United Airlines has recently updated the terms of its MileagePlus MillionMiler companion policy to end the practice of “daisy chaining” in which–at least in theory–an endless number of MillionMiler flyers could share Global Service status.
United Airlines Shuts Down MileagePlus Loophole By Restricting “Daisy Chaining”
The MillionMiler program for United MileagePlus is the most generous amongst US legacy carriers.
| Lifetime flight miles | Status earned |
|---|---|
| 1 million | Premier Gold |
| 2 million | Premier Platinum |
| 3 million | Premier 1K |
| 4+ million | United Global Services |
One of the few upsides of the merger between Continental and United Airlines was an alignment of the MillionMiler program that carried over Continental’s perk of letting a MillionMiler nominate a companion to share in the same status (it does not even have to be a spouse or partner, but the MileagePlus account does have to be registered at the same address).
In a process known as a “daisy chain” or a “conga line,” MillionMilers could share their inherited status with other MillionMilers who could then share their inherited status with others…and so on. As first noted by Dan’s Deals, that loophole has been closed:
One popular method that has long been abused is daisy chaining, though that’s something that was discussed more at seminars than on blogs. If a Million Miler with Global Services status nominated a companion with Million Miler status, who in turn nominated another companion with Million Miler status, everyone in the chain would get Global Services status, with no potential limit.
Effective for the 2025 status year, Million Milers will need to choose between being a donor of status or recipient of status. That will effectively kill the daisy chain loophole.
And that’s fair…
Going forward, MillionMilers can give or receive status, but not both (as before). The new changes will go into effect January 1, 2025, meaning those without status
CONCLUSION
To eliminate what amounted to the limitless sharing of Global Services status amongst United MillionMiler flyers, MillionMiler flyers must now choose to either be the recipient of status from another MillionMiler or share their status with a companion…but can no longer have both.
Frankly, I am surprised this loophole wasn’t closed years earlier, though it appears an uptick in this sort of “sharing” led to a recent decision to institute these changes.
I’m just sorry I didn’t take advantage of it! 😉
image: United Airlines
It was a nice perk while it lasted for those with UA.
*A and OW carriers have top tier status nailed down compared to ST, most notably FB. There’s a stark contrast between UA GS and LH HON versus FB Ulti, for example, and I’m glad that I’ve got Hon as the perks make a huge difference compared senator.
How much travel do you do to get HON? How often do you fly through FRA or MUC?
During the past few years (except in most of 2020 and most of 2021), I’ve been averaging 20 business trips (rt) to Europe per year and usually fly more often in F on LH/LX. More of my flights were direct to GVA, ZRH, and FRA, except during a couple months LH didn’t have F for JFK-FRA in 2022, and I did JFK-MUC-FRA/final destination with LH instead.
Back in the old miles and more scheme, one needed 600000 HON miles in two years to get HON status, or about 26 rt flights in F on JFK-FRA within two years or 39 rt flights in J. A good mix of half-and-half got me HON. Now, it’s 6000 HON circle points per year which is about 10 rt flights in F direct from JFK-FRA/MUC/GVA, or 15 rt flights in J per year. If connecting to LCY or LUX, in the old scheme it was a bit minimal, but with the new scheme, it’s 80 HON circle points per trip.
“I’m just sorry I didn’t take advantage of it! ”
Does that count as a legal disclaimer in case someone from United is reading this?
They’re welcome to check. I truly had no idea this loophole existed. Too bad, since I know many GS members.
“ One of the few upsides of the merger between Continental and United Airlines was an alignment of the MillionMiler program that carried over Continental’s perk of letting a MillionMiler nominate a companion to share in the same status (it does not even have to be a spouse or partner, but the MileagePlus account does have to be registered at the same address).”
What am I missing? Didn’t the same address requirement solve the issue?