United Airlines Is Giving Away 50,000 Copies of Its Final In-flight Magazine — How to Get One

07.09.2024 - 03:18 / travelandleisure.com

United Airlines recently announced it will be discontinuing its in-flight paper magazine, Hemispheres. The travel magazine offered travel inspiration and updates on United’s routes, as well as flight and airport terminal information.

In recognition of the magazine’s final issue, United is giving MileagePlus members the opportunity to receive the final issue. 

“We’re offering select MileagePlus members the exclusive chance to get their own free copy of the final print issue of Hemispheres magazine while supplies last,” United shares on the website. 

In order to request one of the limited-quantity issues, travelers must log-in on the promotional site with their United MileagePlus credentials. After selecting «RSVP Now,» members will be entered into the queue to receive a copy of the magazine, and notified if they are selected to receive it. 

September’s issue, the current issue in United’s seatback pockets, is the final print issue of Hemispheres. Frequent flyers have been snapping photos holding the magazine to commemorate the history and significance of the magazine. Others on social media described inflight magazines as “warm nostalgia from my childhood.”

While the paper magazine may be going away, United Airlines confirmed to Travel + Leisure that the historic brand will continue to live on. United will soon debut digital editions of the magazine on its website. The airline has a preview of the new format on its website at united.com/hemispheres. 

A United spokesperson also shared with T+L that the digital version “includes many new and fan-favorite features – including our Three Perfect Days series.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, two major airlines removed in-flight magazines from their seat-back pockets. American Airlines discontinued itsAmerican Way magazine, and Delta Air Lines discontinued its Sky magazine. 

Another popular in-flight magazine, SkyMall, was removed from many airplane seat-backs in 2015 after a management company for the title went bankrupt at the time, according to media reports.