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, 4:09 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,115
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, 2014, 4:15 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Houston
Programs: UA - 1K, Marriott - Gold, Hilton - Gold, Global Entry,
Posts: 630
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, 2014, 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: 31,849
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, 2014, 5:07 am
#4
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 5,814
It's not blank....
Spend based mileage earning for all UA metal flights.
x5 Members
x7 Silver
x8 Gold
x9 Plat
x11 1K/GS
Spend based mileage earning for all UA metal flights.
x5 Members
x7 Silver
x8 Gold
x9 Plat
x11 1K/GS
Jun 10, 2014, 5:15 am
#5
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: United Premier 1K 1MM; AA Plat Pro; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Platinum; Avis President's Club
Posts: 2,528
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, 2014, 5:20 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,115
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, 2014, 5:21 am
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
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, 2014 at 5:34 am
Jun 10, 2014, 5:32 am
#8
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Moreland Hills (CLE)
Programs: Over-entitled UA 1.3MM Gold, AA Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott L-T Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 5,521
...thus ends the mileage run
Jun 10, 2014, 5:37 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Costa Rica
Programs: UA 1K, Priority Platinum, Marriot Gold, Delta Platinum
Posts: 308
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, 2014 at 5:43 am
Jun 10, 2014, 5:42 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Anywhere but home
Programs: UA 1K/MM, DL GM/MM, AA Gold, HH Dia, PC Plat, ALL Sil, MR Gold
Posts: 4,550
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, 2014 at 6:14 pm
Jun 10, 2014, 5:46 am
#11
Join Date: May 2009
Location: PHL
Posts: 2,842
And they did it again
Copy al of DL's initiatives that are bad for the customer and completely overlook all of DL's initiatives than are potentially good for the customer
Copy al of DL's initiatives that are bad for the customer and completely overlook all of DL's initiatives than are potentially good for the customer
Jun 10, 2014, 5:47 am
#12
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,147
Jun 10, 2014, 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, 2014, 5:51 am
#14
Join Date: May 2009
Location: PHL
Posts: 2,842
Ding Ding Ding Ding
Yes, but earning redeemable miles is also a player.
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%.
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, 2014, 5:53 am
#15
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PIT
Programs: OZ Diamond, UA Gold
Posts: 9,902
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
