It's really the only value point for me over Gold, and was one of the things that made accruing United miles worthwhile.

Something a lot of people missed here is that not only did Plat become worth less, but MILES became worth less.

For example, I have a wedding I need to fly myself and the wife to. Booked mileage tickets, knowing I can move them around if needed, even up to the day of travel. Can't do that under the new rules. And of course the loss of stopovers for everyone also reduced mileage value.


The problem is that when United reduces the value of the miles, that reduces my motivation to get miles. So now do I not only have any motivation to consolidate my airline travel spend to United to make Plat, I've probably lost my incentive to put my personal and business spending on United credit cards, due to the double-wammy of reduction in miles value overall and reduction in miles value to me as a Platinum.


I haven't done the math yet, but there's a very good chance I trade in my United credit cards for SPG credit cards.

I don't think selling Chase FEWER miles was the idea, but that's the effect.


United doesn't seem to realize that all the parts of their program work together to create a profitable program. Make miles flexible, allow me to make Plat, I buy more United airfare, I use United credit cards, all of those things pile up to make a whole that's bigger than the sum of the parts.

Start pulling away the parts and the whole really loses its value quick.