United renews MileagePlus and tightens its basic economic policy

United Airlines is leaning toward co-branded credit card holders, while making it harder for travelers without a United card or status to earn miles.

United revealed Thursday that it is cutting mileage earning rates across the board for members without status or a United credit (or debit) card in their wallet, while planning to award more miles to customers who do have one.

The airline also plans to offer its credit cardholders discounts of at least 10% on each award flight, with price cuts of 15% or more for travelers with prime minister status.

These changes apply to tickets purchased on or after April 2nd.

Altogether, it is one of the most aggressive measures we have seen by a US airline to provide preferential treatment to customers who carry a card or gain status rather than those who don’t.

Here’s what you need to know.

More miles and deals for United cardholders, less for other travelers

if you carry one of United’s co-branded credit (or debit) cardsThursday’s restructuring should mean more miles and better redemption rates. The same goes for United loyalists with status.

With the upcoming changes, United cardholders could earn up to twice as many miles per dollar spent as non-United cardholders. This is in addition to the miles you’ll earn with your specific United card.

So, if you don’t have a United card or status with the airline, you’ll see fewer miles accruing to your account in the future.

Here’s a chart that breaks down what to expect after April 2 on eligible United flights:

Cardholders will earn additional miles based on their elite status level when paying with their card:

He United Business Card℠ (see rates and fees) and the United Club Business Card℠ We saw no change in win rates in this review. Cardholders will continue to earn 2 miles for every dollar spent on United purchases.

TPG reached out to United for comment on why the business cards did not see an increase in profits, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.

*The Gateway Card unlocks the member’s earning rate after spending $10,000 on the card within one calendar year.

United Club Business information has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Those who do not have cards will also not have access to the best mileage offers. something TPG has already seen happening, more and more, in the airline.

Here’s how United explained the thinking behind these changes:

“The most rewarding way to fly with United is as a MileagePlus member, and the best way to get the most value from the MileagePlus program is to have one of our credit or debit cards,” said Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella in a statement Thursday. “MileagePlus is designed to reward loyalty to United and our best customers deserve the best benefits in the industry.”

Basic economy constraint

United Airlines customers booking airline flights basic economy rates They will no longer be able to earn miles unless they have elite status or have one of the airline’s credit cards.

Starting in April, the Chicago-based airline will prohibit most passengers from obtaining MileagePlus Miles when flying with one of their simple fares.

Here’s a breakdown of the new profit rates for the core economy, which go into effect on April 2:

Travelers with Premier Elite status will continue to earn miles, but at a lower rate than now. So will loyal members who have an eligible United credit card.

Regarding basic economics, United already had one of the industry’s strictest policies when it came to one-way fares.

The airline is now the only U.S. airline that prohibits most passengers from carrying a full-size carry-on bag on board its planes when flying on one of these tickets, although there are exceptions for (you guessed it) cardholders and members with Premier status.

In a nutshell

United follows in the footsteps of Delta Air Lines, which has long prohibited its loyal members from earning miles on basic economy bookings.

american airlines just implemented a similar policy in December.

United travelers will continue to earn Premier qualifying points on base fares, as they do today. But they no longer get Premier qualifying flights on those bookings.

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