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
Jun 10, 2014, 7:39 am
#121
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: UA MM Plat; AA MM Gold; HHonors Diamond
Posts: 15,866
I like it. My roughly $700 DEN--MAF round trips will earn me about 7700 RDMs once I'm 1K versus fewer than 2300 now. I tend to spend a lot per ticket on short- and medium-length domestic flights.
Last edited by Bonehead; Jun 10, 2014 at 9:29 am
Jun 10, 2014, 7:40 am
#122
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
I see this as fair. When I pay nearly $1000 to go to SLC and the guy next to me pays $400 and both of us get the same miles, that is not fair. MileagePlus is still far better for redemptions and as a program than DL's. Now the miles will be more valuable. However for international flights, many might prefer to fly other Star carriers as they will get the miles based on distance, assuming the fares are competitive.
Jun 10, 2014, 7:40 am
#123
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Aussie in ORD
Programs: Marriott Plat, Ua Gold, GE.. Sucker for punishment
Posts: 4,237
PQMs staying the same?
Jun 10, 2014, 7:42 am
#125
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: ASE
Programs: UA 1MM, AA1MM PLTPRO, Hertz PC, National EXC, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton/Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum
Posts: 3,357
Yes, these changes are bad. But, don't forget, UA has the 787 and the world's leading network...oh, wait... 
Jun 10, 2014, 7:44 am
#127
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Aussie in ORD
Programs: Marriott Plat, Ua Gold, GE.. Sucker for punishment
Posts: 4,237
Yeah.. actually went and read it..
Pfft...
Pfft...
Jun 10, 2014, 7:45 am
#128
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
People say that this screws people buying international first class because of the 75k limit.
Am I missing something? Let's take the recent example of the BOS-ICN ticket which everyone jumped on for $1700 (normal going price around $7000).
I just plugged it into the calculator, and a global first ticket for this would have gotten a 1K 58,576 miles.
In the new system, a 1K would earn 75000 miles. A general member would earn 35000 miles, a slight decrease from the 41,840 they'd have earned before.
Sure, the 75k limit doesn't provide as much benefit as the 77000 they'd get if there was no limit, but both are still way more than before.
Now, the people who only paid $1700 are definitely screwed, but that's also understandable. But they still get the PQMs.
Am I missing something? Let's take the recent example of the BOS-ICN ticket which everyone jumped on for $1700 (normal going price around $7000).
I just plugged it into the calculator, and a global first ticket for this would have gotten a 1K 58,576 miles.
In the new system, a 1K would earn 75000 miles. A general member would earn 35000 miles, a slight decrease from the 41,840 they'd have earned before.
Sure, the 75k limit doesn't provide as much benefit as the 77000 they'd get if there was no limit, but both are still way more than before.
Now, the people who only paid $1700 are definitely screwed, but that's also understandable. But they still get the PQMs.
Jun 10, 2014, 7:45 am
#129
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,601
They will go to other *A carriers like A3 or LH and SQ, where I can redeem miles for LH or SQ First up to a year in advance.
Jun 10, 2014, 7:46 am
#130
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: SoCal to the rest of the world...
Programs: AA EXP with lots of BA. UA 2MM Lifetime Plat - No longer chase hotel loyalty
Posts: 6,698
The reward chart doesn't match this degradation....
If this is a "Benefit" then the award chart has some absolutely out of insanity redemptions...
If the Award chart went to say "1997" levels of redemption then that's one thing.
I'm almost believing UA hates their customers across the board now. Glad I jumped ship after the PQD insanity*. Customers should speak with their feet.
* After 20 years as a 1K I jumped when a $2K ticket with mixed carriers netted me $800 in PQD's.
If the Award chart went to say "1997" levels of redemption then that's one thing.
I'm almost believing UA hates their customers across the board now. Glad I jumped ship after the PQD insanity*. Customers should speak with their feet.
* After 20 years as a 1K I jumped when a $2K ticket with mixed carriers netted me $800 in PQD's.
Jun 10, 2014, 7:47 am
#131
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: PBI / FLL / YUL
Programs: UA 1K, Delta Plat, AA Plat, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Courtesy Card
Posts: 1,983
On March 1, 2015 RDMs Will Be Calculated by Spend, Not Distance, for UA MileagePlus
With fares at sky high levels and getting worse through consolidation, I actually think I come out ahead from this due to business travel.
Jun 10, 2014, 7:48 am
#132
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: New York
Programs: AA Exp / Marriott Titanium / Hilton Gold / Hyatt Globalist / United Silver
Posts: 958
ITT (Same with DL):
People who fly on someone else's dime: Yay
People who fly on their own dime: Noooo
People who fly on someone else's dime: Yay
People who fly on their own dime: Noooo
Jun 10, 2014, 7:49 am
#133
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
Jun 10, 2014, 7:49 am
#134
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEN
Programs: AA EXP, AA Million Miles, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,586
As a Gold (which I expect to be in 2015):
Under 2014 rules: I would have earned 23268 RDMs.
Under 2015 rules: Something like 12060 RDMs.
As a 1K:
Under 2014 rules: I would have earned 31024 RDMs.
Under 2015 rules: Something like 16581 RDMs.
Slightly less than a 50% reduction*.
* Assuming my quick math is correct.
My above example was OPM. The idea that OPM = expensive ticket is a myth. This change hurts those flying long-distance on nonrefundable Y fares.
Jun 10, 2014, 7:50 am
#135
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Platinum/LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,594
Wow...I'm shocked by this. Not by the change in itself, but by the timing. I can't believe they'd make a change that drives away customers just when the market has noticed this is a problem for them.
Regardless of how this change impacts you personally, I don't see how you can view this as a change that will attract MORE customers. Potentially the short-haul segment warriors will like this, but I think a lot of them have trouble getting to 120 segments. It seems like a long road if you're considering moving your business to UA.
I suspect I'll just about break even on this deal. My flights for work are usually booked a week out, and probably average about 450 PQD. So a flight to NYC which used to get me 2800 RDM now nets 4000+. But the longer flights earn less.
What scares me is the "more to come". I don't think this is over. AA now has a great opportunity to differentiate itself among business travelers.
Regardless of how this change impacts you personally, I don't see how you can view this as a change that will attract MORE customers. Potentially the short-haul segment warriors will like this, but I think a lot of them have trouble getting to 120 segments. It seems like a long road if you're considering moving your business to UA.
I suspect I'll just about break even on this deal. My flights for work are usually booked a week out, and probably average about 450 PQD. So a flight to NYC which used to get me 2800 RDM now nets 4000+. But the longer flights earn less.
What scares me is the "more to come". I don't think this is over. AA now has a great opportunity to differentiate itself among business travelers.