I am upset rather than relieved by this change. I viewed Plat as 1K Lite. You didn't quite make 1K, so you didn't get any GPUs, but you still got a couple of RPUs, group 1 boarding, and no fee for award changes/redeposits. As others have pointed out, the flexibility to change awards closer to travel time, for example when XN inventory became available instead of previously booked YN, was a very nice benefit. I am planning to write a letter to UA to express my views. I suppose it's foolish to think that they might change their minds, but it won't stop me from writing my letter.

This. I book something as far ahead as possible on what's available at the moment, then play the waiting game--mostly travel OS and BR using two one way awards for RTW--and make changes. Now, I'll wait until the last week or so before booking.

These repeated annoying changes to MP just make it easier to be a kettle.

It's really the only value point for me over Gold, and was one of the things that made accruing United miles worthwhile.

Something a lot of people missed here is that not only did Plat become worth less, but MILES became worth less.

For example, I have a wedding I need to fly myself and the wife to. Booked mileage tickets, knowing I can move them around if needed, even up to the day of travel. Can't do that under the new rules. And of course the loss of stopovers for everyone also reduced mileage value.


The problem is that when United reduces the value of the miles, that reduces my motivation to get miles. So now do I not only have any motivation to consolidate my airline travel spend to United to make Plat, I've probably lost my incentive to put my personal and business spending on United credit cards, due to the double-wammy of reduction in miles value overall and reduction in miles value to me as a Platinum.


I haven't done the math yet, but there's a very good chance I trade in my United credit cards for SPG credit cards.

I don't think selling Chase FEWER miles was the idea, but that's the effect.


United doesn't seem to realize that all the parts of their program work together to create a profitable program. Make miles flexible, allow me to make Plat, I buy more United airfare, I use United credit cards, all of those things pile up to make a whole that's bigger than the sum of the parts.

Start pulling away the parts and the whole really loses its value quick.

We are on exactly the same page. Not just the savings, but the lack of stress, especially because it's my family that uses my award miles, not me, and I can work around whatever life throws at me/them. And it's always a nice surprise for my wife if I can get her into C due to a last-minute saver award showing up... something that I can actually keep secret until we're at the gate.

Seriously though, it's a big weight off my shoulders because these are really tough times for brick & mortar retail, and it would have bordered on irresponsibility to force 75k PQM this year. I'm only at 22k right now, and should have two long-distance trips remaining, one with my daughter (to a place that's physically demanding and a bit challenging) and one with my wife (which needs to be the exact opposite). I can average 15k out of each of them easily. Getting that last extra 20k would have meant a gnarly mileage run, something I haven't had to do in several years. Convoluted routes to MNL or SIN in my past. Too many hours without a shower!!!

I am platinum and have changed a few tickets. Sometimes I will book an award ticket in a short time frame for myself before I look for a cash ticket. If the cash ticket is reasonable, I cancel the award ticket.

My son had significant travel for job testing and interviews and some of those got changed. In one case, it was looking like his flight would be cancelled so I booked another ticket for the next day because he HAD to be here and I didn't think he would have much chance with any rebooking of an award ticket. Then cancelled the award ticket. That flight WAS cancelled.

He was the one for whom I usually got award tickets. Because he is a first responder, his schedule could change and I liked the flexibility.

There are unintended consequences - make it harder for me to deal with award tickets and my miles aren't all that worthwhile. So the whole Chase CC thing - whether Club or Explorer is not that attractive.

Next up to take away from Platinums will be the no charge for phone booking.

I would love to see Platinum level ended. There will be some who will take their business elsewhere while others might fly more to attain 1K. As it is there isn't much difference between Platinum and Premier Executive.

It effectively has been.

So long as they give 2MMers 1K!

Not at all. I went through status withdrawal over a year ago when I realized I would never be 1K again, thanks to a combination of the PQD requirement and the realization that benefits were never going to be grandfathered by United. Added to this was the fact that in 2015 I was forced to fly the competition due to a combination of UA not having flights when and where I needed them, and UA losing many of the GSA city pairs. The result? I've figured out how get upgrades on the competition, and I've found that while UA has its positive attributes, there is in fact green grass elsewhere.

I'm looking forward to reaching 1MM soon, but other than that, my days of chasing status on UA or any airline are over.

When flying on miles, I'm flying with the family of five (paid for me typically, and award for four others).

Over the years, I have changed dozens of award flights. Partially as a booking strategy as saver seats open up, partially because plans change, and partially as a, "hey, let's do a getaway in a couple of weeks" before working out the logistics of whether such a getaway is possible.

All of those things now change, and with four award seats, the penalties become insane.

That's who I think this change hurts the most. Active flyers can adjust for gold vs 1K, but the 2MM plats are locked in to something that just lost a major perk.

Virgin America just won itself a United Platinum customer with the Presidential Plus Chase card. The VX premium card actually offers the ability to change tickets like UA plats.

No way would I consider making a mileage run, for any level at this point. Family and sanity is more important. I was joking with a family member that I'm thinking of what time I've missed with my family this year, always traveling. My wife and kids come first, and maybe I need to consider something that keeps me home every week, as the benefits at any level aren't what they used to be.

My wife is disabled. We buy or use miles for first class tickets. We always used our platinum status to be able to change award tickets to accommodate her disability. We were only gold this year but will make platinum for next year in September. I will hit MM status in November.

I will see what kind of status match we get from other airlines.

Until they slap on a close-in booking fee for Plat! Haha...