Changes to the MileagePlus Program

Changes to the MileagePlus Program

United Airlines has recently announced some adjustments to its MileagePlus program, and not everyone is thrilled about it. Starting April 2nd, travelers without a co-branded credit card will find it harder to earn miles, as the accumulation rate will significantly drop.

However, if you own a United card, you'll benefit greatly from these changes. I'm one of those lucky cardholders, and here's why I'm excited.

Earn More Miles

United is restructuring the MileagePlus program to favor credit cardholders and elite members while reducing benefits for regular members. The mile accumulation rate will decrease for those without a card or status, but if you hold a United card, the miles you earn per dollar spent will be significantly higher—potentially even double on qualifying flights.

Cardholders will also enjoy a 10% discount on award tickets, with Premier members receiving even greater discounts. Meanwhile, basic economy tickets are becoming less appealing: most passengers booking these fares won't earn any miles unless they have status or a co-branded card.

Personal Insights After the Changes

As a frequent United flyer who just relocated to San Francisco—the home of United—earning more miles on my United flights is a major reason I signed up for the United Quest℠ Card. Last year, I achieved Premier Silver status, which further enhances my ability to accumulate miles. With these new changes, my earning potential is set to become even more impressive.

Currently, I'm earning 7 miles per dollar through the MileagePlus program and an additional 3 miles from my United Quest Card, totaling 10 miles per dollar. But starting April 2nd, this will increase to 12 miles per dollar—an impressive 20% boost!

Real-Life Example

To illustrate the difference, I recently booked a $278 flight from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu to San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Under the current structure, I would earn 2,780 miles for this flight. However, if I book the same flight after April 2nd, I will earn 3,336 miles—an additional 556 miles!

This may not seem like a lot for one flight, but on larger itineraries, such as a $1,200 round trip to Europe, that extra mileage could add up to 2,400 miles, bringing you closer to redeeming award tickets.

Discounted Award Tickets for Cardholders

Higher mile accumulation is fantastic, but the ability to book award tickets at a discount makes this even more enticing. With the upcoming changes, United will offer a 10% discount on all award tickets for cardholders, and 15% or more for Premier members.

As a Premier Silver member, not only will I earn more miles, but I'll also need fewer miles to book award tickets. It truly is a win-win!

How to Optimize These New Changes

Whether you fly United a few times a year or frequently at their airports, this new structure creates a clear motivation to think carefully about how you earn miles. Here are some tips to optimize:

• Sign up for a United card if you haven't already: Right now, the gap between cardholders and non-cardholders is set to widen significantly.
• Always pay for United flights with your United card: This ensures you accumulate miles at a higher rate for every transaction.
• Pay attention to changes in basic economy: This is becoming increasingly important, as you may not earn any miles on these fares without a United card.

Conclusion

The changes to United's MileagePlus program will pose challenges for regular travelers without a co-branded card—but for those who do have one, this is an exciting opportunity. A 20% increase in the earning rate means I'll accumulate miles faster and reach my award redemption goals sooner, all without altering how I fly or spend.

With United continuing to focus on rewarding loyalty and card usage, even infrequent flyers should consider adding a United card to their wallet to take full advantage of these changes.