TheBOSman

Indeed. In a world where UA and DL are relatively equal on the mileage earning front, I'd take DL every day. UA is weak in the southeast, while DL is an obvious monster in the southeast. New AA is also much stronger than UA in the southeast. I would never book a ticket with UA now if UA and DL were the same price. DL is better in all classes. If I was spending a large amount of OPM, I'd be going with DL. UA guts the last advantage they had unless you live closer to EWR/IAD/IAH/SFO than another competitive airport. Now, you're getting the same miles as DL for a subpar product to DL. And the costs in miles for redemptions are quite well aligned too.

Of course, I'll be booking with AA almost no matter what anyway . But now, even if AA goes revenue based, I'm unlikely to switch from AA. Then, no major US domestic based FFP has a major advantage over the other in an overall sense. So, why switch when I'm familiar with AA? Why would someone switch from AA/DL to UA? This is such a bad move by UA that it is almost laughable.

zebranz

Don't agree. I am not a MR but believe there is a use for them as they do fill seats. Spending $ with UA and getting old planes and lousy service is not a happy trip. When I pay big $, I try to travel with LH, SQ and avoid UA metal.

JNelson113

The point is that halfway into the year, in which I have decided that UA is my airline of choice and am halfway into requalifying for 1K, they spring a MAJOR change taking effect the following year, which will greatly reduce the benefit of my 1K status.

Delta made the announcement around 2/26/2014. Same amount of lead time, but if you didn't like it you had much more time to find another airline and do the necessary elite flying.

It's less the lead time than the time of the year that this is announced. Uncool IMO.

iloveipods

I realize there is more in the UA Sales e-mail (of course, tell less to your customers than you do to travel agents). Here is the full text:

United announces changes to 2015 MileagePlus program

Today United announced it is making changes to the MileagePlus program in 2015. Members will earn award miles based on their ticket price rather than distance flown.

United announces changes to 2015 MileagePlus program
Starting March 1, 2015, the award miles earned on most tickets for United and United Express flights will be based on ticket price, that is, base fare plus carrier-imposed surcharges and MileagePlus status, instead of the distance traveled.
Starting in early 2015 all MileagePlus members will be offered opportunities to use their award miles to purchase United Economy Plus seats, and to purchase subscriptions for Economy Plus and checked-baggage.
Members will still earn Premier qualifying miles (PQM) based on the distance flown and this change does not affect the qualification requirements for 2015 Premier status.
This program update will apply to all MileagePlus members worldwide.
The award miles members earn on most tickets for United and United Express flights will be based on ticket price (base fare plus carrier-imposed surcharges). Members with MileagePlus® Premier® status will earn even more miles.


Member level
(at the time of flight,
on or after March 1, 2015)

Award miles per U.S. dollar spent
Member
5
Premier® Silver
7
Premier® Gold
8
Premier® Platinum
9
Premier® 1K®
and Global ServicesSM
11

The new earning structure will apply to most tickets for travel on United and United Express flights, and most United-issued tickets on airline partners with ticket numbers beginning with "016." Members may earn up to 75,000 award miles per ticket.

Additional program details
MileagePlus members currently earn award miles on United, United Express or United's airline partners based on distance, fare class and MileagePlus Premier status. Some airline partners will continue to offer miles based on distance, fare class and MileagePlus Premier status, even after the MileagePlus program changes March 1, 2105.

There are no changes to the way members earn miles on a MileagePlus cobranded credit card: For example, United MileagePlus Explorer cardmembers will earn two miles for each $1 spent on tickets purchased from United, in addition to the miles earned for the flight.

Miles are earned based on MileagePlus status at time of departure, not time of purchase.
Tickets operated by a Star Alliance™ or MileagePlus partner airline that are not ticketed by United (ticket numbers that do not start with "016") will continue to earn award miles based on distance flown and the purchased fare class.
Members will continue to earn Premier® qualifying miles (PQM) based on the distance of the flight. Premier members will continue to earn a minimum of 500 PQM on United and United Express flights shorter than 500 miles.
Award miles are not earned for payment toward United travel products (such as Economy Plus seating or upgrades) or fees (such as checked baggage fees, MileagePlus Upgrade Award co-pays and change fees).
Purchases in a currency other than U.S. dollars will be converted to U.S. dollars.
Specialty tickets
Specialty tickets that earn award miles in the current program (including, but not limited to consolidator/bulk, group, tour and other tickets where the fare paid is not disclosed on the ticket) will earn award miles based on a percentage of the distance flown and the purchased fare class as of March 1, 2015. Please refer to the chart below for details.

Eligible fare classes
Flight operated by United and
United Express
J, C, D, Z, P, F, A
150%
Y, B, M
100%
E, U, H, Q,V,W
75%
S, T, L,K, G, N
50%

VT_hawkeye

As a former mid-level spender, non-elite coastal resident and occasional international traveler, all this does is finish the job begun by the death of 500-mile minimums and escalating load factors. We've been eating this crap sandwich for 6 years -- ever try to redeem a saver award as a non-elite?

Kayak is where I go now, but it's not strictly lowest-fare-wins. If I can fly UA CHO-IAD-whereever, leave my car at the auto shop down the street for an oil change, state inspection and free parking while I'm gone, and know that the local UAX staffers will get me in a cab without complaint if CHO-IAD mechanicals, sure, maybe UA gets my business this time. Otherwise, I'll happily drive to RIC, DCA or IAD, and when I get there I'll go B6, VX, AS or WN. International, I'll take my destination country's flag carrier if at all possible.

I don't need the abuse on-board (much less at ORD or EWR) for $20 in fare difference and effectively zero FF rewards.

Dieuwer

For all those people that got in at the cheapo F fare to ICN: if you fly out next year after March 1st, you will only earn 8,000~16,000 miles!

jasonp622

so i'm assuming mileage accrual will be as is until March, so maybe expect some larger fisrt quarter numbers if people want a last chance to mile run

i am so glad i will be platinum or 1K this year, starting as a general member in 2015 will make it much more difficult to achieve that status

i will certainly cut down on my segments and pay a few bucks more which is probably what they want

TheBOSman

But you were already flying UA anyway? The change is nice for you, but does it really increase your incentive to do something you were already doing anyway? The FFP should be used to increase business. UA has your business due to the schedule and timings I'm guessing, not their FFP. DL flies LGA-CLE, and already had this style earning announced for next year.

davidash

It appears to only benefit 1K and GS.

Sterndogg

Haha this is great...should gift box a copy to the UA MP spin machine!!! I expected something like to this happen but had a shimmer of hope that UA would be somewhat different...truly time to press the bail button, burn remaining miles and become another Kayaker.

hyho61

Did they announce anything on CC waiver for 2015 - for all except 1k. DL still has the waiver for 2015 and beyond.

JBord

Yeah, you're in the small minority group it benefits. I actually fly routes like this a lot too. I have a friend who flies ORD-SFO rt weekly, and without knowing his $, I assume he'll lose big.

Renes Points

We will not know that until Q2 or Q3 2015. Then again, by then AA may have matched as well so all are as bad as the next.

edcho

What the heck... As if it isn't confusing enough.

CMK10

Thanks I posted it on their Facebook page too.