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)
Dec 16, 2023, 2:18 am
#812
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Kobe, Japan
Programs: Bonvoy Platinum, IHG Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,536
The actual distance flown is irrelevant. Howeer, under 5000 miles for a ticket over $1000 seems a bit off, unless you mean something like 4980 miles for a $1050 ticket. Given that that sounds like an all-UA itinerary, he should receive 5 miles for each dollar of the base fare — that is, the fare less the taxes and fees. It’s worth checking to make sure that he wasn’t shorted.
The butt-in-seat model was all about having to put in the time to earn. Now it is all about the money it seems, though our $100/2hr flight to Okinawa earned almost 1,000 miles one way, which I guess is a pretty good cpm return.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 16, 2023 at 11:14 am Reason: merged consecutive posts by same member
Dec 16, 2023, 7:20 am
#813
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,480
Not only have earnings on cheaper tickets dropped significantly, but the value of the miles is way down as well. It used to be relatively easy to redeem UA over 2 cpp; now it's a challenge to get over 1 cpp. Bottom line is that frequent flyer programs, especially UA, have been massively devalued over the past decade. This was inevitable as publicity from bloggers publicized the outsized values that could be obtained. All good things come to an end.
Dec 16, 2023, 7:54 am
#814
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DFW
Posts: 112
Not only have earnings on cheaper tickets dropped significantly, but the value of the miles is way down as well. It used to be relatively easy to redeem UA over 2 cpp; now it's a challenge to get over 1 cpp. Bottom line is that frequent flyer programs, especially UA, have been massively devalued over the past decade. This was inevitable as publicity from bloggers publicized the outsized values that could be obtained. All good things come to an end.
Dec 16, 2023, 9:08 am
#815
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,480
Dec 16, 2023, 9:28 am
#816
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,867
Dec 16, 2023, 9:30 am
#817
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DFW
Posts: 112
Dec 16, 2023, 11:23 am
#819
Join Date: Oct 2018
Programs: United 1k, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Ambassador and LT-Gold
Posts: 1,664
I guess, along the lines of what Wine said, what is the expectation?
$1000 for a TPAC (and more flight) and the expectation of enough miles for a "free" 1-way ticket to Hawaii also (I often see saver awards to OGG for 25k miles each way).... why not toss in a few upgrades......
we wonder why we are where we are now - but consider how many 1K's (and probably 1MM LT) earned status on the $500 RT Chicago-Hong Kong that I recall taking pre-COVID...or the old days of milage runs for status.... all this comes at a price.....
Did your son fly on UA metal? (I recall taking my first 787 in J SFO-KIX years ago)
- if so, at least he got BIS credit?
yes - all of these "status" (airline, hotel, etc) programs are essentially tiered glorified rebate programs..... and, whether we like it or not (and if you read FT enough - most are 'not') companies tend to not like rewarding "loyalty" to customers that try to spend as little money as possible for maximum benefit.....
$1000 for a TPAC (and more flight) and the expectation of enough miles for a "free" 1-way ticket to Hawaii also (I often see saver awards to OGG for 25k miles each way).... why not toss in a few upgrades......
we wonder why we are where we are now - but consider how many 1K's (and probably 1MM LT) earned status on the $500 RT Chicago-Hong Kong that I recall taking pre-COVID...or the old days of milage runs for status.... all this comes at a price.....
Did your son fly on UA metal? (I recall taking my first 787 in J SFO-KIX years ago)
- if so, at least he got BIS credit?
yes - all of these "status" (airline, hotel, etc) programs are essentially tiered glorified rebate programs..... and, whether we like it or not (and if you read FT enough - most are 'not') companies tend to not like rewarding "loyalty" to customers that try to spend as little money as possible for maximum benefit.....
Dec 16, 2023, 5:55 pm
#820
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Kobe, Japan
Programs: Bonvoy Platinum, IHG Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 1,536
That's the economy price I was seeing for award tickets, exactly 1 cent per mile in value.
Yes, it was all UA, but it means little as he'll probably only have one such international roundtrip a year (unless he works for a company that requires such travel) and never get to any status.
It is true I (and most FlyerTalkers) want to maximize rewards, and this has been a reality check for me.
It is true I (and most FlyerTalkers) want to maximize rewards, and this has been a reality check for me.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 16, 2023 at 6:16 pm Reason: merged consecutive posts by same member
Dec 16, 2023, 7:56 pm
#821
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,517
yes - all of these "status" (airline, hotel, etc) programs are essentially tiered glorified rebate programs..... and, whether we like it or not (and if you read FT enough - most are 'not') companies tend to not like rewarding "loyalty" to customers that try to spend as little money as possible for maximum benefit.....