2015 MileagePlus Change - RDMs Will Be Calculated by Spend, Not Distance
Sep 6, 19, 4:07 am - Wikipost
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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. www.mileageplusupdates.com 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
Originally Posted by UA Insider
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.
Originally Posted by SunLover
So a 1K purchasing a $5,000 EWR-NRT ticket would earn 55,000 miles plus the 1K additional RDM’s?
Class of service bonuses have been discontinued under the new system. There is already an adjustment for 1K over general members.
Originally Posted by ckidder331
LAX-Intl Location in Business Class as a Premier Gold Would a $5,000 ticket in Business class to Asia earn: 5000 x 8 = 40,000 (Premier Gold earning) 5000 x .75 = 3750 (Class of Service bonus) 43,750 Total 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.
Originally Posted by mikelcf
...On the mileageplus announcement site and FAQ site it lists only 1K's. With respect to most mileage levels, etc. UA usually treats GS the same as 1K, so I assume that's the case here, but has anyone seen anything specific to GS?
E-mail received by GS lists 1K and GS together.  
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Jun 10, 14, 4:09 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 982
2015 MileagePlus Change - RDMs Will Be Calculated by Spend, Not Distance
I got this message on http://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/mark...spx?ItemId=298. It appears on other *A partner webpages as well.
"How you earn award miles on flights will change on March 1, 2015." with a "Lean more" link to http://mileageplusupdates.com/, but that renders a blank page (with just a dot) for the time being.
What "enhancement" can we expect this time
?
Source code of http://mileageplusupdates.com:
<html>
<!-- this is a test -->.
</html>
"How you earn award miles on flights will change on March 1, 2015." with a "Lean more" link to http://mileageplusupdates.com/, but that renders a blank page (with just a dot) for the time being.
What "enhancement" can we expect this time
?Source code of http://mileageplusupdates.com:
<html>
<!-- this is a test -->.
</html>
Jun 10, 14, 4:15 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Houston
Programs: BA, UA, Marriott/SPG - Gold, Hyatt - Discoverist, Hilton - Gold Global Entry,
Posts: 608
Originally Posted by mozilla
I got this message on http://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/mark...spx?ItemId=298. It appears on other *A partner webpages as well.
"How you earn award miles on flights will change on March 1, 2015." with a "Lean more" link to http://mileageplusupdates.com/, but that renders a blank page (with just a dot) for the time being.
What "enhancement" can we expect this time?
Source of http://mileageplusupdates.com:
<html>
<!-- this is a test -->.
</html>
"How you earn award miles on flights will change on March 1, 2015." with a "Lean more" link to http://mileageplusupdates.com/, but that renders a blank page (with just a dot) for the time being.
What "enhancement" can we expect this time
?Source of http://mileageplusupdates.com:
<html>
<!-- this is a test -->.
</html>
Jun 10, 14, 4:19 am
#3
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Benicia CA
Programs: Alaska MVP Gold 75K, AA 3.8MM, UA 1.1MM, enjoying the retired life
Posts: 31,845
Recall that about a dozen years ago Delta went to 50% miles on discount economy fares but reversed itself after a roar from its frequent flyers, particularly business travelers who purchased cheap vacation fares for their families. I've been waiting to see if UA tries to go down that road after the drop in bonus miles to its 1MM lifetime and midtier flyers from 100% to 50%. Wouldn't put it past them at this point to drop deep discount economy down to zero miles. Will be interesting what the next "enhancement" is.
Jun 10, 14, 5:15 am
#5
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: United Premier 1K 1MM; AA Plat; Hyatt Explorist; Marriott Titanium; Hertz Pres Cirlce
Posts: 2,439
And, again, we follow Delta. Love the innovation at United
More seriously, this just incentivizes buying expensive fares. Going to GUM will help me get a few more miles but going to LA I think I don't earn as many miles. I'm more interested to see how AA responds when they roll out their new program in 2015.
More seriously, this just incentivizes buying expensive fares. Going to GUM will help me get a few more miles but going to LA I think I don't earn as many miles. I'm more interested to see how AA responds when they roll out their new program in 2015.
Jun 10, 14, 5:20 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 982
Just saw the full webpage now as well . Apparently it has been published just a few moments ago.
At least an enhancement that is not unexpected, but it's not a "change that I will like".
Also, this program update will apply to all MileagePlus members worldwide and it will also apply to tickets for flights operated by a Star Alliance™ or MileagePlus partner airline when the ticket number starts with "016." Tickets for flights operated by a Star Alliance™ or MileagePlus partner airline that aren’t issued by United (ticket numbers that don’t start with “016”) will still earn award miles based on distance flown and the purchased fare class.
. Apparently it has been published just a few moments ago.At least an enhancement that is not unexpected, but it's not a "change that I will like".
Also, this program update will apply to all MileagePlus members worldwide and it will also apply to tickets for flights operated by a Star Alliance™ or MileagePlus partner airline when the ticket number starts with "016." Tickets for flights operated by a Star Alliance™ or MileagePlus partner airline that aren’t issued by United (ticket numbers that don’t start with “016”) will still earn award miles based on distance flown and the purchased fare class.
Jun 10, 14, 5:21 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,458
Thus ends the very good RDM earnings on cheap flights to pay for the post devaluation awards. Good for those who spend more than $500 on transcons or segment flyers.
Last edited by aacharya; Jun 10, 14 at 5:34 am
Jun 10, 14, 5:37 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Costa Rica
Programs: UA 1K, Priority Platinum, Marriot Gold, Delta Platinum
Posts: 307
So.... Ticket cost including taxes????
So let me get this: If I do SJO-FRA @ $1500 (average ticket cost) I get 16500 miles instead of the 24,284 I m getting now with my 1K bonus???
If yes, then this is the last straw, I was going to try and get 1K status this year, but I think I will just focus on switching carriers...
So let me get this: If I do SJO-FRA @ $1500 (average ticket cost) I get 16500 miles instead of the 24,284 I m getting now with my 1K bonus???
If yes, then this is the last straw, I was going to try and get 1K status this year, but I think I will just focus on switching carriers...
Last edited by SJOFlyer; Jun 10, 14 at 5:43 am
Jun 10, 14, 5:42 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Anywhere but home
Programs: UA 1K/MM, DL SM/MM, HH Dia, All Plat, PC Plat, MR Gold
Posts: 4,419
Well, today the United [expletive] hit the fan. I was really hoping UA would distinguish themselves and offer a different program than Delta. Nope; exactly the same mileage changes as Delta. This will cut my mileage earned to Asia roughly in half, which when combined with the huge mileage trip redemption increases implemented at the start of the year, completely disincentivises me to fly on United. Now I need to seriously think about returning to Delta.
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Jun 10, 14 at 6:14 pm
Jun 10, 14, 5:47 am
#12
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, TK Elite, DL Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis First
Posts: 7,527
Originally Posted by Billiken
...thus ends the mileage run
Jun 10, 14, 5:49 am
#13
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: PDX
Programs: kayaker
Posts: 851
This ends not only the "pure" mileage run, but moreso any marginal incentive to buy tickets. Business travelers pay whatever they have to, leisure travelers buy the cheapest ticket on their selected dates and routes. This change hits those of us who simply love travel for travel's sake: as the hobby becomes more expensive, those of us on tighter budgets (like myself) have no option but to give up the game.
It was a great ride while it lasted! I can't fault the airlines for going to a model that should improve their bottom line, but I'll definitely miss the "good old days."
It was a great ride while it lasted! I can't fault the airlines for going to a model that should improve their bottom line, but I'll definitely miss the "good old days."
Jun 10, 14, 5:51 am
#14
Join Date: May 2009
Location: PHL
Posts: 2,842
Originally Posted by Billiken
...thus ends the mileage run
Originally Posted by docbert
Mileage runs are normally about status more than mileage earning, and status is NOT affected by this change.
I paid $245 for a recent PHL-SFO-PDX mileage run. I earned ~12k RDMs including 1K bonus. With this new calculation I'll earn 2695 RDMs. Effectively cut by over 75%. I do not see them cutting the redemption chart by 75%.
Jun 10, 14, 5:53 am
#15
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PIT
Programs: UA 1K, OZ Diamond
Posts: 8,583
Originally Posted by o mikros
It was a great ride while it lasted! I can't fault the airlines for going to a model that should improve their bottom line, but I'll definitely miss the "good old days."
Yup, it's the end of an era. With increased mile prices, and now less miles earned, MP is useless to almost everyone. Makes me sad
