Tonight crowd: 1) one of the guys that was in Beverly Hills 90210 was on the plane 2) the second place guy from The Bachelor (Trista reject?) was also on the plane and 3) Lance is nearby. Lance as in Lance Armstrong, as in current SO of Sheryl Crow. I'm bored with this and wonder aloud - where's the miles. Anyway, that's all the gossip I could find and this is LA you know.

- Posted 11:06pm

"On the Bus, Gus"

OK, the flight ends and we're all happy. But wait, there's still more to come. Later this evening is yet another set of Sheryl doing what she does best and you are invited. So we hustle up our luggage and head for the bus and that lovely LA traffic. Maybe it's just us, but it didn't seem too bad (could be we're all still flying high) and in no time at all we're in Santa Monica. We keep thinking it was because of the Sheryl Crow song that mentions "Santa Monica Boulevard..." but come to find out later it's because there's a really fine hotel there and it's only minutes from Sony Music - this evening's destination.

So we're at Le Merigot/J. W. Marriott Hotel right off the beach in Santa Monica. I would have been quite happy at the Holiday Inn up a few blocks, but after checking in - my opinion has changed. This is a Marriott gem. Upon check in I think I'll be clever and line up in the Rewards line and get ready to flash my Marriott Rewards Platinum card. Well, to my glum surprise, the four other guests in front of me all flash their Platinum cards as well. Uh... this is no ordinary group. Great room overlooking the courtyard, pool and distant beach. I have a picture, but I've decided to not ruin your day. Trust me - it is lovely.

- Posted 5:24pm

"I Love LA"

We all deplane on the right side to the tarmac where photographers and film crews are lined up everyhwere so we can "picture" ourselves with Sheryl in front of the plane engine that graphically lists the Connect and mileageplusmusic.com partnership. Very cool, very LA and very rock star like.

Interstingly, they had a number of video editors right on board and they edited all the digital video that was taken during the concert and made a 30-minute clip, which Sheryl approved while on board. It was distributed via satellite within the hour. This is way cooler than one-hour photo at Walgreens.

More later. There's a special full concert by Sheryl for everyone at the Sony Music campus later tonight.

And again sorry there were no pictures of the concert in the sky - they didn't want any flashes going off to disturb the filming. This one is commited to memory.

- Posted 5:21pm

"The Knowledge Quiz - Answers"

1. c
2. a
3. c
4. a (they've also won three Freddie Awards of the same name)
5. b (there were rumors about sugar donuts which, in fact, are her second favorite item, and they counted both answers. However, a band member snuck in and said it really was tuna fish. As with rock stars.... who really knows. We just know it wasn't red jelly beans.)
6. The Sony Connect/Mileage Plus Music partnership

- Posted 5:12pm

"The Knowledge Quiz"

As we prepare to land, Martin White, United's Senior VP of Marketing, announces the winners of the special Knowledge Quiz. They gave away six Eli's Cheesecakes, three Sony noise cancelling headsets, three models of United's new livery and six new Sony Hi-MD music players.

Here's the quiz in case you think you might have won:
1. What is the name of Sheryl's debut album?
a. The Glove Sessions
b. Sheryl Crow
c. Tuesday Night Music Club

2. United recently announced a change to our fleet that is featured on this aircraft. What is that change?
a. New livery (exterior paint scheme)
b. Extra lavatory on each aircraft
c. New color of seats
d. None of the above

3. Where did Sheryl Crow grow up?
a. Illinois
b. Colorado
c. Missouri

4. How many years in a row has Mileage Plus won the coveted award for Best Frequent Flyer Program?
a. Eight
b. Nine
c. Six

5. What is Sheryl Crow's favorite "after show" food?
a. sugar donuts
b. pizza
c. yogurt

6. What is the new partnership that we are celebrating today?


OK, get your answers ready, I'll give the correct answers next.

- Posted 5:07pm

"What's That Sound?"

Near the end of the concert the speakers suddenly go out. It turns out the batteries died and the Energizer Bunny wasn't around. Sheryl and her band mate continue playing and this truly becomes an acoustic set. While the sound did not carry as far - everyone was happy that she continued to play her heart out. You've heard of MTV Unplugged? Well United Unplugged was pretty good in it's own right.

She plays "My Favorite Mistake" and says it is about someone, but won't tell us who. Lacking any past issues of People Magazine, we're all left wondering...

And true to tradition, she throws the guitar pick into the audience at the end of the show.

- Posted 5:01pm

"More Music/More Jokes"

After the first song she reminds us of her personal stance on anti-piracy and launches into a Cat Stevens song, "The First Cut Is The Deepest." She also jokes about the movie 'Airplane' and says she thought about wearing a nun's habit on this flight. But one of her later jokes stole the show. She looks us all in the eye and says "I can't lie to you all, it's been a really long time since I was last in coach..." I think that one of the 1-K members said the same thing.

Sheryl takes time between songs to laugh with us all and shows us that she really might make a good flight attendant some day if this music thing doesn't work out. She knows very well all the hand signals that flight attendants use for referencing the aisle and emergency rows. Here's a strange factoid: she used to be a fearful flyer.

- Posted 4:50pm

"The Concert"

Well, it is really difficult to describe this using any word other than WOW! We all made our way to the coach area where the concert was to be. I ended up with a perfect seat - 37E. Why would a middle seat of five be a perfect seat? Well, the camera crew was up and down the aisles and I was totally uninterrupted. I'm likely never to gripe again when ending up in the middle - it has it rewards.

The equipment and "stage" are set up in the emergency exit row area of seat 30 A/B. There are two sets of mikes for Sheryl and a member of her band to use and throughout coach class are situated four speakers and enough video and audio equipment to stage a concert for the Rolling Stones. It was interesting to note that before the concert began, the main man was the guitar tuner. Over and over he wrestled with getting the right tune at 35,000 feet and I think he did his job.

With an introduction from one of the Sony executives, there is thunderous applause as Sheryl is introduced to absolutely the happiest group of passengers ever. We're all ready to rock. But not before we're re-reminded that it's go to the bathroom now or pee your pants.

Sheryl is very comfortable with us all and has her own jokes to tell. It's a seven-song 40-minute concert that is one we'll all remember.

But before the music starts, we all have to affirm in unison for the cameras that we understood that this is being taped and we are forgoing any and all rights we may have to our likenesses and all that. The affirmation was louder than the applause as we all wanted to hear the music.

The first words from Sheryl Crow, "This is one of the craziest things I've ever done,"
and wonders aloud if she'll be paying taxes in each of the states we're flying over. She's all business and very much expresses her love for music and launches into the first song - Change Will Do You Good.

- Posted 4:46pm

"The Special 1-K Guests On Board"

We chatted with all the special United VIP guests, including three couples that won this trip as a special giveaway on the 1-K Web site. Talk about a happy crowd. Almost all have well north of 1 million actual flight miles on United and as noted previously, one was actually a FlyerTalker. All mentioned that at some point in their long travel careers they had left United for other frequent flyer programs, but they all came back - finding that the grass really was not greener on the other side.

- Posted 4:45pm

"Charter Flight Trivia"

This special charter with the new livery is the same plane that flew the Oscars to LA for that popular award ceremony (maybe next year we can get them to fly the Freddies...)

- Posted 4:38pm

"Sony Execs Really Get This Miles and Music Thing...."

OK, while most if not all the media crowd is music oriented, I did lob a softball question to get the topic of miles into the press conference and the United folks were ready and proud to talk about the exchange of miles into music. I was most impressed when Jay Samik, the general manager of Sony Connect, piped in that there's roughly 30 million members of this frequent flyer program that have never done anything with their miles and they and all the others now can really do things with miles that formerly had little value to them (ie. they did not have enough miles for a free ticket). He goes on to point out that members can also use their miles for the benefit of others - that neice/nephew in college, for example - by redeeming miles for gift certificates to give to these younger music download fans. That is a really good idea because, as Jay notes, you can set up an annual birthday gift of downloadable music with miles from your account and they take care of all the details. Like some of you, I may just join the ranks of favorite Uncle with my miles and downloads.

I sense that this has been one long journey for a partnership and those involved are really sharp.

- Posted 4:36pm

"WOW! There are real FlyerTalkers on board this special flight...."

On board, the pilot announces that they have the routing for Flight 9907 (the charter) and we will be winging our way to Los Angeles "as the Crow flies." I sit down, shut up and we taxi for takeoff. Once in the air, I strike up a conversation with the surrounding 1-K members who are all very delighted to be on board this flight. Many have taken time away from other United flights to be on this flight. They all adore Sheryl's music and it promises to be something that no other airline is likely to match any time soon. As I introduce myself to a 1-K member across the aisle, the passenger behind him asks if I'm the Randy behind FlyerTalk.com. He proudly says he's a long-time member of that community and even pulls out an email from his laptop that is his password confirmation from back in 1998. One of our early members: ngowda. A wonderful guy and he agrees, this is a lot of fun.

We level off at 39,000 feet for drinks and lunch and I am reminded once again that this is an unusual flight - almost everyone is standing in the aisles and chatting with others. As soon as the flight levels off, a motley, yet well-dressed, group of passengers stream out of the first-class section hauling equipment and such to set up for the concert in the back of the plane. Even concerts in the sky have roadies....

UPDATE: I tried to log on and post the pictures and comments 'live' but the phone system on board is down to accommodate all the recording and other equipment for the concert. As you might say - we're on a concert delay.

- Posted 4:35pm

"Concert In The Sky Schedule..."

As noted, the bag included a concert t-shirt, which is very, very cool. Like other concert t-shirts, this one lists the cities that Sheryl is playing during this concert. Check this out:
Chicago 11 am
Rockford 11:31 am
Des Moines 11:58 am
Omaha 12:12 am
Denver 12:09 pm
Grand Canyon 12 pm
Las Vegas 12:18 pm
Los Angeles 12:59 pm

Now that's a concert series.

- Posted 4:32pm

"Sorry For The Delay - Concert Set-Up Preempts On-Board Telecommunications"

Well, it's time to catch up and I'm sorry. Because of the special audio/visual set-up for this concert in the sky, they had to shut down the on-board phones and thus no hookup for my live report. But, here are all the notes I have:

As the press conference dies down, bodies hustle off toward Gate 16 and the Concert in the Sky flight. I take a second to peek outside and glimpse the new livery that the B777 we're flying on is painted in. I like the new look much better. United is going from all-gray to a much fresher look - I never really liked the all-gray look anyway, apologies to the design firm that talked them in to that to begin with.

The buzz is definitely all about Sheryl Crow and it comes from all the media in attendance, from Tokyo TV to Lucky magazine to US Weekly and Wired, and yes, even us, the staff from LiveFlyer.

On board we quickly find that life is good as we, along with all the other guests, including the special 1-K members who are lucky enough to take a flight they won't soon forget, settle into our business-class seats. Apparently the concert will be in the coach-class section and that is sealed off for now.

But wait, there's a goodie bag occupying my seat. Among the goodies is a 'Best of Sheryl Crow" CD, concert t-shirt, pass from T-Mobile, pass for five free downloads from Connect (mileageplusmusic.com) as well as a special series of music CDs from Ted, United and other artists. There's also a special gift from Ted - a part of United. We'll not ravage ours and save it all for a special Sheryl Crow goodie bag giveaway on FlyerTalk.com - so stay tuned for this in the next few days.

- Posted 9:14am

"The Press Conference....."

With this special concert in the sky - comes a press conference and all eyes are on the media and the artist - Sheryl Crow. There are cameras everywhere, media everywhere (Wired, US News, US Weekly, Lucky, etc.) and we're all in the Red Carpet Club at the end of B gates in Terminal 1 at ORD. We chatted with Wired mag writers and once Sheryl arrived everyone turned heads. She's 'hot.' Sorry, no other way to describe her. The speaker at the time even paused his specch to acknowledge her and when she sneezed, another speaker paused to "God Bless Her." Star power and we're ready to fly. More later. Check the pics.

- Posted 8:58am

"Tuning a guitar @ 35,000 feet"

It turns out that many Sony Music executives were involved in trying to decide how to tune a guitar to play at 35,000 feet. Jay Samit, General Manager, Sony Connect mentioned that prior to today's concert in the sky, they did a test flight to try and determine the effect of the altitude on tuning and playing an acoustic guitar at 35,000 feet. Things you and I didn't know.

- Posted 8:55am

"Sheryl Comments About"

At the press conference prior to the start of the charter flight to Los Angeles and the launch of the mileageplusmusic.com Web site and the start of exchanging miles for music - Sheryl Crow commented that "this gives new meaning to the term "Mile-High Club." She expressed her commitment to intellectual property and seemed very happy with the relationship with United Airlines.

- Posted 1:33pm

"What do you take to a concert at 35,000 feet?"

OK, I got the notice that I've been cleared for this special charter flight to witness first-hand why miles never sounded so good. Your first question will be - is this really that big a deal? My first answer is: yes. While other initiatives have tried to introduce opportunities to allow members to convert miles into merchandise, they generally have been disappointing and remain options reserved for members of hotel programs (Marriott, Priority Club and Hilton are in this category) and credit card programs like Diners Club and American Express.

So at least we've got a starting point and this one seems to have much more promise than the last redemption effort between AOL and American AAdvantage. And there's nothing wrong with Sony as a partner - because this concert idea is strictly big-time. Starting early Tuesday morning (May 4) I'll update you as often as I can - even from the airplane - what I see and hear (Mileage Plus marketing executives will be along so there's more to this than just music and miles).

And to answer your second question: No, I don't know if Lance Armstrong will be along. While it may be that Sheryl and Lance are a hot couple, I'm here for the miles angle, not writing for People magazine.

-randy