Originally Posted by
UnitedHostage
Okay, that sucks then but it’s not like PlusPoints are particularly easy to use anyway. This does confirm to me that 2MM and global MM devaluations are coming. It’s a matter of when, not if. Even with the changes, I don’t think 2MM is a very interesting status to have unless the MM is earning 1K or GS to pass to a companion. As an end state lifetime status, it still feels very mediocre.
I suspect you are right. It is hard to see how this change for 1MM makes much (financial) difference to United. It is the higher tiers that likely cost United much more, and they may be what UA has in their sights. But they can't make changes to say 4MM without making changes too to lower tiers. And given that the benefits of 1MM are minimal - UA gold, and companion status - there isn't much to chop away. As stated a downgrade to Silver won't work and they seem not ready to abolish companion status entirely, so downgrading companion status from equivalent status is the only thing left they can take away, but that is hardly anything of value, unless GS, as (certainly if one reads this forum) major relevant benefits of platinum and 1K, sans PP, over Gold are limited. Besides if the companion is not already flying enough to independently be Gold then unlikely they fly that much to be a drain on Plat or 1K resources.
However, a similar change for 4MM will be what makes huge difference. I bet there are many 4MM who are now retired or have evolved to jobs with minimal travel (and hence don't bring UA much current revenue), but have younger or working MM companions traveling all over with full GS benefits.