United Just Overhauled its Loyalty Program—What’s Changed

Frequent flyers may want to take a closer look at their MileagePlus accounts after United Airlines rolled out changes that shift how loyalty is rewarded.

United announced changes to its MileagePlus program this month saying that they are providing travelers with, “three new reasons to hold and use a United MileagePlus credit or debit card.”

Starting with tickets purchased on or after April 2, "primary United MileagePlus cardholders will earn up to twice as many miles per dollar from United for United flights than non-cardholders and earn even more miles when they use their United card to buy their ticket,” the airline said in a press release.  

United says members will continue to earn miles on flights based on the ticket price and their MileagePlus status. 

In the press release, Andrew Nocella, United's chief commercial officer said, “MileagePlus members can now earn more miles faster with a United card–and every one of those miles will go further with our always-on award ticket discounts and expanded access to Saver Award fares.”

Additionally, the airline announced that MileagePlus members who have a United credit or debit card will now be able to access the company’s, “Saver Award inventory in United Polaris Business Class that was previously only available to Platinum and 1K members.” 

The increased focus on credit card activity has stoked criticism from customers who say the changes favor big spenders over frequent flyers. 

“Remember the first rule of modern flying in the U.S.: The airplanes are just there to support the airline's banking business,” one Reddit pundit wrote in response to discussion about the overhaul.

Another contributor questioned how existing cardholders would be affected: “Pushing people that hard into their credit cards giving real sense that banking is a higher priority for them than flying airplanes.

"I have a old-school Mileage Plus Select card–can’t tell if it’ll get reasonable mileage accruals.”

Meanwhile, travelers who typically earn elite status through flights expressed frustration at the direction of the program. 

“And there goes the last of my united loyalty,” a Reddit critic declared.

“I've never been a card holder, but I've made Platinum a couple times, currently gold, on pure butt-in-seat miles/flights. I travel. I don't buy s*** on credit cards I don't need.

"Serious question, are there any airlines where actual flights or travel booked is the highest reward generator? I want to give them my business.”

In addition to a new MileagePlus policy, United Airlines recently made updates to its app hoping to improve customer experience. 

Newsweek reported how the United app has received numerous upgrades as part of two updates last month. Virtual Gate gives customers real-time updates about which groups are boarding for a flight while a progress bar shows how many people have boarded. 

Newsweek was directed to the press release after reaching out to United Airlines for comment. 

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