Aug 28, 2019, 10:20 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
United Airlines Announces MileagePlus Miles Never Expire
Airline continues to make improvements to its award-winning MileagePlus loyalty program
CHICAGO, Aug. 28, 2019
-- United Airlines announced that effective immediately, MileagePlus award miles never expire, giving members a lifetime to use miles on flights, experiences, hotels and more.
"We want to demonstrate to our members that we are committing to them for the long-haul and giving customers a lifetime to use miles is an exceptionally meaningful benefit," said Luc Bondar, vice president of loyalty and president of MileagePlus at United. "Our MileagePlus program provides customers more ways to earn and use miles than any other U.S. airline. More customers used miles to book award trips in 2018 than in any year before, and we expect with today's announcement that even more will use miles to travel the world in the years to come."
Airline continues to make improvements to its award-winning MileagePlus loyalty program
CHICAGO, Aug. 28, 2019
-- United Airlines announced that effective immediately, MileagePlus award miles never expire, giving members a lifetime to use miles on flights, experiences, hotels and more.
"We want to demonstrate to our members that we are committing to them for the long-haul and giving customers a lifetime to use miles is an exceptionally meaningful benefit," said Luc Bondar, vice president of loyalty and president of MileagePlus at United. "Our MileagePlus program provides customers more ways to earn and use miles than any other U.S. airline. More customers used miles to book award trips in 2018 than in any year before, and we expect with today's announcement that even more will use miles to travel the world in the years to come."
United announces "MileagePlus Miles Never Expire" (effective immediately 28 Aug 2019)
Aug 28, 2019, 5:32 am
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,516
What's DL's playbook? $0.01 per mile - increment of 1,000 miles, so $10 per 1,000
Aug 28, 2019, 5:38 am
#17
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: United Premier 1K 1MM; AA Plat Pro; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Platinum; Avis President's Club
Posts: 2,529
I see the same thing. Nice change but coincides with their Delta-peso-fication of MileagePlus. And since I had the credit card and at least, some, activity this doesn't really impact me. Get how it's better for more general members of MileagePlus
Aug 28, 2019, 5:46 am
#19
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: All of them, UA-Plat, 1MM*G
Posts: 881
I don't want to rain on this parade, but when you look at Point 28 in the MileagePlus Program Rules still up on UA's website, you still see the statement:
28. Any Member who fails at any time to engage in Account Activity (as defined in Rule 11 above) for a period of eighteen (18) consecutive months is subject to termination of such Member’s membership and/or forfeiture of all accrued mileage. United may, but shall have no obligation to, send a Member a notification of miles nearing expiration.
28. Any Member who fails at any time to engage in Account Activity (as defined in Rule 11 above) for a period of eighteen (18) consecutive months is subject to termination of such Member’s membership and/or forfeiture of all accrued mileage. United may, but shall have no obligation to, send a Member a notification of miles nearing expiration.
Aug 28, 2019, 5:55 am
#20
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: IND/MEX
Programs: AA PPro BA Bronze SPG Gold HH GLD Hyatt Exp
Posts: 1,134
I don't know why everyone is excited about this. This increases UAL's liability so be prepared for a very nice devaluation (Delta-esque dynamic awards) to accompany this nice change.
Aug 28, 2019, 6:54 am
#21
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,333
Because not all customers are road warriors. Many people in the real world beyond FT may only fly a few times a year, and they could easily go over 18 months without flying UA. There are also many people who primarily fly other airlines, but may occasionally fly UA. They are definitely not going to earn enough miles to be redeemed every year.
Aug 28, 2019, 6:58 am
#22
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,362
If history is anything to go by, positive news from United invariably is followed by negative news.
The positive thing normally costs UA nothing, but the negative one saves them heaps.
I'll be looking out for some bad news in the next week to 10 days....
[/cynical]
The positive thing normally costs UA nothing, but the negative one saves them heaps.
I'll be looking out for some bad news in the next week to 10 days....
[/cynical]
Aug 28, 2019, 6:58 am
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,719
Today's news is a weak and insufficient effort to shore up public faith in a crashing currency. When people are earning miles at glacial, stingy rates and have no clue what they're worth until they attempt redemption, the "Who cares?" factor outweighs the expiry-date factor for most.
Aug 28, 2019, 7:17 am
#24
Used to be MBS PremExec
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Saginaw, MI (MBS)
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Marriott Titanium w/Lifetime Plat, Hilton LIfetime ♢, National Exec, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,722
I don't want to rain on this parade, but when you look at Point 28 in the MileagePlus Program Rules still up on UA's website, you still see the statement:
28. Any Member who fails at any time to engage in Account Activity (as defined in Rule 11 above) for a period of eighteen (18) consecutive months is subject to termination of such Member’s membership and/or forfeiture of all accrued mileage. United may, but shall have no obligation to, send a Member a notification of miles nearing expiration.
28. Any Member who fails at any time to engage in Account Activity (as defined in Rule 11 above) for a period of eighteen (18) consecutive months is subject to termination of such Member’s membership and/or forfeiture of all accrued mileage. United may, but shall have no obligation to, send a Member a notification of miles nearing expiration.
My guess is not updated yet--that line has been in there for years and years now. This wouldn't be the first time that United changed policy and didn't update the fine print. With all the gripes I (we) have with United, I'm going Hanlon's Razor on this one.
While this change doesn't affect me, saves the few thousand in my kids' accounts.
Aug 28, 2019, 7:33 am
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2008
Location: CHA, MAN;
Programs: Delta DM 1 MM; Hz PC
Posts: 11,169
IMHO - it is copying DL so they can devalue them over time.
Aug 28, 2019, 7:34 am
#26
Company Representative, United Airlines
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Chicago, Houston, or somewhere in between
Posts: 2,176
Introducing MileagePlus miles that never expire
We’ve heard feedback from customers that mile expiration is a pain point. We believe that miles are earned, and we want them to be used, so we are excited to announce, starting today, MileagePlus award miles will never expire!
There are no changes to the expiration of TravelBank cash, flex PQMs, RPUs and GPUs.
Learn more: Redirecting...
- UA Insider
There are no changes to the expiration of TravelBank cash, flex PQMs, RPUs and GPUs.
Learn more: Redirecting...
- UA Insider
Aug 28, 2019, 7:58 am
#28
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: MBS/FNT/LAN
Programs: UA 1K, HH Gold, Mariott Gold
Posts: 9,630
IMhO, let us remember that this is the company that changed the definition of lifetime.
I don't think its far fetched they would not feel too bad for changing the definition of "never" down the road.
I don't think its far fetched they would not feel too bad for changing the definition of "never" down the road.
Aug 28, 2019, 7:59 am
#29
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,362
