United Airlines Announces New Benefits and Changes to Its Mileage Plus Program
Friday April 14, 5:10 pm ET
CHICAGO, April 14 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- To ensure that Mileage Plus® continues to provide customers with a valuable loyalty recognition and award program, United Airlines is announcing several new benefits and changes to the Mileage Plus program.
Dedicated Saver Award Seats
To provide members more flight redemption options, United has reserved a percentage of Saver Award seats on every flight to every international and domestic United destination through March 15, 2007, the end of United's current ticket booking window. Saver Awards, available with some restrictions on United-operated flights and United's partner airlines, offer award travel for the fewest required miles.
Short Haul Saver Awards Available for 2006
Effective immediately, and for the remainder of 2006, Mileage Plus is offering the popular Short Haul Saver Awards, which enables Mileage Plus members to take short trips (for example, Chicago-Washington Dulles or San Francisco-Seattle) using up to 40 percent fewer miles. Flights up to 700 miles each way on United, United Express® and Ted(SM) within the 48 contiguous states and between the U.S. and Canada qualify. Only 15,000 redeemable miles are required for a roundtrip United Economy® Short Haul Saver Award ticket, which normally requires 25,000 miles.
Amount of Miles Required to Redeem for Certain Awards to Change
Effective Oct. 16, 2006, the number of miles required to redeem for many Standard and select Saver Awards will change. As an example, the domestic Economy Standard Award redemption amount will increase from 40,000 to 50,000 miles, matching most other U.S. carriers' current standard award levels. Even with these changes, Mileage Plus award redemption levels remain among the lowest of international carriers with three classes of service.
Standard and Saver Award Booking Fees
Also effective Oct. 16, 2006, Mileage Plus will introduce fees for Standard and Saver Award travel booked less than 14 days in advance. A fee of $75 will apply for travel ticketed six days or less prior to departure and $50 for travel ticketed 7-13 days prior to departure. As always, there will be no fee for travel ticketed 14 days or more prior to departure. Fees will not apply to United's most loyal customers - 1K Mileage Plus and Global Services members.
A new award chart reflecting all changes is available at united.com/awardchanges.
"By committing to reserving Saver Award seats on all flights -- even during the heaviest travel times -- and offering our popular Short Haul program, we are deepening the value of Mileage Plus for all of our members," said Kenneth Feldman, vice president-Loyalty & e-commerce. "These program changes are consistent with the award levels and fees of other major airline programs. And Mileage Plus is offering additional member benefits at a time of significantly increasing operating costs while continuing to provide customers meaningful mileage redemption options for travel and other rewards."
Also effective Oct. 16, 2006, Mileage Plus will introduce fees for Standard and Saver Award travel booked less than 14 days in advance. A fee of $75 will apply for travel ticketed six days or less prior to departure and $50 for travel ticketed 7-13 days prior to departure. As always, there will be no fee for travel ticketed 14 days or more prior to departure. Fees will not apply to United's most loyal customers - 1K Mileage Plus and Global Services members.
Well, if it weren't for me being 1K...this would certainly put UA and AA on level playing fields...
While award redemption levels are increasing, think about the fact that everyone has been receiving more miles in the past year or two due to double/triple miles bonuses.
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To provide members more flight redemption options, United has reserved a percentage of Saver Award seats on every flight to every international and domestic United destination through March 15, 2007, the end of United's current ticket booking window. Saver Awards, available with some restrictions on United-operated flights and United's partner airlines, offer award travel for the fewest required miles.
ummm, the have "reserved a pecentage of Saver Award seats" for what? What has actually changed in this regard?
While award redemption levels are increasing, think about the fact that everyone has been receiving more miles in the past year or two due to double/triple miles bonuses.
Regardless this is a dilution of the value of miles.
