... how do we fight back to UAL's latest devaluation of our points
May 21, 2024, 5:12 pm
#31
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2023
Programs: United 1k American Platinum select Marriott Titanium Hilton Gold
Posts: 38
I still fly UA but have dropped down to Silver, have started flying other airlines, and importantly, shifted most spend to Amex. I have been pretty successful redeeming MR for travel on UA for a lot less miles through Avianca/AC and have also had luck on AF, VS, and others for less than required by Skypesos.
May 21, 2024, 5:12 pm
#32
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Federal Way, WA
Programs: Mileage Plus 2P, Marriott Silver, many others
Posts: 1,314
Wouldn't hurt my feelings if people did that. What has only recently been in anything resembling the mainstream press is that we small businesses have to pay a higher card processing fee when clients use those cards.
May 21, 2024, 5:15 pm
#33
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2023
Programs: United 1k American Platinum select Marriott Titanium Hilton Gold
Posts: 38
1. I don't think Chase really cares if you cancel their card or not - it would take tens of thousands of cancellations to move the needle, and even then United may tell Chase "too bad"
2. At PMCO, we could sit down with senior management at their events and discuss concerns and receive relatively transparent feedback on what was realistic and possible - under Kellner, the company cared what we thought. You have the exact opposite at United today. Not only did this decision come with purpose, look who is running MP - a former leader of arguably the most hated company in America, who reports to a disciple of Baldanza, the most hated airline manager in history (after Lorenzo). Not only do they not care, they already believe United is the greatest airline product and service on the planet - which is like Hershey's saying "we're better than Teuscher". I'm sure this is a combination of both a business decision, and a "just stick it to them for the heck of it"
3. Unless you're looking at relatively fixed redemption options, like *A Upgrade Awards, collecting MP miles for free tickets is almost a fool's errand. By the time you have enough to redeem for a premium ticket, the amount needed will increase. I stopped collecting UA miles and just focus on Amex points which can be redeemed for either mileage tickets (via a transfer) or a revenue ticket
Years ago Save SkyMiles succeeded at undoing a host of anti-customer hostile actions by Delta under Mullin - who lost his job to the effect of that campaign - but we're in a different world now and no one really cares anymore. Fly us, don't fly us - we don't care because someone else will buy your seat.
2. At PMCO, we could sit down with senior management at their events and discuss concerns and receive relatively transparent feedback on what was realistic and possible - under Kellner, the company cared what we thought. You have the exact opposite at United today. Not only did this decision come with purpose, look who is running MP - a former leader of arguably the most hated company in America, who reports to a disciple of Baldanza, the most hated airline manager in history (after Lorenzo). Not only do they not care, they already believe United is the greatest airline product and service on the planet - which is like Hershey's saying "we're better than Teuscher". I'm sure this is a combination of both a business decision, and a "just stick it to them for the heck of it"
3. Unless you're looking at relatively fixed redemption options, like *A Upgrade Awards, collecting MP miles for free tickets is almost a fool's errand. By the time you have enough to redeem for a premium ticket, the amount needed will increase. I stopped collecting UA miles and just focus on Amex points which can be redeemed for either mileage tickets (via a transfer) or a revenue ticket
Years ago Save SkyMiles succeeded at undoing a host of anti-customer hostile actions by Delta under Mullin - who lost his job to the effect of that campaign - but we're in a different world now and no one really cares anymore. Fly us, don't fly us - we don't care because someone else will buy your seat.
May 21, 2024, 8:47 pm
#36
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 67,281
No USA major has ever done this realizing long-term consequence of that move, devaluation achieves much the same without the PR hit.
Incomplete comparison, since most get 1.5 to 2 miles (up to 5 in some case) per $, at 1-1.5 cpm, they are actually relatively close in value.
But with UA miles you are captive to the company store, hence I changed to cash back card about 4 years ago. Same result but for a better reason.
But with UA miles you are captive to the company store, hence I changed to cash back card about 4 years ago. Same result but for a better reason.
May 21, 2024, 10:52 pm
#37
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 1999
Posts: 11,496
......, look who is running MP - a former leader of arguably the most hated company in America, who reports to a disciple of Baldanza, the most hated airline manager in history (after Lorenzo). Not only do they not care, they already believe United is the greatest airline product and service on the planet - which is like Hershey's saying "we're better than Teuscher"............
Results are showing a little over one year on the job ...........
May 22, 2024, 12:59 am
#38
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Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
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Other than devaluations and a worse program, what results would United be championing?
May 22, 2024, 1:05 am
#39
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: SJC
Programs: Southwest, Alaska, United, American Airlines
Posts: 998
Gave up the "addiction" to FFPs and points during the pandemic, and focused instead on boosting my income (and by extension, my discretionary travel funds). Upside is I am essentially immune to the devaluations by the FFPs as cash is king, and I am not hooked to the machinations of any one airline.
May 22, 2024, 1:13 am
#40
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
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* Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands 🇲🇵 🇺🇲
May 22, 2024, 1:18 am
#41
Join Date: Jan 2005
Programs: SQ, QF, UA, CO, DL
Posts: 3,033
Nocella has said a few times the revenue from the credit card side is not meeting expectations or could be enhanced. I took that to mean if credit card revenues don't improve we will see less value in miles. Reducing credit card holder benefits at face value is not a competitive move in the market so the logical choice is require more miles for awards. They will continue along this path until they see customer resistance. So far there really isn't any.
For the OP, the only choice is to bank miles when you fly with the program that gives you the most utility. For the moment in the US that's probably AA for most people looking for international awards. But I give AA until the end of this year before they align their awards more closely with UA and DL.
For the OP, the only choice is to bank miles when you fly with the program that gives you the most utility. For the moment in the US that's probably AA for most people looking for international awards. But I give AA until the end of this year before they align their awards more closely with UA and DL.
Last edited by uanj; May 22, 2024 at 1:24 am
May 22, 2024, 1:29 am
#42
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .57 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,445
Nocella has said a few times the revenue from the credit card side is not meeting expectations or could be enhanced. I took that to mean if credit card revenues don't improve we will see less value in miles. Reducing credit card holder benefits at face value is not a competitive move in the market so the logical choice is require more miles for awards. They will continue along this path until they see customer resistance. So far there really isn't any. [Emphasis added.]
May 22, 2024, 2:45 am
#43
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: OSL/IAH/ZRH (time, not preference)
Programs: UA1K, LH GM, AA EXP->GM
Posts: 38,312
I find MP coach awards in Europe are still decent value, they can be booked one-way and open jaw, and availability is almost acceptable. And best of all, you don't have to fly UA.
Internationally, unless you are willing to suffer their gross coach product, MP has ceased to exist.
May 22, 2024, 3:07 am
#44
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Join Date: Mar 2010
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Nocella has said a few times the revenue from the credit card side is not meeting expectations or could be enhanced. I took that to mean if credit card revenues don't improve we will see less value in miles. Reducing credit card holder benefits at face value is not a competitive move in the market so the logical choice is require more miles for awards. They will continue along this path until they see customer resistance. So far there really isn't any.
For the OP, the only choice is to bank miles when you fly with the program that gives you the most utility. For the moment in the US that's probably AA for most people looking for international awards. But I give AA until the end of this year before they align their awards more closely with UA and DL.
For the OP, the only choice is to bank miles when you fly with the program that gives you the most utility. For the moment in the US that's probably AA for most people looking for international awards. But I give AA until the end of this year before they align their awards more closely with UA and DL.
So they are trying to drive spend and transactions to United cards. Of course, all the extra bonus miles creates points inflation, so it is all part of the devaluation.
I burned down all my UA miles long ago. I keep a reasonable balance for when value opportunities strike but they are more a by-product of domestic travel I am doing then a concerted effort to collect points. Amex/Chase are where I try to amass points, but now I am even starting to question if cash-back card is a better option. I have Charles Schwab Amex Plat, so I guess that is a form of cash back. I have put thousands into my brokerage account lately.
May 22, 2024, 3:15 am
#45
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Join Date: May 2000
Location: TPA for now. Hopefully LIS for retirement
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Yes, that is my point. Which is why it is quite useless when people say things like "airlines make more money from selling CC points than they do from operating an airline." Not doing the latter makes the former impossible.