United Airlines has increased the pricing floor of its premium cabin “anytime” awards from 155K to 200K one-way to Europe or 220K to South America, as United continues to quietly raise redemption rates. There are some exceptions.
United Airlines Raises Pricing On “Anytime” Premium Cabin Award Redemptions (Again)
United Airlines can repeat the mantra all day long that no award chart means there are no devaluations, but that is simply not the case for any MileagePlus member who closely monitors award pricing trends. Indeed, there are “price floors” that are observed across multiple dates and times, providing a baseline for evaluation. Yes, these prices are not guaranteed and the wise frequent flyer does not stash miles in United MileagePlus.
While United has no award charts, it has two tiers of awards, fixed-price “saver” awards and “anytime” awards, available only on United Airlines metal, that allow for last-seat availability on United flights but at variable prices.
For quite some time, the lowest available pricing for any anytime award between the US and Europe has been set at 155K one-way in Polaris Business Class (some think it is tied to P-class availability when purchasing a revenue ticket). That price has broadly risen to 200K one-way.
For example, I checked on a Tuesday in February (midweek in low season) and saw that across most routes, the price is now 200K one-way in business class. Rates between the US and South America have risen to 220K one-way. Earlier this week, those rates were only 155K.
I also noted a (very small) smattering of “anytime” pricing as low as 115K one-way to Europe out of secondary airports with long layovers. United does not comment on award pricing changes, but I would imagine if it did it would point to these needles in a haystack to argue that members are “saving” under the new dynamic pricing model. Good luck with that…
Look, I’m not exactly griping here…United makes no guarantees about pricing so this devaluation and any other devaluation should never come as a surprise. But I do want to use this as a reminder to avoid stockpiling miles in United Airlines or using a MileagePlus co-branded credit for heavy spending because the value simply isn’t there.
CONCLUSION
United has raised award redemption pricing again, this time on anytime awards in business class. While United publishes no awards chart and this devaluation should come as no surprise, it is still another sign of the diminishing value of the MileagePlus program…there’s just no way to spin it otherwise.
This post provides a valuable public service: friends don’t let friends waste miles opportunities with the United program.
Got to get onto lifemiles. Especially with free cancellations now. I really only use United to see availability now.
Then head to aeroplan or lifemiles and hope to see the same availability!
This may have been reliable in the past but not anymore. There are growing gaps between programs as to who shows availability. Between Aeroplan, LifeMiles, and Mileage Plus you are going to find significant differences in flights available. Even the so called alliances are being watered down.
Yes I agree with that. It’s frustrating but with flexibility it does pan out often. I have seen gaps in ANA, LH first and Thai airways recently. Eg LH Tokyo Frankfurt will exist but not Munich Tokyo even though both are on United.
@Mick, What do you mean by “free cancellations”? As far as I’m aware, Lifemiles still has punitive cancellation fees.
He is talking about paying $50/month for lifemiles+ subscription which gives you (among other things) free changes and cancellations.
That I am. Thanks Lukas.
@ Matthew — Thank you for the reminder to not renew our GS.
Just waiting to see a United Chase credit card application offering 150k-250k miles as part of the sign-up+use bonus. That’s how they do it as they try to keep customers on the loyalty program hamster wheel as part and parcel of program devaluations.
Matthew,
I’m curious if there’s a tipping point where you would switch your allegiance to a different alliance like Oneworld where the network is just as strong or stronger in all SoCal airports (between aa/as) as United continues to devalue its program?
Living in LA vs the Bay, it seems like you’d be somewhat agnostic?
It would be fun to see you do more AAdvantage trips on FJ ,TN, or QF… or even milk runs on AS
This is not a critique but your blog brand seems to be more weighted toward “the United guy” while Lucky and Gary Leff often get associated with AA
Does that influence any potential switching?
I’m open to it…have flown AA a lot more this year (latest trip report coming). I find OW Emerald status the most valuable status of all.
And to some extent, sticking with United does seem like a battered wife syndome. I’m about $10.5K toward $18K…and I make very good use of the PlusPoints. It’s a difficult decision.
I love the analogy. Chasing status on United, then forgiving them every time they beat you over the head with devaluation, is very much how you describe it. At my age, and with 1.5 million miles on United, I’m waiting for them to offer a Polaris upgrade in the graveyard. Extra flowers and a sundae perhaps.
We have abused spouse syndrome sticking with United
He’s too far rusted on I reckon.
UA redemptions costs starting to look a lot like DL at this point.
Yes indeed, getting closer. Not quite, but getting closer indeed.
Right, who was responsible for this one?
Right, who was responsible for this one?
I want to blame Scott Kirby, but I dount he was responsible or even approve of this.
I think it is the Comcast dude, who has done nothing but diminish the value of MileagePlus during his tenure thus far.
@Matthew, nothing good ever comes from COMCAST, nothing.
With that said, does UA listen to you as a way to get the pulse of folks or do they ignore you like pretty much everyone else?
Do you ever privately ever say to your UA contacts, hey these devaluations are a bad idea?
More curious than anything else.
I would think the voice they’d listen to is from Chase (who is losing most of my business spend to cap one)
Plus they clearly have empty seats going out, so I really don’t get this
And the same guy who said the loyalty program he admires most is Marriott Bonvoy.
This is exactly why my spending is all on Amex and Citi Thank You. Airline specific cards are complete waste of time now.
AA international J on their own metal isn’t much better these days, sadly. Not unusual to see one way transatlantic going for 200-300k and one way Japan awards going for 300-400k. And the best deals require crazy flight times that no savvy traveler would want to book (ridiculously short connection times like sub-1 hour at DFW/CLT or really long connection times)
This right here. I’m an AAdvantage member, and I virtually never see a good price for J. It’s always something ridiculous. Look, it’s very clear, with how well business class sells nowadays, airlines don’t want us using our points for J redemptions. They want to sell all those seats, and keep us in coach.
I do all my spending assuming 1 cpp redemption value. In other words, UA card isn’t getting any love without getting 2.5x or better through a promo on unbounded spend. In the past it used to be easy to find 1.5+ cpp redemptions but not any more
I earn most of my points from flying, and I am a loyal UA 1K for many years, and am Million Miler, but thinking I may want to start earning on AC or LifeMiles going forward. Based out of IAD so UA is who I use the most historically. I have Exce Plat on AA but hate having to connect.
“Good Leads the Way”
Cancel your Chase cards and tell them why. They are the only player who has any power to stop this.
I just retired from United Airlines after 46 years!!! Ramp Lead, etc, I believe that I helped many people many times have a great experience with their family and traveling on United.I in the past spent a lot of money on candy for passengers.. Got a lot of people happy and so many Smiles!!
@Matthew – You want a blog post that will get a lot of eyeballs? Here’s suggestion: Do a bit of research (should be quite easy)…document and compare the frequency and depth of devaluations of the major airlines’ programs. I think United’s record on this would be absolutely jaw-dropping.
United seems to now gut their program every few months (started about 2 years ago in April), while other programs remain much more stable (typically for a couple years or more). The frequency – and depth – of the United devaluations are on a scale that is just breathtaking and unlike any other airline’s. The trajectory of United’s devaluations is beyond anything else in the industry and worth noting.
Wow. I’ve been using those 155k ones and just a few days ago changed one flight to a routing I liked better (same 155k). Other flights are available at way fewer miles but this was worth it to me to fly right in and out of my small airport. But at 200k I will be using alternative airlines. Especially since United business class to Europe has so many seats and so little service that it’s almost like being in stearage.
Does this affect saver business awards? I could never afford anytime awards.
I remember the standard choice not but 10 years ago ORD-BKK on United Global First to London (with the then Global First Lounge in the new T2), then Thai First to Bankok. 70K!! (Business was something like 55K).
i remember the ORD – BKK ones well…….i mean 150,000 round trip in business from IAD with 1 stop? Was amazing…now it’s like 400,000 one way (if you’re lucky) and 3 stops and 3 days to get there….REALLY PATHETIC !
They regularly show this route with one stop for 600,000 miles ONE WAY….i mean who in their right mind would do that…and which executive, in their right mind thinks that is a good deal…..bunch of pirates and idiots!
Oh, I fondly remember those days!
With a recession coming there’ll be more empty seats and saver award availability. UA has a knack for upping pricing just as the roller coaster goes over the hill and then they scramble to adjust.
It seems if you can book within the next 3 weeks, you get lower mileage pricing; further out, is way over priced. I don’t know what they’re thinking with high mileage, when their inflight service & catering is so sub par to other carriers on the same routes.
I wonder if 115k is the new 80k. To be honest, I never went for the 155k tickets, only the 80k saver awards. And those tended to be either on less popular routes, e.g LIS or BRU, or close in on partners. In my experience, though, whenever one airline is making award flights more expensive, someone else, like AF/KLM or Iberia, always seems to be making them cheaper. Bargains are still out there.
This is the socialist airline cartel all these clowns consistently vote for. I’m just here for the show. LOL
The airlines are really lousy with rewarding frequent flyers for flying and have cut the value of the rebate and rebate currency given to the flying customers. Instead the airlines have shifted to trying to hook customers with elite status benefits and airline-affiliated credit cards — and unfortunately it’s worked too well to bloat the number of elite status members and the number of people in the lounges.
The hotels have followed suit in copying the airline loyalty program approach to the detriment of the loyalty program customers in the aggregate.
The situation for consumers using these programs would be better if it weren’t for all the market power given to the oligopolistic cartel kingpins in both of these travel service industries.
I stopped flying United a few years ago because their annual devaluations were severe and accumulating miles became pointless. And their saver awards are pretty much nonexistent, especially to Asia. Switched to Southwest for domestics and various airlines for international and am much happier.
Interesting…I booked two flights recently (7/28/24) for travel in December from Dulles to Berlin on Austrian in business for 88K and Munich to Dulles on United direct for 80K and I’m just a lowly mileage plus flyer now (lost my status after covid status matches ended). Traveling on Saturday and Thursday. Fingers crossed that the OS flight will be on their new 787 as listed for that time period.