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
Aug 11, 2014, 6:37 pm
#2101
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA EXP, UA former 1K (1.9MM and gone), Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 1,111
Just to give you some perspective from this GS and I know several like me:
- in the air basically everyday so GS on UA and top status on one other airline (one of my colleagues is GS, CK on AA, and the highest tier on DAL)
- everyone in this group plans to avoid AA next year due to the higher available RDMs on UA and DAL
- I typically spend $150K+ on a airfare annually with two thirds going to UA and the other third to AA; next year, it all goes to UA
- most, if not all of us, plan to give more miles to our elderly parents for leisure travel, our kids for travel back and forth from college, and to take our immediate families on vacay in C or F
- in the air basically everyday so GS on UA and top status on one other airline (one of my colleagues is GS, CK on AA, and the highest tier on DAL)
- everyone in this group plans to avoid AA next year due to the higher available RDMs on UA and DAL
- I typically spend $150K+ on a airfare annually with two thirds going to UA and the other third to AA; next year, it all goes to UA
- most, if not all of us, plan to give more miles to our elderly parents for leisure travel, our kids for travel back and forth from college, and to take our immediate families on vacay in C or F
Presumably there were reasons to prefer to fly AA 100 times this year instead of UA, so there will be some kind of tangible or intangible cost to switching. The question therefore is whether that $50 is worth more to you than the cost of switching each of those flights to UA. Maybe so, but I'd personally be willing to pay an extra $50 most of the time these days to choose AA.
Aug 11, 2014, 7:11 pm
#2102
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Van down by the river
Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, Marriott PP/LT Plat, Golden Circle Diamond
Posts: 718
Not clear on D fare as I had agent tell me can't be done. Will have to check today as I have two D fares that I could use to bump into GF.
Aug 11, 2014, 7:15 pm
#2103
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,470
These upgrades can be used on paid, published fares for upgrades from United Economy®, United Business® or United BusinessFirst® to the next higher cabin. Fare classes Z, P, S, T, L, K, G and N may only be upgraded on flights to select regions.
Global Premier Upgrades
Aug 11, 2014, 7:18 pm
#2104
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
don't forget you can go back an correct posting errors.
GPUs can be use on D
*Fare class structure for Global Premier Upgrades, in priority order, is: J, C, D, Z, P (for upgrades from United Business to United First® or United BusinessFirst to United Global FirstSM on three-cabin aircraft) and Y, B, M, E, U, H, Q, V, W, S, T, L, K, G, N (for upgrades from United Economy to the next higher class of service on all aircraft). Note that on some flights, Global Premier Upgrades are not available for fare classes Z, P, S, T, L, K, G and N.
Aug 12, 2014, 8:35 pm
#2105
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 321
I am sure that this is addressed, but I could not find it. Ticket with Feb 28 departure, but march 5th return, will be treated wholly under the old rules, not half old, half new? Mileage based, not Revenue based?
Aug 14, 2014, 6:02 pm
#2106
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,722
So now I unexpectedly find myself probably dropping from 1k to 1P/Gold for 2015 and curious about how that will play out under the new system. Assuming my 2015 annual UA spend returns to $20k+, I'm looking at a net loss of 60k RDM under the new chart if I drop from 1k to *G. Generously valuing 60k @ .02/mi = $1200.
Of course this is a worst case scenario, more likely some of my international fares will exceed $6800, so I could earn the same # of miles as a 1k on any given trip thanks to the 75k cap. And alternatively I may choose to fly LH, SQ or another *A partner once I hit $10k spend on UA, where the RDM isn't fare dependent.
In terms of the soft benefits I will miss the bonus RDMs and fee waivers on award tix, not to mention the extra inventory of award seats (the latter was crystal clear on a recent booking where I found 4 saver F tix to SJD when logged in but 0 otherwise). However I rarely get much value from RPUs and GPUs as I normally fly in paid-C international.
Hardly seems worth spending $$ on a MR for 1k until you reach 90k, but of course that depends on your flight patterns. We don't see too many CPUs @SFO.
Of course this is a worst case scenario, more likely some of my international fares will exceed $6800, so I could earn the same # of miles as a 1k on any given trip thanks to the 75k cap. And alternatively I may choose to fly LH, SQ or another *A partner once I hit $10k spend on UA, where the RDM isn't fare dependent.
In terms of the soft benefits I will miss the bonus RDMs and fee waivers on award tix, not to mention the extra inventory of award seats (the latter was crystal clear on a recent booking where I found 4 saver F tix to SJD when logged in but 0 otherwise). However I rarely get much value from RPUs and GPUs as I normally fly in paid-C international.
Hardly seems worth spending $$ on a MR for 1k until you reach 90k, but of course that depends on your flight patterns. We don't see too many CPUs @SFO.
Aug 14, 2014, 7:31 pm
#2107
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 5,577
This is an eye-opener
I received the Flight Deal Newsletter and one of the offerings was LAX-BKK for
$ 908.00 r/t on UA/NH. They displayed earning for now and after Mar 1 :
"2014: 16,654 miles or 5.4 cents per mile.
March 1st, 2015: 3,965 miles or a difference of 12,689 miles."
Read more: http://www.theflightdeal.com/2014/08...#ixzz3AQ5EDwvq
Speechless.
$ 908.00 r/t on UA/NH. They displayed earning for now and after Mar 1 :
"2014: 16,654 miles or 5.4 cents per mile.
March 1st, 2015: 3,965 miles or a difference of 12,689 miles."
Read more: http://www.theflightdeal.com/2014/08...#ixzz3AQ5EDwvq
Speechless.
Aug 14, 2014, 7:46 pm
#2108
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: DCA
Programs: AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 947
So, please tell me if I've got this right:
If I buy a CM-metal itinerary on 023 stock with 9000 BIS miles that cost me $400 before taxes, I'll get:
1. 400 PQD
2. 9000 PQM (+legendary 25% PQM bonus)
3. 9000 RDM (+status bonus)
Is that correct?
If I buy a CM-metal itinerary on 023 stock with 9000 BIS miles that cost me $400 before taxes, I'll get:
1. 400 PQD
2. 9000 PQM (+legendary 25% PQM bonus)
3. 9000 RDM (+status bonus)
Is that correct?
Aug 14, 2014, 7:46 pm
#2109
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,693
I received the Flight Deal Newsletter and one of the offerings was LAX-BKK for
$ 908.00 r/t on UA/NH. They displayed earning for now and after Mar 1 :
"2014: 16,654 miles or 5.4 cents per mile.
March 1st, 2015: 3,965 miles or a difference of 12,689 miles."
Speechless.
$ 908.00 r/t on UA/NH. They displayed earning for now and after Mar 1 :
"2014: 16,654 miles or 5.4 cents per mile.
March 1st, 2015: 3,965 miles or a difference of 12,689 miles."
Speechless.
Aug 14, 2014, 8:39 pm
#2110
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: YVR SFO
Programs: UA G
Posts: 4,866
I received the Flight Deal Newsletter and one of the offerings was LAX-BKK for
$ 908.00 r/t on UA/NH. They displayed earning for now and after Mar 1 :
"2014: 16,654 miles or 5.4 cents per mile.
March 1st, 2015: 3,965 miles or a difference of 12,689 miles."
Read more: http://www.theflightdeal.com/2014/08...#ixzz3AQ5EDwvq
Speechless.
$ 908.00 r/t on UA/NH. They displayed earning for now and after Mar 1 :
"2014: 16,654 miles or 5.4 cents per mile.
March 1st, 2015: 3,965 miles or a difference of 12,689 miles."
Read more: http://www.theflightdeal.com/2014/08...#ixzz3AQ5EDwvq
Speechless.
Aug 18, 2014, 3:00 pm
#2112
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: FRA / IAD
Programs: UA*PP
Posts: 44
Has there been made any statement regarding crediting partner flights (e.g., LH) to MP?
Aug 20, 2014, 12:57 am
#2113
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Canada! eh?
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 386
The FAQ doesn't answer my question.
What happens when you have a flight: Feb 26 - Mar 2nd ?
Ticket Price: $1000, 1K Status
Feb 26: SFO HKG
Mar 2: HKG SFO
How many miles would you earn?
What happens when you have a flight: Feb 26 - Mar 2nd ?
Ticket Price: $1000, 1K Status
Feb 26: SFO HKG
Mar 2: HKG SFO
How many miles would you earn?
Aug 20, 2014, 1:09 am
#2114
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,470
The best guess is it will be handled just as PQD accrual for RT itineraries that straddled the new year were handled - the segment that departs on Feb. 26 will accrue under the old rules (miles based), the segment that departs on March 2 will accrue under the new rules (dollar based).
Aug 20, 2014, 8:43 am
#2115
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K and MM, Marriot, Hilton
Posts: 804
I'd imagine it is the same as PQD with flights on either side of the new year. You will earn under the rules for date of flight, so old earnings for first leg. New earnings for return