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
Apr 16, 2019, 8:26 am
#3256
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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My how we laughed 
Apr 27, 2019, 11:13 am
#3257
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
Does anyone have experience requesting a retroactive PQD/RDM adjustment due to a re-fare? I just cancelled the return flight on an international round trip flight; despite the 1 hour, 50 minute schedule change, the agent elected* to mark it as a voluntary change and had it re-fared.
The agent who refused even to waive the cancellation fee due to my 1 hour, 50 minute schedule change also apparently failed to submit the refund request properly. I waited a week, and when I didn't hear anything, I submitted an online refund request, mentioning the situation (schedule change, first agent said the cancellation fee would be waived, second didn't).
Much to my surprise, the refunds department did an INVOL refund. ^ So, I got 50% of my original fare back instead of the leftovers after converting it to a one-way fare basis. Thus, I will not be requesting a PQD adjustment, because the PQD matches what I ended up spending on the flight.
PS: For a fairly small amount of cash, UA just generated a large amount of goodwill.
Sep 5, 2019, 1:15 am
#3258
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: EuroBonus Diamond (SK); Hilton Diamond + few others
Posts: 172
Will be travelling CPH-BRU-EWR on a Brussels Airlines ticket (BRU-EWR is UA operated though). Ticket is K-class.
I'm *A-Gold.
- Will I get to check a free bag in CPH when checking in with Brussels Airlines? (I read that LH doesn't give a free 1st bag, but reading diverging things here).
- How many miles does this credit to UA MileagePlus? (I have a European based UA-membership).
I'm *A-Gold.
- Will I get to check a free bag in CPH when checking in with Brussels Airlines? (I read that LH doesn't give a free 1st bag, but reading diverging things here).
- How many miles does this credit to UA MileagePlus? (I have a European based UA-membership).
Last edited by EBGflyer; Sep 5, 2019 at 2:51 am
Sep 5, 2019, 7:18 am
#3259
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Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
Will be travelling CPH-BRU-EWR on a Brussels Airlines ticket (BRU-EWR is UA operated though). Ticket is K-class.
I'm *A-Gold.
- Will I get to check a free bag in CPH when checking in with Brussels Airlines? (I read that LH doesn't give a free 1st bag, but reading diverging things here).
- How many miles does this credit to UA MileagePlus? (I have a European based UA-membership).
I'm *A-Gold.
- Will I get to check a free bag in CPH when checking in with Brussels Airlines? (I read that LH doesn't give a free 1st bag, but reading diverging things here).
- How many miles does this credit to UA MileagePlus? (I have a European based UA-membership).
Are you asking about redeemable miles or Premier Qualifying Miles?
Sep 5, 2019, 7:27 am
#3260
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If Basic Economy, your checked allowance at an SN counter is zero, even if *G. If regular Economy, it is 2x23kg with *G.
A BE ticket will earn 50% of the distance in PQM.
Sep 5, 2019, 1:49 pm
#3261
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: EuroBonus Diamond (SK); Hilton Diamond + few others
Posts: 172
It's a Basic Economy Ticket. Asking how many miles I will accumulate - miles that I can use for award tickets later.
Sep 5, 2019, 1:56 pm
#3262
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Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
BRU-EWR will earn based upon the amount of the fare that's allocated to that segment. UA Gold will earn 8 miles per dollar.
Sep 5, 2019, 2:01 pm
#3263
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,857
The SN flight from CPH will earn 50% of the miles between CPH-BRU,
Sep 5, 2019, 2:45 pm
#3264
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: EuroBonus Diamond (SK); Hilton Diamond + few others
Posts: 172
The UA segment will earn based on the PQDs allocated to that segment multipled by your UA status multiplier ( x5 if no status,if UA Gold it is x8). Figuring the PQDs on a partner ticket can get tricky. It should be most of the fare (after removing taxes and fees) and at portion allocated to the SN flight from CPH.
The SN flight from CPH will earn 50% of the miles between CPH-BRU,
The SN flight from CPH will earn 50% of the miles between CPH-BRU,
Wondering whether the earnings pr. dollar also applies when my UA MileagePlus aacount is not based in the US. Usually, you don't earn based on the ticket price. Has it been changed?
Sep 5, 2019, 2:47 pm
#3265
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Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
Earnings based on the ticket price has been standard for all MileagePlus members, for all United-operated flights, for several years. You don't need to reach a certain number of PQD to keep your Gold status, but that is still how the redeemable miles are earned.
Sep 5, 2019, 3:00 pm
#3266
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This hasn't changed since the introduction of fare-based earning, I think that was in 2014 or 2015. Only difference between US-based accounts and not is those in the US need to meet PQD, and internationally based accounts don’t., as previously mentioned.
Sep 6, 2019, 3:55 am
#3267
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: EuroBonus Diamond (SK); Hilton Diamond + few others
Posts: 172
thats incorrect. When crediting to MP, no matter where your account is based, you earn per dollar on any United flight, no matter how it was booked/ticketed, and partner flights when ticketed by United (016 ticket number). The only exception is on speciality tickets, which does earn based on distance (often a percentage of distance).
This hasn't changed since the introduction of fare-based earning, I think that was in 2014 or 2015. Only difference between US-based accounts and not is those in the US need to meet PQD, and internationally based accounts don’t., as previously mentioned.
I will be flying:
CPH-BRU: SN-operated.
BRU-EWR: UA-operated
Wouldn't I accumulate miles to MP based on distance when it's a SN-ticket (on UA-metal)?
Sep 6, 2019, 4:14 am
#3268
Join Date: May 2012
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Ok, let me clarify then. The ticket is issued by SN (ticket 082-) and shows as a Basic Economy Ticket in my United-app. The fare class is K.
I will be flying:
CPH-BRU: SN-operated.
BRU-EWR: UA-operated
Wouldn't I accumulate miles to MP based on distance when it's a SN-ticket (on UA-metal)?
I will be flying:
CPH-BRU: SN-operated.
BRU-EWR: UA-operated
Wouldn't I accumulate miles to MP based on distance when it's a SN-ticket (on UA-metal)?
I think that the redeemable miles will be 50% x distances for both segments. Just read the link provided above.
Sep 6, 2019, 5:18 am
#3269
Join Date: Dec 2009
Programs: EuroBonus Diamond (SK); Hilton Diamond + few others
Posts: 172
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...lines-sas.html
I think that the redeemable miles will be 50% x distances for both segments. Just read the link provided above.
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...es/united.html
When flights are operated by United reddemable miles will be given based on fare regardless what airline has issued the ticket.
So the fare itself was extremely low - I think around 50 USD, but how do UA determine how much of that fare belong to the UA segment. The ticket consists of 4 segments where only 1 of them is UA,
Sep 6, 2019, 7:44 am
#3270
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The link you provided is for SK - not SN, but of course in principle the same. For the long segment BRU-EWR the flight is not SN, but UA, however on an SN ticket (082). I think I have found the answer on UA's website here:
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...es/united.html
When flights are operated by United reddemable miles will be given based on fare regardless what airline has issued the ticket.
https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...es/united.html
When flights are operated by United reddemable miles will be given based on fare regardless what airline has issued the ticket.
It's a black box, but it usually comes out fairly close to pro rata by distance over the fare component. The effective base fare is almost certainly higher unless you're one of those insane sub-€250 fares -- YQ counts as base fare for this.