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, 9:27 am
#46
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Aug 28, 2019, 9:36 am
#47
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They really have no choice but to not have mileage expiration. Otherwise, too many people will give up as they can never reach the goalpost of redeeming for tickets with dynamic pricing.
Seems to be the typical tactic in the fall. Good news followed by bad news. What can it be this year? They would not do bad news first then good news. So, dynamic pricing was not the bad news.
MileagePlus, you will eventually get a free ticket because miles don't expire!
Seems to be the typical tactic in the fall. Good news followed by bad news. What can it be this year? They would not do bad news first then good news. So, dynamic pricing was not the bad news.
MileagePlus, you will eventually get a free ticket because miles don't expire!
Aug 28, 2019, 9:59 am
#48
Join Date: Jan 2007
Programs: UA GS, Marriott LT Platinum, Hilton Gold, Accor Silver
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I'm not sure how much more bad news is necessary since they can devalue at any rate they want, at any time they choose. So I wouldn't expect many more negative announcements about current benefits, other than the expected dynamic pricing for partner awards at some point.
Oh, maybe that's it.
Oh, maybe that's it.
Aug 28, 2019, 10:04 am
#50
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When the Delta-like award pricing truly kicks into gear (maybe next year?), this "good news" of no expiration date will not matter as everyone's account will be depleted by booking one or two award tickets. 300,000 miles for a one-way EWR-LAX anyone?
My account shows they never expire but this is not a change I like. It's an ominous sign of the things to come IMO. Plus, like a poster above said, if you don't have any activity in 18 months then something else is wrong.
-RM
My account shows they never expire but this is not a change I like. It's an ominous sign of the things to come IMO. Plus, like a poster above said, if you don't have any activity in 18 months then something else is wrong.
-RM
Aug 28, 2019, 10:20 am
#54
Join Date: Apr 2014
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Aug 28, 2019, 10:26 am
#55
Join Date: Dec 2007
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When the Delta-like award pricing truly kicks into gear (maybe next year?), this "good news" of no expiration date will not matter as everyone's account will be depleted by booking one or two award tickets. 300,000 miles for a one-way EWR-LAX anyone?
My account shows they never expire but this is not a change I like. It's an ominous sign of the things to come IMO. Plus, like a poster above said, if you don't have any activity in 18 months then something else is wrong.
-RM
My account shows they never expire but this is not a change I like. It's an ominous sign of the things to come IMO. Plus, like a poster above said, if you don't have any activity in 18 months then something else is wrong.
-RM
Aug 28, 2019, 10:27 am
#56
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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.
And for those whose miles expire, they feel cheated.
In a world in which you can usually find a competitors fares that are the same, offering less in some way is going to hurt you over time. My guess is the loss of traffic due to mileage experation was costing United more than the very limited redemption costs for those miles when/if they were ever used.
Aug 28, 2019, 10:27 am
#57
Join Date: Nov 2013
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At least it was easy to buy from the shopping portal every 17 months (in case there was a delay in posting). It will be much harder to earn useful miles for premium cabins now, if you guys end up in the same boat as Delta Skypesos. Start coming up with a nickname; I propose InchesPlus.
Aug 28, 2019, 10:27 am
#58
Join Date: Jun 2015
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Programs: Rapid Rewards, Skymiles, Hilton HHonors, SPG/Marriott Rewards
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I probably wouldn't transfer to UA, but it is a reasonable alternative. Probably better than cash or to a no AF card as I imagine UA miles will maintain value above $.01/pt.
Aug 28, 2019, 10:33 am
#60
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Yup, surprised it took UA this long to figure this out. Probably did not fit nicely onto a spreadsheet, so no way to look at it in the Smisik era. The vast, vast bulk of fliers fly once or twice a year. They pay little attention to changes in Mileage programs, but may know that Delta miles don't expire. In the search for the elusive "free trip" they are going to be more inclined to fly Delta - take several trips over several years get a "free trip" vs UA - take several trips, have your miles expire, get no free trips.
And for those whose miles expire, they feel cheated.
In a world in which you can usually find a competitors fares that are the same, offering less in some way is going to hurt you over time. My guess is the loss of traffic due to mileage experation was costing United more than the very limited redemption costs for those miles when/if they were ever used.
And for those whose miles expire, they feel cheated.
In a world in which you can usually find a competitors fares that are the same, offering less in some way is going to hurt you over time. My guess is the loss of traffic due to mileage experation was costing United more than the very limited redemption costs for those miles when/if they were ever used.