United Airlines is celebrating the airline’s inaugural service between Los Angeles and mainland China’s commercial and financial center with special fares for economy and business travel and a special Mileage Plus bonus offer.

Customers flying in United Economy(R) between Los Angeles and Shanghai may purchase roundtrip fares beginning at $788, for outbound travel between May 20, 2011, and June 17, 2011. Tickets must be purchased by March 28, 2011.

Customers flying in United Business(R) between Los Angeles and Shanghai may purchase roundtrip fares for as low as $3,513, for outbound travel on or after April 5, 2011. Tickets must be purchased by April 29, 2011.

In addition, Mileage Plus members may earn bonus award miles for travel between Los Angeles and Shanghai beginning May 21, 2011. United is offering triple bonus award miles for customers booked in United First(R) and United Business and double bonus award miles for customers booked in United Economy**. Customers must register for the promotion by June 30, 2011, at united.com/offer/mpi011.

United and Continental offer more non-stop routes between the U.S. and China than any other airline, with once-daily service linking Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong with San Francisco, Chicago and New York/Newark. In addition to these nine daily flights, United offers once-daily seasonal non-stop service linking Beijing with both Washington and Tokyo, and Continental offers twice-weekly service between Hong Kong and Guam. United has flown between the U.S. and China for 25 years.

At the airline’s hub in Los Angeles, United and Continental offer nearly 225 daily departures to points throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia.

United will operate the Los Angeles to Shanghai service with Boeing 777 aircraft, which offer customers service in United First, United Business and United Economy.