Jun 10, 2014, 5:09 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Earning miles on United flights
Spend-based mileage (RDM) earning for all UA metal flights effective March 1, 2015.
Redeemable Miles (RDM) changes highlights:
Fare multipliers based on Premier status:
For example, a 1K would earn 1100 miles for a $120 (assuming $20 in taxes/fees) ticket while a Silver would earn 700 miles for the same ticket.
As there is a maximum number of miles per ticket earned - this disincentives purchasing any ticket (excluding government taxes and fees) over the following:
A way to avoid this is booking one-ways if the fare rules permit.
Premier Qualifying Miles (PQM) are not affected by this change.
Announcement Site
Post 57: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/23008349-post57.html
Answered Questions:
Spend-based mileage (RDM) earning for all UA metal flights effective March 1, 2015.
Redeemable Miles (RDM) changes highlights:
- Miles earned will now be based on the ticket price instead of the number of miles flown (see partner flights on non-016 tickets exception )
- Ticket price is defined as base fare plus carrier-imposed surcharges (same as PQDs)
- Class of service bonuses have been discontinued (e.g. X% more on A fares).
- There is a limit of 75,000 miles earned per ticket (see below for spending limits by status)
- UA flights regardless of ticket stock will use the ticket price to determine RDMs
- Partner flight on 016 ticket stock will use the ticket price to determine RDMs
- Partner flights on non-016 ticket stock will use a flight mileage-based system to determine RDMs with a fare class multiplier (see the partner page for detials
- Speciality / Bulk tickets with PQDs will use a flight mileage-based system to determine RDMs with a fare class multiplier, see Specialty tickets
Fare multipliers based on Premier status:
- x5 General Members
- x7 Silver
- x8 Gold
- x9 Plat
- x11 1K/GS
For example, a 1K would earn 1100 miles for a $120 (assuming $20 in taxes/fees) ticket while a Silver would earn 700 miles for the same ticket.
As there is a maximum number of miles per ticket earned - this disincentives purchasing any ticket (excluding government taxes and fees) over the following:
- $6818.18 for 1K/GS
- $8333.33 for Platinum
- $9375.00 for Gold
- $10714.28 for Silver
- $15000.00 for General Members
A way to avoid this is booking one-ways if the fare rules permit.
Premier Qualifying Miles (PQM) are not affected by this change.
www.mileageplusupdates.com
There is a tool on the site that allow you to enter how much you spent on a ticket along your premier status in order to calculate how many miles you will earn under the new system. The tool is aware of the miles per ticket limit.
There is a FAQ here: http://mileageplusupdates.com/faq.html
Relevant UA Insider posts:There is a tool on the site that allow you to enter how much you spent on a ticket along your premier status in order to calculate how many miles you will earn under the new system. The tool is aware of the miles per ticket limit.
There is a FAQ here: http://mileageplusupdates.com/faq.html
Post 57: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/23008349-post57.html
Hi everyone,
Today we’re announcing changes to how MileagePlus members will earn award miles in 2015. We’ve posted complete details and a FAQ on united.com, but I wanted to share an excerpt of the key points with you directly:
As of March 1, 2015, the award miles you earn on most United and United Express tickets will be based on your ticket price (that is, base fare plus carrier-imposed surcharges) and your MileagePlus status, instead of the distance you travel. The new criteria for earning award miles will look like this:
<portion removed for brevity>
The changes to earning award miles will apply to all MileagePlus members worldwide, and will be based on status at the time of flight on or after March 1, 2015. These changes will not affect the qualification requirements for 2015 Premier status. PQM and PQS will still be based on the number of paid flight miles traveled and the fare purchased. And where applicable, PQD will still be determined by the base fare and carrier-imposed surcharges.
Today we’re announcing changes to how MileagePlus members will earn award miles in 2015. We’ve posted complete details and a FAQ on united.com, but I wanted to share an excerpt of the key points with you directly:
As of March 1, 2015, the award miles you earn on most United and United Express tickets will be based on your ticket price (that is, base fare plus carrier-imposed surcharges) and your MileagePlus status, instead of the distance you travel. The new criteria for earning award miles will look like this:
<portion removed for brevity>
The changes to earning award miles will apply to all MileagePlus members worldwide, and will be based on status at the time of flight on or after March 1, 2015. These changes will not affect the qualification requirements for 2015 Premier status. PQM and PQS will still be based on the number of paid flight miles traveled and the fare purchased. And where applicable, PQD will still be determined by the base fare and carrier-imposed surcharges.
Class of service bonuses have been discontinued under the new system. There is already an adjustment for 1K over general members.
For tickets that will earn award miles based on ticket price, the class-of-service bonus and Premier bonus will be included in the number of award miles you earn per dollar. Basically COS has been removed.
E-mail received by GS lists 1K and GS together.
2015 MileagePlus Change - RDMs Will Be Calculated by Spend, Not Distance
May 28, 2015, 7:43 pm
#3001
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,038
shhhhhh, let the dogs sleep. In contrast to the gazillion IT issues that steal money from customers ... this one WILL get fixed if we continue to post about it.
May 28, 2015, 11:10 pm
#3002
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,415
I'd venture to say that M
ST MileagePlus members who have looked at the new rules still don't have any idea how things work. Just look at the absolute basics. On what planet does it make sense that some miles are earned based on how much you spend while other miles are earned based on the distance you fly -- and both types are earned on the same ticket?!
May 29, 2015, 9:47 pm
#3003
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: AC E50k, A3*G, UA*S, MR Titanium, HHonors Gold, Carlson Gold, NEXUS
Posts: 3,669
This has probably been asked, but if I'm flying LH/OU/OS on fares that accrue 0% on any program, is it to my advantage to ticket to 016 (no price difference)? That is, on 0%-PQM-earning fares, do you still earn RDMs when you have a 016 ticket?
May 29, 2015, 9:49 pm
#3004
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
No it doesn't help. If it's non-earning based on operating carrier fare class, ticketing on 016 stock won't change that.
May 29, 2015, 9:51 pm
#3005
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Canada
Programs: AC E50k, A3*G, UA*S, MR Titanium, HHonors Gold, Carlson Gold, NEXUS
Posts: 3,669
May 29, 2015, 9:54 pm
#3006
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
May 29, 2015, 10:29 pm
#3007
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,693
Earning RDM is a prerequisite for earning PQD.
Adds up, he got $466 one way on his only post-3/1 flight.
Adds up, he got $466 one way on his only post-3/1 flight.
May 29, 2015, 11:51 pm
#3008
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: UA:1k; MR: PLT; Hilton: Gold
Posts: 1,324
Jun 8, 2015, 3:10 pm
#3009
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Washington DC
Programs: Former 1k, Lifetime UA Gold, Starwood Gold; Avis Preferred; Hertz Gold
Posts: 1,732
http://mileageplusupdates.com/#faq
Use the "calculator" they have here. Type in $9,000 spend and that you are a 1k.
Shows me I get 99,000 miles awarded. I would suggest that everyone that exceeds the 75k mile just print screen the calculator screen shot!
Jun 8, 2015, 4:06 pm
#3010
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: IAH
Programs: Premier Gold, *G
Posts: 61
This complaint has come up many times, and I had known that this would likely negatively affect my reward mileage earnings, but I didn't realize how bad it would be until I just did one trans-Atlantic, one trans-Pac, and one domestic in the last three weeks. Under the "miles travelled system" as a Gold, that would have been ~41,000 miles. Under the spend system, it was ~26,000. It is particularly galling that upgrade copays are not included in the spending (I work for a university that will not, under any circumstances, pay for business class travel, but I pay out of pocket to upgrade sometimes). Say what you want about low fare classes, but this was well over $4k worth of travel, when all the taxes and fees are included.
Not a change I particularly like, Jeff.
Not a change I particularly like, Jeff.
Jun 8, 2015, 4:28 pm
#3011
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: United Global Services, Amtrak Select Executive
Posts: 4,098
They want to reward flyers for purchasing expensive tickets, at the expense of flyers who purchase cheap tickets. I recently earned 58,000 miles on a single TATL RT in paid F. The same trip in paid F last spring, I earned 12,000. You can probably imagine how I feel about the new system.
This is not meant as a criticism of how you fly; just that it isn't an accident that flyers like you don't like this change, and UA made the change with full knowledge that flyers like you aren't gonna like it.
This is not meant as a criticism of how you fly; just that it isn't an accident that flyers like you don't like this change, and UA made the change with full knowledge that flyers like you aren't gonna like it.
Jun 8, 2015, 6:22 pm
#3012
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,693
Still doesn't support domestic RTs with open jaws:
This itinerary includes one or more flights that are ineligible to earn mileage or Premier qualifying credit.
Yea, the - --- --- --- --- dummy segment between my open jaw points.
This itinerary includes one or more flights that are ineligible to earn mileage or Premier qualifying credit.
Yea, the - --- --- --- --- dummy segment between my open jaw points.
Jun 9, 2015, 8:15 am
#3013
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BWI
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond, National Emerald Executive, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 15,180
They want to reward flyers for purchasing expensive tickets, at the expense of flyers who purchase cheap tickets. I recently earned 58,000 miles on a single TATL RT in paid F. The same trip in paid F last spring, I earned 12,000. You can probably imagine how I feel about the new system.
This is not meant as a criticism of how you fly; just that it isn't an accident that flyers like you don't like this change, and UA made the change with full knowledge that flyers like you aren't gonna like it.
This is not meant as a criticism of how you fly; just that it isn't an accident that flyers like you don't like this change, and UA made the change with full knowledge that flyers like you aren't gonna like it.
Jun 9, 2015, 9:44 am
#3014
Join Date: May 2004
Location: OAK
Programs: UA Gold MM / AS MVP Gold
Posts: 2,504
The RDM earnings change is the single biggest factor in shifting my business away from United. Without a viable frequent flier program, there is no need to suffer through the purchase of revenue tickets on United.