Where you credit your miles is like a game of chess. Singapore Airlines has cut earnings on discount economy class fares on United Airlines. Fares that used to earn 100% of miles flown will now earn as little as 25%. Where should you credit your United flights when the fare is cheap?
Let’s take Los Angles to Newark on United as our example. Say you bought a cheap ticket (K-fare) for $120, not uncommon if you buy a few weeks in advance. The flight is 2,455 miles. Up until last week, you could credit the flight to Singapore Airlines and earn 2,455 miles. If you credited to United and had no elite status, you’d earn five miles for every dollar spent, so 5 x 134 = 670 miles.
You can see why Singapore Airlines’ Kris Flyer was so attractive. But the operative word is was. That same fare now earns only 25% of the 2,455 miles or a total of 614 miles. You actually are better off crediting to United!
Where to Credit Cheap United Tickets
But be not dismayed, for there are other options. The following Star Alliance loyalty programs earn 50% on the cheapest fare classes:
- Aegean Airlines (A3)
- Air Canada (AC)
- Air India (AI)
- Asiana Airlines (OZ)
- Avianca (AV) [with 500-mile minimums]
- Avianca Brazil (O6)
- COPA Airlines (CM)
- Egyptair (MS)
- Ethiopian Airlines (ET)
- EVA Airways (BR)
- SAS Scandinavian Airlines (SK) [with 300-mile minimums]
- South African Airways (SA)
- TAP Portugal (TP)
- Thai Airways International (TG)
- Turkish Airlines (TK)
(with thanks to wheretocredit.com for providing a handy reference)
Now let’s dive into where these should be credited.
A Few Runners-Up
- Avianca – Avianca has a competitive award chart without fuel surcharges and the ability to book award online. While you’re at the mercy of their website (since telephone bookings are worse than a colonoscopy), mixed cabin redemptions are now permitted.
- Aegean – It is not as easy as it once was to attain elite status on the Greek carrier, but there are redemption sweet posts, like 45K one-way in business or 60K one-way in first for travel between North America and Europe. Fuel surcharges are passed on, though.
- Turkish – Turkish has a decent award chart for its own flights and a fair chart overall. It is now a Citi Thankyou transfer partner, making it easier to tap up your points.
The Winner (with hesitation): United
While it won’t make sense in every case, I am going to argue that United is still your best option even if you come up short on some trips.
In my example, the difference between United (670 miles) and any of the tree contenders above (1228 miles) is roughly double. That’s substantial.
And I can point to a more draconian example. Take a K-fare from Newark to Singapore for $600 r/t (not implausible). You’d earn 3,000 United miles and 11,012 miles in one of the programs above.
That starts to add up. And if you are just going back and forth between Singapore and the USA on cheap United tickets, by all means credit to one of the programs above.
Five Reasons for United
But there are other considerations that add up. Here are five reasons why United is more attractive even if it does not have the best earning or redemption rate.
- Online redemption – United allows easy online redemption of almost all partners.
- Fewer language barriers – calling Turkish or Avaianca is often even more frustrating experience than chatting with United’s call center in the Philippines.
- No fuel surcharges – fuel surcharges often eliminate the value of all your mileage savings by using, say, Turkish or Aegean over United.
- Ease of earning and transferring miles – if you’re based in the USA, earning United miles is easy. Not only does United have several co-branded credit cards, but Chase Ultimate Rewards can be transferred to United instantly on 1:1 basis. That makes it simple (and often far cheeper) to top of your account than to buy miles
- Stability – unlike Delta, United has earned trust. A slight devaluation will occur in November. Some improvements, like 6,000 miles one-way redemption in Europe, will all one introduced. Other airlines devalue without notice. Since United is devaluing in November, gave several months notice, and typically devalues once every three years, it is unlikely we will see another devaluation anytime soon.
For those reasons, I’d just credit your United flights to United Airlines. And although this article is about buying cheap tickets, if you buy more expensive tickets that makes the United revenue-based program even more valuable.
> Read More: Why I’m THANKFUL for Latest United Mileage Plus Devaluation
> Read More: The One United Award I’m Booking Before Devaluation
How About Basic Economy Fares?
Just a sidetone, but even United’s cheapest “N” fares still earn 50% on the following carriers:
- Aegean Airlines (A3)
- Air Canada (AC)
- Air India (AI)
- Asiana Airlines (OZ)
- Avianca (AV) [with 500-mile minimums]
- Avianca Brazil (O6)
- COPA Airlines (CM)
- South African Airways (SA)
- TAP Portugal (TP)
- Turkish Airlines (TK)
On United, they earn award miles just as a normal ticket (but no status miles or lifetime miles).
CONCLUSION
Whatever you choose, be consistent. Having a few thousands points in each program will do you no good. You may choose Aegean because you have a specific redemption in mind. Perhaps Turkish because it is often a good source of award space between North America and Europe. I’m not arguing that United is best in all cases, but overall presents a good value proposition and is simply easier and more manageable, especially for U.S. travelers.
Side note: United’s N fares only earn award miles on Aegean. They do not earn tier miles usable to maintaining status with Aegean. It wouldn’t surprise me if other airlines have the same restriction.
Hey Matthew, I’m kind of confused by this example: “And I can point to a more draconian example. Take a K-fare from Newark to San Francisco for $600 r/t (not implausible). You’d earn 3,000 United miles and 11,012 miles in one of the programs above.”
I’m admittedly not too familiar with *A airlines (other than LH and SQ). :/ With a 50% distance flown earning rate, wouldn’t you earn 1,283 miles each way (2,566 r/t) when crediting with one of those other airlines?
Thanks!
Hari,
I made a critical error and typed San Francisco instead of Singapore. That makes all the difference! Thanks for point it out.
Ah, thanks; that makes sense! I appreciate the quick response! 🙂
Depending on individual circumstances, I’d say that consistency may not be the way to go. Sure, for a high dollar flight, by all means credit to United. If the flight is short and high dollar, United becomes even better. That said, Air Canada has some pretty attractively priced awards, as does Asiana, so crediting to one or both is far from a bad deal. In Air Canada’s case, the Amex point transfers can top off an account nicely, and Amex points are easier (IMO) to earn than Citi or Starwood points. Asiana, of course, has some super sweet spots, but SPG is the only major transfer partner.
Good post. Thanks.
When do miles expire in each of these alternative programs?
Hi, Matthew, I saved your list in the event I might want to credit UA miles to another airline to preserve points that might otherwise expire. Thanks!
@Matthew — Keep in mind that not all Economy fares are equal. For example (and according to wheretocredit.com). TAP will give you the following miles/points for flying Economy in the following fare classes:
E class (Discount Coach) fare — 50%
G class (Deep Discount Coach) — 0%
H class (Discount Coach) — 100%
K class (Deep Discount Coach) — 50%
L class (Deep Discount Coach) — 50%
M class (Discount Coach) — 100%
N class (Deep Discount Coach) — 0% ===> Basic Economy fare
Q class (Discount Coach) — 100%
S class (Deep Discount Coach) — 50%
T class (Deep Discount Coach) — 50%
U class (Discount Coach) — 50%
V class (Discount Coach) — 50%
W class (Discount Coach) — 50%
Y class (Fully Refundable Coach) — 100%
And it’s worth noting that some of the Economy fare buckets are more costly than flying Business!