Mar 12, 2015, 5:52 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Initial announcement thread - 2015 MileagePlus Change - RDMs Will Be Calculated by Spend, Not Distance
Update 2019 -- includes all partner flights on 016 ticket
for non-016 ticket , see Earning Status (PQP) on non-016 Tickets and Partner Metal
Spend-based mileage (RDM) earning for all UA metal flights effective March 1, 2015.
Redeemable Miles (RDM) changes highlights:
Multipliers based on Premier status: & (breakeven CPM)
For example, a 1K would earn 1100 miles for a $100 ticket while a Silver would earn 700 miles for the same ticket.
Note that for itineraries which span the March 1 changeover date, the existing scheme will apply to any segment departing prior to March 1 , the new scheme will apply to the segments departing March 1 or after.
Appears no extra mileage for using a Chase MP card than the standard card mileage earning
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 Sitewww.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:
Post 57: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/23008349-post57.html
Answered Questions:
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.
Unanswered Questions:
Unknown, but the FAQ indicates that all UA and UAx flights issued by ANY airline would be subjected to the new earning rates. There are exceptions (group tickets, bulk tickets, etc) like "Specialty Tickets" as mentioned below.
It is mentioned in the FAQ: If applicable, Premier bonus award miles will be based on a member’s Premier status and the lower of the distance flown or miles awarded, per the chart above. Basically the bonus miles will be awarded but based on the lower number (i.e. distance flown for higher fares or the % based on fare). A 1K passenger purchasing F-fare from EWR-SFO would get only a 2565 mile bonus while a N-fare would get (50% of 2565) 1283 mile bonus. Still unclear what are the percentage bonus of each premier level but assume that it is the same (100% GS/1K, 75% Plat, 50% Gold, 25% Silver).
Specialty Tickets:
Update 2019 -- includes all partner flights on 016 ticket
for non-016 ticket , see Earning Status (PQP) on non-016 Tickets and Partner Metal
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
- Ticket price is defined as base fare plus carrier-imposed surcharges (PQD)
- 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)
Multipliers based on Premier status: & (breakeven CPM)
- x5 General Members -- (20 cpm)
- x7 Silver -- (17.86 cpm)
- x8 Gold -- (18.75 cpm)
- x9 Plat -- (19.44 cpm)
- x11 1K/GS -- (18.18 cpm)
For example, a 1K would earn 1100 miles for a $100 ticket while a Silver would earn 700 miles for the same ticket.
Note that for itineraries which span the March 1 changeover date, the existing scheme will apply to any segment departing prior to March 1 , the new scheme will apply to the segments departing March 1 or after.
Appears no extra mileage for using a Chase MP card than the standard card mileage earning
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.
Announcement Sitewww.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:
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.
As mentioned above, there are more details and a FAQ posted online, and over the next few days we’ll be communicating this information to our members.
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.
As mentioned above, there are more details and a FAQ posted online, and over the next few days we’ll be communicating this information to our members.
Unanswered Questions:
It is mentioned in the FAQ: If applicable, Premier bonus award miles will be based on a member’s Premier status and the lower of the distance flown or miles awarded, per the chart above. Basically the bonus miles will be awarded but based on the lower number (i.e. distance flown for higher fares or the % based on fare). A 1K passenger purchasing F-fare from EWR-SFO would get only a 2565 mile bonus while a N-fare would get (50% of 2565) 1283 mile bonus. Still unclear what are the percentage bonus of each premier level but assume that it is the same (100% GS/1K, 75% Plat, 50% Gold, 25% Silver).
Specialty Tickets:
Specialty tickets that earn award miles in the current program (including, but not limited to consolidator/bulk, group, tour and other tickets where the fare paid is not disclosed on the ticket) will earn award miles based on a percentage of the distance flown and the purchased fare class as of March 1, 2015. Please refer to the chart below for details.
Eligible fare classes
Flight operated by United and United Express
150% - J, C, D, Z, P, F, A
100% - Y, B, M
75% - E, U, H, Q, V, W
50% - S, T, L, K, G, N
Eligible fare classes
Flight operated by United and United Express
150% - J, C, D, Z, P, F, A
100% - Y, B, M
75% - E, U, H, Q, V, W
50% - S, T, L, K, G, N
RDM earnings for UA tickets / UA operated flights - based on spend (PQD, now PQPs)
Mar 6, 2015, 1:37 pm
#91
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: London; Bangkok; Las Vegas
Programs: AA Exec Plat; UA MM Gold; Marriott Lifetime Titanium; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 8,745
What AA plans to do has not been made public and there have been no indications of any kind that they will follow DL or UA. Until there is, such assertions are pure speculative opinions and should be presented as such.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Mar 6, 2015 at 2:28 pm Reason: Issues of rules violation are best reported to Mods
Mar 6, 2015, 2:21 pm
#92
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,769
TOPIC CHECK
While many have opinions about AA's future earning changes, AA itself has stated "not now, will look at it later." Short of any new, real info this is gut feel, opinion ... this is all speculation (which I have participated in myself in other threads).
As this is UA forum, other than a side reference to AA's future plans, this is issue is best debated in the AA forum. Some posts on this have been removed and further debate in this thread will be deleted.
Now back to our regular scheduled topic -- the 1 march 2015 change by UA in crediting RDMs.
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
While many have opinions about AA's future earning changes, AA itself has stated "not now, will look at it later." Short of any new, real info this is gut feel, opinion ... this is all speculation (which I have participated in myself in other threads).
As this is UA forum, other than a side reference to AA's future plans, this is issue is best debated in the AA forum. Some posts on this have been removed and further debate in this thread will be deleted.
Now back to our regular scheduled topic -- the 1 march 2015 change by UA in crediting RDMs.
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
Mar 6, 2015, 2:49 pm
#93
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: AADULtArer
Posts: 5,659
I think this is back on topic
The issue is will low cpm fliers who chose UA based on old RDM schedule can be replaced by low cpm fliers who do not.
I think the answer is yes, since there are many more of the latter, and they can be attracted by revenue management alone.
The issue is will low cpm fliers who chose UA based on old RDM schedule can be replaced by low cpm fliers who do not.
I think the answer is yes, since there are many more of the latter, and they can be attracted by revenue management alone.
Last edited by LaserSailor; Mar 6, 2015 at 4:50 pm
Mar 6, 2015, 3:18 pm
#94
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: United 1K; 1.66MM
Posts: 383
Keep in mind that the new changes only affect RDM (or miles awarded) based on the $ spend. They do not affect how PQD, PQM, PQS and life-time-miles are calculated for status or tiers. We still get 500 miles toward PQM and life-time-miles for flights that are shorter than 500 miles. I don't see how the changes would significantly change someone's flying habits to achieve status, except more willingly paying for higher fares to get bigger RDM.
Mar 6, 2015, 3:35 pm
#95
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SF East Bay
Programs: UA 1K, *A Gold, Hilton Silver, Marriott Plat+Amb, AA
Posts: 60
So I took a trip from UK to USA start of this year as a 1K member, then just completed a second UK to US trip in March under the new system.
I paid $3K with co-payments and 40,000 for upgrade both ways in pre-march flights and earned 24,000 miles with my 1K status (12K plus 12K bonus).
Same route in March under new system I paid $3K with co-payments and 40,000 miles, and earned the amazing total of 7,500 miles instead of 24,000 miles!!!
I had completely missed that co-payments, me giving united more money i.e $1k a time earns me no miles at all!
So quick calculation in order to get those missing miles I'd have to buy miles now at $410 assuming they are on sale at 2.5c.
I get united wanting to reduce miles earned on cheap long distance flight, or short cheap flights. But not giving miles on co-payments is appalling, that's real cash to them.
This year I am spending $25-30k on flights and starting to wonder if United want people like me at all. After 15 years of flying United and making 1K status, it all seem very un-worthwhile.
I paid $3K with co-payments and 40,000 for upgrade both ways in pre-march flights and earned 24,000 miles with my 1K status (12K plus 12K bonus).
Same route in March under new system I paid $3K with co-payments and 40,000 miles, and earned the amazing total of 7,500 miles instead of 24,000 miles!!!
I had completely missed that co-payments, me giving united more money i.e $1k a time earns me no miles at all!
So quick calculation in order to get those missing miles I'd have to buy miles now at $410 assuming they are on sale at 2.5c.
I get united wanting to reduce miles earned on cheap long distance flight, or short cheap flights. But not giving miles on co-payments is appalling, that's real cash to them.
This year I am spending $25-30k on flights and starting to wonder if United want people like me at all. After 15 years of flying United and making 1K status, it all seem very un-worthwhile.
United want the flyers with $7000 TATL fares filling their business cabin - not people who fly low fares, despite the spending the extra $2000 on upgrades.
This is not me FWIW, but my SO does fly these kinds of fares (1K)
Mar 6, 2015, 3:47 pm
#96
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
I understand based on the cash you pay out but based on this it was ~$700 fare, correct? Even with taxes should not have come to more than $1000.
United want the flyers with $7000 TATL fares filling their business cabin - not people who fly low fares, despite the spending the extra $2000 on upgrades.
This is not me FWIW, but my SO does fly these kinds of fares (1K)
United want the flyers with $7000 TATL fares filling their business cabin - not people who fly low fares, despite the spending the extra $2000 on upgrades.
This is not me FWIW, but my SO does fly these kinds of fares (1K)
Mar 6, 2015, 4:14 pm
#97
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: AA LT Plat, UA 1k/1mm+, National EE, IC Plat, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,605
Mar 6, 2015, 4:33 pm
#98
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 107
After 9-11 in 2001, United tag line was "Time to Fly". In 2015 their new tag line should be "Time to Fly Another Airline" based on their lack of appreciation to the loyal passengers who kept them afloat in the tough years. In the past week, I have booked three tickets (OGG, ANC and SEA) from DC totaling just over $2,100 to which UA didn't get any part of my business. We can go round and round here but until we start affecting their revenue nothing will change. I know $2,100 in revenue isn't much by $2,100 x 1,000,000 people will start making a dent.
Mar 6, 2015, 4:53 pm
#99
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: LHR (sometimes CLE, SFO, BOS, LAX, SEA)
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 5,892
If the forum member you quoted barely flies above 100k PQMs annually to qualify for 1k, he would have a CPM of $.25-.30 which is substantially higher than the average, and even more so the median. Why UA want to get rid of him is something you'll have to explain to me for me to understand it. Even if he was flying up to 200k annually he'd be in the average CPM category.
If they've done the math and they'll earn more miles in 2015 than in 2014 on the same spending, and they're upset about this change, then I definitely retract my assessment re: UA not wanting that kind of customer.
Mar 6, 2015, 9:01 pm
#101
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 102
I personally love the change. I can't think of a situation where (on average) I will earn fewer miles. Hotels have had this policy for many years and from a business perspective it does make sense. As an example, a passenger who ordinarily purchases an economy ticket for $700, may now consider purchasing a first class ticket for $1,000 if it means they get an extra 3,000 miles. I recently flew SFO to Vegas on a $400 fare over the weekend of the change. On the way there, I got 1,000 miles. On the way back, I got over 2,000 miles. For all the complaints about the change, the only situations likely to be negatively impacted are international or transcon flights but I would challenge most people to find a fare of less than $450 on those to make the miles awarded significantly less.
And before I get skewered, I do travel on personal and corporate travel. When I fly personally, I purchase first class tickets because I want to be assured of the seat. This is a personal decision, but as someone who pays more for the same seat, same meal and aircraft as everyone else, I should be incented in some way. The change does this.
And before I get skewered, I do travel on personal and corporate travel. When I fly personally, I purchase first class tickets because I want to be assured of the seat. This is a personal decision, but as someone who pays more for the same seat, same meal and aircraft as everyone else, I should be incented in some way. The change does this.
Mar 7, 2015, 3:21 am
#103
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
Mar 7, 2015, 3:43 am
#104
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: UA PP, AA, DL, BA, CX, SPG, HHonors
Posts: 2,002