goofy flyer

Is anyone else irritated on how bad United is crushing us with the mileage devaluation in back to back years. It now costs more to go 1000 miles domestically than it did in Europe.
The question is how do we fight back? Cancel all of our cards?

rch4u

Fight back by stop wasting your money flying United.

angetenar

Canceling your UA co-branded credit cards is likely to have the largest impact in my opinion

tth6133

I'm not sure that is still the case with UA, but US airlines these days often make more money from credit card spending than from flying.

Unitedloyalflyer

just view miles as equal to .$.01

they do not drop below that value

ani90

We? Who exactly are the "we"? 🤔

goofy flyer

Absolutely but unfortunately I'm hubbed in Houston where they have a monopoly.

we da people

yup thinking about it.

Unitedloyalflyer

UA does not have a monopoly in Houston. WN has a very strong presence. Hobby is expanding again (though I fired WN 5 years ago due to a lack of J or O)

mecabq

Yeah, voting with our feet is our only option. Of course with only three major network carriers with international alliances, options are few. Skypesos are an even worse value proposition, though United is getting close.

I have switched my international flying partially to Emirates, which suits my geographic situation, and I have their credit card, but you can head over to that forum and see the same complaints about devaluation and lack of award availability.

PLeblond

Airlines have the ability to print their own currency as much as they like. As with a government that prints too much money, the result is inflation.
Also, according to this recent study the vast majority of people get points consider them as a bonus and don't consider the value. https://cards.barclaycardus.com/cont...y%20Report.pdf

This will not end soon and don't think any other airline is better as they are all now basically banks that operate airplanes versus the other way around.

Spend what you have now and don't assign any meaningful value to points.

At the risk of sounding redundant, it's more and more time for free agency. Status and FF programmes offer little more than ego stroking so chose the airlines that best serves your needs and price rather than chasing points

SPN Lifer

The co-branded credit card cancellation option would seem far more effective.

rather_be_on_a_griffin

I know it�s tougher in hubs going free agent really feels good. It was actually Delta�s program change that finally pushed me and I downgraded the Amex (I had always tried to be at least gold with them).

For example just had to go to DC. Best route for me is LGA-DCA and the old me would have compromised and done either EWR-DCA or LGA-IAD. Now it�s DL in basic economy. I save money and get the same service with all the �turbulence�.

Longer and international flights will go if I can afford J or O. I have saved enough to justify a LH first fare during the summer so something to look forward to.

My status right now has never been lower in the past 5-10 years and my experience had never been better.

Again sorry for the hub captives but do the best you can to compress their margins.

escapefromphl

+1 You can always sign up again in a few months/years when they have a 150K offer.

goofy flyer

I prefer wn but I'm too old to cattle call for seats. Much better airline and both of us wish they had business spacious seats

Say Vandelay

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.