The latest round of devaluations to United MileagePlus redemptions seriously jeopardizes the program’s value and undermines the very premise of a loyalty program. It’s too early to say whether United Airlines will get away from it, but it is certainly not an example of “Good Leads The Way.”
United MileagePlus Tests How Much Straw It Can Put On The Camel’s Back
I recently highlighted that United Airlines is doing a lot of things right. I just had one of the best flights I have had in years, and that was preceded by several other very solid flights, both shorthaul and longhaul. Flights have not only been timely (mostly), but service has been excellent and meals have improved.
But United has figured that with its stellar route network, improving onboard product, and its impressive profitability (falling short only to Delta Air Lines among its US peers), it can now afford to whittle away the last remaining MileagePlus redemption “sweet spots” becuase doing so will not impact consumer behavior.
Pursuant to that mindset, we’ve seen some drastic increases in prices over the last week for economy class, business class, and first class awards. One example: intra-Africa business class more than tripled in price from as little as 30K miles one-way to 99K one-way.
Was that really the intent?
Rather callously, a United spokesperson told me that “pricing for all fares, awards and revenue is highly dynamic and always changing. Nothing further to share at this time.”
Why United Is Jacking Up Redemption Prices
My theory as to why is simply because United Airlines thinks it can. We saw the writing on the wall when it hired Richard Nunn as the CEO of MileagePlus. Nunn had no prior airline experience and was an executive at Comcast, one of the worst companies in America in terms of customer service.
And the program’s value has tanked during his tenure. Not only on the redemption side but also concerning elite upgrades. While I can still reliably score an upgrade on a longhaul flight if I purchase a premium economy ticket, I’ve kissed my domestic upgrades goodbye. Instead, I’m buying premium cabin tickets because I do not want to sit in the back. When I hold out for an upgrade, I end up sitting in the back.
While the lack of upgrades was annoying, I could deal with it because 1.) United has reduced the price of premium cabin tickets compared to historic levels and 2.) there were sweet spots on the MileagePlus redemption “chart” (even though United does not publish a chart any longer) that made collecting United miles worthwhile.
But with the latest batch of changes (and more coming, I suspect), United has truly eliminated the sort of value that drove me to spend thousands of dollars per year on tickets I could have spent on other carriers offering more convenient schedules.
I’ve Already Voted With My Wallet. Will You?
I’ve already “voted with my wallet” by cutting up my Chase – United Airlines co-branded credit cards. Some occasional travelers may find the baggage benefit and club passes on the Explorer card justifies the annual fee, but you would have to be a fool to put spending on this card when there are so many more valuable options.
Now more than ever, cash-back cards are looking so attractive. Needs points? You can buy them. Premium cabin redemptions? Look to Air Canada Aeroplan. Even if Aeroplan announces a devaluation later this year (which I expect), it will still be a more valuable program with more partners and better pricing in every region than United.
As I see it, the only way United will ever reconsider its “death by a thousand cuts” to the MileagePlus program is if more people cancel their Chase-United cards. Will you do so today? Have you expressed your discontent in a way that speaks to CEO Scott Kirby, by withholding your dollars?
I’ve always wanted to hit the 2MM mark and eventually the 3MM (lifetime Premier 1K status). I’m pushing 1.6K (my second million miles have come so much slower than my first million miles).
But if I’m being honest with myself, what does it get me? No more upgrades on domestic flights. No more attractive award redemptions with all the miles (both comparatively and objectively). And this isn’t all about premium cabin travel either, as much as I favor using my miles for that. A one-way economy clas ticket between the US and Europe has risen to 44K MileagePlus miles at a minimum. Meanwhile, with some flexibility, I can get a ticket via Air France-KLM FlyingBlue for as little as 15K miles each (and the kids are 25% off).
That’s huge when you think how much spending is necessary to build up these points!
The bigger test for me is breaking away from United altogether when it comes to flying.
But guess what? I’m going to Chicago later this month and I just booked a ticket on American Airlines. In first class. That’s voting with my wallet.
When I go to London this summer, I’ll fly JetBlue instead of United. That’s voting with my wallet.
With both upgrades and redemptions squeezed of any meaningful value worth pursuing, that leaves only the onboard product and route network. But while I am happy with both and will certainly choose United when appropriate, I can no longer justify going out of my way to fly United…and when I look at the money I have spent on United over the last 20 years doing exactly that, it really is staggering. That ends now.
If United Really Believed In “Good Leads The Way” It Would…
United erred in eliminating its award chart. I insist that such charts (as Aeroplan still publishes) are critical in building loyalty and showing respect to members. They also serve as a tool of accountability.
United pays a set price for partner awards and can still make a tidy profit on them without charging 242K miles for a one-way ticket in ANA First Class or 99K miles for an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Accra to Addis Ababa. But the true grievance is that prices can double or triple from one day to the next, which undercuts the implied promise that if you are loyal to us, we will give you meaningful redemption opportunities.
As far as I can see, there is nothing meaningful any longer when it comes to redemptions…
Publishing an award chart builds trust by creating certainty and incentivizes loyalty becuase people have something concrete to work toward. Devaluations over time are inevitable in a period of inflation, but they can be announced in advance and better reflect market conditions rather than be a naked grab for more cash. Aeroplan is the model here, but domestically American Airlines also now offers a far more valuable program, as does Alaska Airlines.
Second, how does United expect to grow its program when offering such poor redemption values? Customers may be hoodwinked for a time, but will eventually catch on when offered only 0.8-1.2 cents per point in redemption value.
Trust me, United. Trust me, Chase. People will catch on. I’ll do my best to ensure that.
CONCLUSION
The question now is whether United can get away with these changes. Will customers shrug it off and continue to put spending on United co-branded credit cards or go out of their way to fly United? Or will United realize that customers are not stupid and that by eliminating value from its loyalty program, it eliminates a great incentive to fly United. That’s up to you, dear customer. Now go do your part.
Boom! Take that, United and Delta!
@Billiken … +1 . “Boom!” and “Pow!” to any airline which increases redemption costs for intra-Africa flights .
United (in name only), Continental destroyed the real United when they took over back in 2012. Step one, in 2013 the stripping of Million Miler promises made to those who earned it by supporting United through it’s bankruptcy years. Maybe that was Tilton’s fault lining his pockets with money while sticking it to the UA pilots for creating this “merger of equals” as it was called. I stopped voting with my United Card back then. It’s been downhill ever since. Granted they are running hard now. Heck Continental doesn’t even show my Million Mile status on anything anymore. It is worth nothing today. Zero. Matthew, don’t waste your time and money trying to go for 2MM. They’ll just take away what they promised. Who wants to fly 30 year old jets anyway…
“I’ve already “voted with my wallet” by cutting up my Chase – United Airlines co-branded credit cards.”
Pics or it didn’t happen.
Well, I did this after a previous devaluation…but I don’t have one and Heidi doesn’t either.
United is copying Delta: better flights food and service all while devaluating their loyalty program.
You cannot even compare the experience on a Y flight on UA and DL. Flying Delta on Y is fine. Not great, but perfectly fine. Even when you´re tall. Even on intercontinental flights it is bearable. Flying UA even on domestic 3h flights is a torture in their new cabin which is apparently 30in but feels like 24in with the seat infront reaching FAR into your space even if not reclined. United is an entirely silly airline in pretty much every touch point I had with them in the last couple of years… Makes me think of a redemption to HNL from EWR where on the whole flight they wouldnt even serve food. Not once. On a 10-11h flight.
It’s pretty bad when you devalue so much you make SkyMiles look attractive. That Africa pricing is insane. My favorite MP redemption was intra-Europe in J. It still might make sense at 30-33K, but I just don’t see how anybody could put any spend on a card only earning Mileage Plus
I was looking at some flights from Greece to Spain for July. Swiss would happily sell me SKG-ZRH-VLC for €225 one-way* in business class. Spending 33k miles for that would mean redeeming at less than 0.7 eurocents per mile, even if you didn’t have to pay any taxes and charges.
* You probably cannot buy an actual one-way ticket for that price, as it’s ‘prr direction’ pricing for a two-way ticket- but you can use open jaws and other associated tricks.
Fantastic post, Matthew. While my 1K status and mileage accruals are all flying (I don’t use UA Chase cards) if I did, I would absolutely throw them away at this point. As well, I thought long and hard about this the last 24 hours and I’ve decided to move away from any carrier status (I do have MM+ status with all three to at least keep me at lower levels for life) and start booking whichever is the cheapest premium cabin with the most convenient schedules. I have a number of flights coming up this month and June that I would have booked UA prior to this. This. includes multiple trips to DFW for a project there. I just booked AA as it was the same price and non-stop from DCA , which is much better for me than IAD.
It’s over. I will let 1K fall by the wayside. Plus Points might be the only thing left that is half-way worthwhile but I can work around that by grabbing cheaper TATL as I won’t be fixated on Star Alliance. I might even start using Icelandair as they often have decent schedules and really cheap fares in their premium seats.
Finally, at some point there really needs to be some regulatory steps taken as to the loyalty program promises that end up in devaluations. It’s fine, devalue. But to do so with no warning and, further, to tout credit cards and mileage banking knowing full well you intend to make them worth less later is, to me, bordering on fraudulent. There should be regulations implemented that there is a 30 day notice (at least) and that previous miles earned can be used at the old rates within 90 days. What other business gets away with this? It’s incredible.
I think United will “get away with it” simply because Delta already has, unfortunately. Soooo many people mindlessly spend buckets of money for 1x Skymiles on whatever Delta card they have
Shoutout to my dad, who got a 100k sign up bonus on Amex Platinum and turned all of it into SkyMiles!
Air Canada Aeroplan, Lifemiles, Miles & Smile, etc, will only be useful until the point United decides to go the Lufthansa route and severely limit award availability to only MileagePlus members. We’re already seeing this across the board with many airlines worldwide. Ultimately, the only currency that will matter is cold, hard cash, as you rightly point out with the cash back cards.
If we really want to frighten the airlines, perhaps the bloggers at BoardingArea and elsewhere should team up and stop shilling the cobrands and instead start hawking the cashback cards.
I tend to agree with this approach. The reality is that other than Matthew, who rarely pushes credit cards, a great deal of this mess has been brought on by the thousands of bloggers who push these cards. With most of the country now using them and accumulating so many miles the airlines are in a position to just keep devaluations coming. How any blogger can actually in good conscience promote a miles card at this point is beyond me.
To be honest, who gets punished the most? People like me that actually get a large percentage of their miles from actual butt in seat flights. It seems they have done the math though and our forgoing any loyalty will be minimal to them in fall back. That’s fine. At least I will enjoy now flying on a wide range of airlines that give me the best fares and easiest schedule.
It takes a Chase/United 5x / $1 to get me to use my United credit card. Forget about it at 1x / $1. I keep the card for the luggage allowance and priority boarding as a non-status / occasional Silver (via Marriott Tit) flyer.
So a US-based customer/flyer can either go to:
DL for the best overall full-service carrier
AA/AS for the best value points program
If you want neither of those, fly UA! Good game, Scott Kirby! I hope those hunnit 787s are worth it!
I’m sick of American based airlines ripping off their customers this way. But Americans keep putting up with the mundane so you must reap what you sew. I have lifetime Gold with UA so I am now in phase I of moving all my Star Alliance flights to either TK or NH. Any suggestions would be appreciated. It’ll also allow me to use the UA Lounges ( mostly they are laughable anyway ) when traveling in the USA. Another example of Americans accepting the mundane. You used to vote with your feet and not allow business to get away with ripping you off, now you have become lazy and complacent and accept this rubbish. So sad to see what has happened to that country overall, especially in the last 4 years
*sow*
Good on you for actually following through. Now we’ll see if you really mean it the next time Hyatt devalues WOH… 🙂
My question will always be, what evidence is there that UA’s customers will do what you did en masse to actually elicit changes? Americans as a whole have shown time and time again that they like to talk a big game about “sticking it to the man”, but if sticking it to him actually requires inconvenience or sacrifice, well, never mind. Will UA flyers based in Houston and Denver really start accepting a connection through DFW or CLT to fly AA? Given that DL continues to #KeepClimbing in spite of their joke of a loyalty program, I think we all know the answer.
This has me thinking hard as well. I hit 1K last year and most of the upgrades have been the short hops PVD-EWr or PVD-IAD. Managed one transcon with PlusPoints on a Max-9, never on 777 or 787. I have so many Pluto it’s and can’t get rid of them. United Club is also started giving me a hard time when I show Aeroplan Super Elite(kept through pandemic and aeroplan cc). Seriously thinking on crediting flights to Aeroplan, easy access to lounge and also status matching to BA and open other routes in the next 6 months with AA if more convenient and price. I fly to CA a lot.
Can’t say I disagree with anything you said. However, I think we need to realize times are changing and this is the way forward with the big three. I often wonder if they could go back in time, would the airlines even start this type of program again? If yes, what would it look like?
Nunn once said in an interview the loyalty program he admired most was Marriott Bonvoy. That should tell you all you need to know.
I can’t help but think these airlines are scared shitless, worried about how they are going to cover the big labor contracts they signed or are about to sign. Revenue to cover that has to come from somewhere. And hello recession. Expect more nickle and dime BS, like the trial balloons UA has been floating. I can’t help but think devaluation like this plays into that too, although I don’t know enough to explain how. We were all stunned at the valuation placed on loyalty programs during COVID. So it seems foolish that they would kill the goose laying the golden egg. Again, I don’t know enough about how they get value from these programs but it sure seems to me they are slowly killing them off.
Delta swung for the fences. They cranked the temperature up a bit too high and the frog jumped from the boiling water. So they did a mea culpa and backed it off a bit. It’s just a matter of time. Others are watching, to see what they can get away with.
I’ve been a 1K for years, and million miler. Like others, I’ve seen the value decrease year by year, miles devalued, Plus Points I couldn’t use expire. In the past usually my first and only stop when booking travel, mostly international, was UA. That has changed this year. I’m under no illusion that they even remotely care. “I feel like a number.” There’s turnover every year. One person leaves, one or two more join, and they are thrilled to finally have made it. They know what they are doing.
It’s hard to let go, having evolved into a bit of a travel snob over the years, enjoying the perks that were real. But I’m also discovering the joy of freedom, trying different carriers, purchasing the travel experience I want rather than checking the upgrade list every couple of hours 24 – 48 hours before departure.
I know you have the ear of a few people at UA. Good luck. But you’re smart enough not to hold your breath either.
David,
I would post the exact same story and conclusions that you and Matthew have. Right on the money and my exact life on UA as well.
Mick
Agree agree. I’m in a different boat as I don’t travel a ton for work and have the one or two personal/business trips to eastern europe, from the midwest, every year. UA along with LH and OS, make the most sense for us. I have just made UA Gold the past two years and that gets me what I want domestically (EP seats/free bags) and internationally (business checkin/lounges). I can move one or two flights a year to other carriers, but then I’d have to overspend for something or take a flight I don’t need to maintain Gold. I use the miles + dollars option to waitlist business class for international and it’s worked pretty well and seems like decent enough use of the miles.
When my wife travels with me I started crediting her miles to TK. These will expire and I fear anything going wrong with TK on any redemption. LH group has no value. A3 would work but won’t get enough time on their metal. Not too many miles but hate to just toss them on UA, as they were not too valuable even before this escapade.
Most of our miles are in AX/Chase/Citi points anyway. The airlines are way ahead of the hotels (even Marriott) as far as destroying value. This is from a formerly loyal Starwood honk.
Eh, whatever miles we can get on the side for travel we would take anyway, and whatever points we can get for money we would spend anyway is nice gravy. It’s kind of fun and we should try to keep it that way. I’m still the BMOC when it comes to my friends and it’s always nice to help someone get free hotel nights in London or realize they can use those AX points for Aer Lingus business class instead of paying for economy.
Well said & 100% agree!
@Matthew which card is better if not a United Chase card? What about a regular Chase card?
Get transferrable currencies like chase Sapphire, amex or capital one venture x etc. In the end you can use it as a cash if you don’t find value in transferring.
I know that these monstrous award price increases are not going to do anything to get me to fly United or accrue their miles. Why do more business than necessary with a company you can’t trust?
I agree that the devaluations are a big disappointment, but I’m not cancelling my UA credit card. It earns me 7-10 miles per dollar on cruises we book through United’s cruise department. I don’t even have to use the UA card to pay for the cruise, I just need to have one. I pay the same prices and get the same perks as all the other cruise booking sites. I use my Chase Sapphire Reserve card to pay for A cruise. That way I also get free trip insurance on the cruise. We earn far more miles booking cruises through United than we ever could earn flying on United. The miles we earn booking through UA cruises pay for the air fair for the next cruise. For where I live, UA also provides the best schedules and prices compared to the other majors. So when calculating value, a lot still depends on where you live. Don’t make financial decisions based on negative emotions, even when those emotions are justified. Look at each transaction and do what’s in your best financial interest overall and over time. That’s how the airlines think and we all need to do the same if we want to keep up—or ahead—of them.
P.S. American and Delta also have cruise departments, but are very stingy on earning miles compared to United. The same large travel agency does the private labeling for all three airline’s cruise departments.
Basically, UA (and other domestic airlines) points are only really useful for domestic awards any more. I gave up a while ago trying to worry about using miles/points for international or business/first. Travel where I want and pay for the cabin I want (international) to subsidize my domestic travel (which for me is lots of short jaunts for family/friends).
My POV as a basic points/miles user and not a power miles/points strategist. 🙂
I left United several years ago. And was loyal the way most 1Ks were in that I was essentially exclusive. Initially I was driven away by the nutty increases to get status. Then I was driven away by the lack of useful upgrades. Then I discovered how much I preferred other airlines outside of the Star Alliance.
What I did do was still credit other Star Alliance carrier flights to United on the rare occasions that I still fly Star. This no longer makes any more sense either. So I guess I’ll have to spend time to figure out which Star Alliance program is the best place to credit those miles.
I fail to understand how United loosing all of my business is good for their business. But other than when I read a blog post like this one I don’t think of them. Other airlines are just too much fun.
It sounds like you are coming to the same conclusion.
I really appreciate this article and as I am sorting out my credit card strategy for 2024 this is spot-on relevant for me right now. After going thru the ‘usual suspects’ for credit card bonuses I am now down to bringing on 2nd and 3rd tier cards, currently bringing on FlyingBlue MasterCard right now and was teeing up the United Explorer Visa Card (with elevated miles bonus) next…….NOT ANY MORE! Since United is devaluing their mileage awards where I would use them the most (inter-Europe business class), this makes no sense now. I will find another card/program to bring on instead – very disappointing. Thank you for the heads-up!
I view a united mile as worth .01
Usually use them to reimburse past flights. Would rather miles just be treated as .01 across the board
Now, if I see a sweetheart redemption (got one coming home from Kona for 135K when the ticket in case was 2200), I’ll use them that way
Sounds more like a Jeffy move than a Scotty move; but maybe i give too much credit to both.
On the other hand, does not sound like an Oscar move.
This has been going on since Global Services had its debut, which prompted me to drop the Chase/United card. When COVID started, I figured there would be no value left and used my points for some merchandise.
I am saddened by the devaluations but ultimately United is beholden to shareholders (who also include mums and dads). Delta has the worst program but the highest profitability so maybe United is obligated to head that way (I did just redeem 99k sky miles for biz from Europe to Australia on sky miles).
Point flights aren’t a gift. They’re just a back door way to sell business class flights for cheap that aren’t taken by actual business people who don’t care about cost. At 1.2c per mile I purchase flights via lifeliñes or aeroplan to fly to the USA or Europe etc. I have to be flexible and often have to book short term but I get 50-80% off. Business guys don’t want that hassle. If United doesn’t want to sell these flights for that cheap then it’s a biz decision. I don’t understand why they don’t just remain dynamic on it.
The ship has long sailed for UA MileagePlus. I just spent my last 200,000 miles on a one-way business class to HND, and I and I am glad I am out of it completely.
What do you use instead?
While it lasts I buy aeroplan and lifemiles and access most of the same stuff. Def miss the flexibility of UA and their website.
You don’t get Greyhound points anymore either. Why do you expect this to be any different?
I am just happy that I have participated in the Golden age or mileage earnings and redemptions.
Thanks for your column Matthew! I left my 1K status last year after many years of exclusively flying with United (and spending a lot of money, flying inconvenient schedules, paying more etc. to do it). I am Gold this year. Not sure I’ll be even Silver next year. Missing Plus Points but not much else.
My flights are mostly ultra long haul. Other airlines have better schedules/service anyway. Canceled one United card this year. Planning to cancel the other before the year is out. Being a free agent has been freeing.
It’s called inflation folks.
300%?
Long time lurker, first time poster. I was with Continental since the early 2000’s, then stuck with United until a few years ago, when I started scaling back my loyalty to them. I still have one United branded card, a club card, for the off chance I’ll fly them this year domestically. It’s not worth it for the miles, and I’m not sure it’s worth it for the club access either at this point.
I fly more international than domestic, and Flyingblue points via Amex or CapitalOne cards are much more useful now, TATL anyway. I only use my few accumulating UA miles to occasionally buy domestic tickets for family.
I think the only value from the United cards are for people who cannot get status without PQP from Chase purchases. Status is most worthwhile when one has a broken connection, but also for economy plus at time of booking. Many of these people buy low yield tickets in economy, and are hoping for an economy plus upgrade at booking. Whether other domestic carriers are a better option depends on the spend and where you live.
The only real status worth having is Global Services, where one can take a partner on an international business trip and have a good chance of the partner’s upgrade clearing. And, you can’t get GS from credit card spend.
I used to fly United exclusively when I did my gay porn for Colt Studios but that was in my past. Now I am the world’s greatest gambler and I can make you so rich that you won’t need miles.
Latest devaluation shows you reeeeaalllyyy can’t put all your eggs into one basket. You need a card loyalty program that doesn’t just offer transferable rewards, but cash back as an option. From what I understand, cashback earned on the Chase Freedom line of cards can be converted 1:1 to transferable Ultimate Rewards points when coupled with a Sapphire card. Combining a Freedom Unlimited with a Sapphire Preferred/Reserve may be a good idea
So true.
Over the last fee years their entire award pricing system has gone bananas. I’ve Tweeted screenshots of UA international BC award prices as high as 900K. Thank you for covering tbis. Every journalist who calls them out on it makes a difference. I wonder if there’s a way to create collective customer feedback and actually bring tbem to their senses?
I only fly economy. United’s Mileage Plus is good enough for me along with Air Canada’s Aeroplan. But Aeroplan charges fees just to change your flight and get an assigned seat and a free bag.
Ive walked away too — its hard, but its here.
Walk away from any company or business that does not value you as a customer. Voting with your wallet is pretty much the only way to get the attention of the offending corporation.
I just canceled all my United credit cards as well!
I recently passed 2 million miles actual flown. Been in Mileage Plus for 30 years. Used to be 1 million actual would get you lifetime 1K. Now it’s 3 million. Having recently retired there’s no way I’ll get to 3 million for lifetime 1K. So I emailed them requesting 1K for, not expecting anything. What I didn’t expect was an email back in 40 minutes telling me to go to hell
I recently passed 2 million miles actual flown. Been in Mileage Plus for 30 years. Used to be 1 million actual would get you lifetime 1K. Now it’s 3 million. Having recently retired there’s no way I’ll get to 3 million for lifetime 1K. So I emailed them requesting 1K life for, not expecting anything. What I didn’t expect was an email back in 40 minutes telling me to go to get bent
I also think that this is bad from a business perspective.
All their hubs are in competitive enviroments where they seriously need to give flyers an excuse to fly with them.
Might as well fly DL over the much smaller UA at LAX or go for the FF friendly and convenient AA in WAS or go fly WN from OAK domestically and foreign carriers internationally from SFO.
This will seriously blow up in their face. FFs pay the bills…
I was (and still am mostly) with you until you said AC publishes award charts. They technically do, but on actual Air Canada flights, they’re often just a suggestion. I’ve never seen a business class Asia or Oceania flight even in the same ballpark as the published award chart price. They’re often over 400k miles, one way! Aeroplan is a fairly solid plan compared to the slop south of the border but we don’t exactly love it up here either…
Couldn’t possibly have said it better. Your comment about the new head of the MP program are spot on. Huge opening for competition. Or will they, once again, choose to emulate rather than differentiate?
I am 2M+ on AA (Lifetime Platinum) and still get some value from that. I despise the premium cabin (filled with sell important blowhards) and always sit in coach. With my status I get free exit row and main cabin extra seating, which has great value to me. But I also have been far less focused on flying AA exclusively. I went to Athens earlier this year and flew SWISS and the experience in coach put US airline to shame (granted, that’s not hard).
Folks, these are not loyalty programs. They’ve been monetary programs ever since the introduction of the co-branded credit cards. If you want loyalty, get a dog.
Most here, like me, primarily get our loyalty perks and miles from actual flying. Not just credit cards. In fact, many, like me, loathe the day that credit cards became such a thing as it has resulted in them destroying our butt in seat world. Yes, perhaps at AA a large percentage of Exec Plat’s are not actual flying. But with UA that is not the case. Which is why burning down the house is really frustrating.
Downgraded from 1K to Platinum this year, didn’t feel it was worth keeping up and now I feel exonerated I didn’t bother.
The freedom is pretty liberating I admit, I too feel this time United crossed the line, and so far flying this year I probably won’t go back to a devoted loyal flier again for them.
You know you’ve gone too far when Matthew stops flying United.
One sweet spot that works for me these days: Book B class economy on high-J transatlantic routes, and request mileage upgrade awards at 20k miles each way with no co-pays (just taxes and fees). This works because B fare these days is basically just economy plus, unlike in the past when it used to be priced insanely high (often more than discounted J). Admittedly this is a tiny niche use case, but for those of us flying transatlantic from ORD or EWR often, it’s a great option.
I just realized I haven’t used ua miles for a while. Maybe because it stopped providing me a good value in the recent years because revenue business class usually is cheaper if you value 1 mile worth 1.5 cents. There used to be nice redemptions outside of the USA but I was never able to take advantage of them. Now they are gone so not sure if there is anything left in that program. I feel bad for the US fliers because you still have to deal with them and find a program to deposit your miles because it used to be valuable but it might be time for you guys to calculate wisely and be a free agent. I have become a free agent a while ago and I am a lot happier and my flights are more direct, less headaches but better values when I buy revenue tickets.
I find in all three legacy carriers more value in foreign alliance programs, be it FlyingBlue for Delta, be it Avios for American or Aeroplan for United. Upgrades are completely random anyways and I find it not worth the hassle.
Mathew, great article and, you’ve motivated me to change my future choice of travel to others besides United and my Chase card. I am a 2M flier on track to reach 3M next year and all I’ve received in appreciation is a cheap printed congratulatory card!!
As you mentioned, rare domestic upgrades and points so diluted that on a trip a few weeks ago to Portugal with my wife, I purchased our tickets because United wanted 1.3M miles for business seats!!! F’n ridiculous! I like your message and it’s time to dump my United CHase card and, based in Chicago, I have many carrier options.
Thanks for your great article!
Thanks Al! Appreciate it. Enjoy free agency!
“I’ve kissed my domestic upgrades goodbye. Instead, I’m buying premium cabin tickets because I do not want to sit in the back. When I hold out for an upgrade, I end up sitting in the back.”
Maybe that was the intent all along?
Nice post Mathew Being a 2 Million Miler Australian based in Sydney.. I dumped United 6 months ago after 33 years loyalty Was a a 1k for 10 years in a row before bailing out I mainly go to UK and Europe and find Asian and Middle East Airlines in Business Class a lot cheaper, much nicer and more rewarding
Sad how United has brutalised the Mileage Plus programme !!
There’s much better choices with other carriers out of Australia
From Australia we don’t have to fly United
Robert, Sydney Australia
Thanks for taking them to task. UA, DL, and AA are all fungible in terms of reliability to me. So it comes down to soft product and value of the rewards.
Delta is my last choice of the big 3 because of what they did to SkyMiles redemption values – and they lost a lot of annual spend
United has lost wallet and flight share from me as they’ve worsened the value of redemptions, and soft product worst of the 3, though will concede they finally listened and are at parity with AA/DL in intl premium.
AA has gained share from me as they retain a lot of reward cents per mile value while offering an innovative way to earn status via non flight activity.
I keep the UA club card because the bulk of my domestic flying is on UA due to routes. I’ve so far found two 80k TATL J saver awards this year, one I just took (where I got bumped, but kept in J on a connection with compensation), and another I found in mid-July (where the seat map was almost empty in J, a bit of a surprise). So having MileagePlus miles and a card still seems useful enough. But to earn status on UA really takes paid J international flying, and that is where I don’t find the higher cost of UA with a poor soft product to have value. I’d fly them if they were cheaper J, or I could get a points or miles upgrade even one way, but that is not the case. I’d rather spend a little less for a better overall experience. And other alliances have more saver awards and upgrades on top of that. OW Emerald saves me a thousand or more on BA seat selection fees.