With flights to Israel still suspended, United Airlines will proactively extend MileagePlus Premier status for select travelers impacted by these flight cuts.
United Airlines Will Extend Elite Status For Travelers Impacted By Israel Service Suspension
As noted by Zach Griff, United announced today it will extend the frequent flyer elite status of certain flyers impacted by its Tel Aviv flight cuts. United joined other carriers in suspending service to Israel after the surprise Hamas attack on October 7, 2023 led to war.
Those granted a status extension will see their elite status extended till January 31, 2025 with no further flying required. Unlike other status matches, Premier Platinums and Premier 1Ks who might not have re-qualified yet will receive their standard allotment of Plus Points in the new calendar year (40 for Platinum members, 320 for 1K members).
While United has not indicated who will be targeted for this status extension, it will include both residents of Israel and those who fly frequently to Tel Aviv on United. United operates service to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) from its hubs including;
- Chicago (ORD)
- Newark (EWR)
- San Francisco (SFO)
- Washington Dulles (IAD)
This move makes a lot of sense considering that United has not operated in nearly two months to Israel and also that El Al has. El Al is not the carrier that it used to be, formerly operating aging Boeing 747 and 777 aircraft with premium cabin seats that did not go flat and service that was also lackluster. El Al now operates 787 aircraft with modern business class seats and is in the process of retrofitting its 777 jets. In other words, El Al is a viable competitor to United and so the move by United is aimed at keeping defections limited.
CONCLUSION
United Airlines will grant a limited number of status extensions to flyers impacted by its suspension of service to Tel Aviv. If you happen to travel often from TLV, check your inbox later today to see if you received note from United with details confirming the status exchange.
Would UA also consider extending status for China based flyers? Traffic to China has not resume fully yet?
I do welcome the extension of status for those impacted by the current event in Israel.
It’s a good question. We will see.
Matthew,
Any idea when United might resume service to TLV?
No indication, but I hope it is soon.
Lol…must be nice to be from Isreal…meanwhile Palestinian travellers have been held hostage for decades and united didnt care. Smh
how convenient that they offer this program now but China travel has been more 2yrs. Also, countries in south america that had unrest’s didn’t get this program.
Oh well we know who know who makes these decisions at US companies…
Wow not so disguised anti semetism right there. We know who makes those decisions? Why not wear a frigging Nazi flag on your shirt?
Palestinians can travel through Egypt. If they stop shooting stabbing and raping innocent Israeli civilians
“If they stop shooting stabbing and raping innocent Israeli civilians”
You mean the way the IDF and Israeli settlers in the West Bank are doing the same to the innocent Palestinians there? Not to mention stealing their land, burning their farms, evicting them from their homes, etc…
“Palestinians can travel through Egypt”
Some, not all. Israel has border control and decides who leaves and who can enter.
Aaron stop smoking weed. Israelis don’t rape and torture and don’t have as their creed to destroy another people entirely. If all Israelis put down their guns they would be all killed. If all Arabs put down their guns there would be peace. Stop drinking the Kool aid.
“Israelis don’t rape and torture”
Actually, they do.
“don’t have as their creed to destroy another people entirely.”
Actually, they are doing just that, even before the current Gaza genocide. They have been doing that for decades now.
“If all Israelis put down their guns they would be all killed. If all Arabs put down their guns there would be peace.”
If Israelis put down their guns then Hamas and Hizbollah wouldn’t have existed in the first place. Also funny how more Palestinians were killed than Israeli’s before Oct 7 as well…
Ukraine war has impacted United flights to India, especially as there are no flights to BOM and from SFO… Hope UA will consider extending status for India based elites and those with a lot of SFO to India trips in the past.
Wow not so disguised anti semetism right there. We know who makes those decisions? Why not wear a frigging Nazi flag on your shirt?
I’m not able to understand why would you consider my post to be reflecting any covert or overt anti semitism… There was absolutely no intention to indicate that the situation faced by flyers to Tel Aviv is comparable to anyone.
My apologies if this has come across as insensitive or offensive, @Baltimore Maven. I would greatly appreciate if you can clarify what did you find anti semetic in my post so that I’m aware of it for the future.
I replied to the wrong comment. I apologize
File this under “No good deed go unpunished”.
Every other clown will now be crying how unfair this is and ask for similar handouts. You see it here on the first few comments and it’s also on social media.
These are the same people complaining there are too many elites.
Some of us are hoping that UA will consider renewing top elites from India (and China) as we haven’t been able to fly UA even though we want to… We aren’t looking to punish a good deed but we are hoping that UA will continue / expand its good deeds around the world 🙂
We are all appreciative of UA for doing this for TLV – as UA_FLYER has stated. And we are happy to keep you entertained by clowning around on this 🙂