United MileagePlus Reveals Massive Changes For 2020

I fail to understand why United cannot satisfy both sets of customers by making it easier for domestic passengers to earn elite status, while also leaving the miles traveled criterion for those of us who take long-haul flights, for which we pay out of our own pockets. I am semi-retired and do not have a company covering my travel. Hence, cost is an important factor.

Hitherto I have always managed to attain Silver Status, but it is highly doubtful that I shall be able to do so in future.

I think United is making a mistake by focusing on the business traveler almost to the exclusion of retirees and older folk. There are a great many of us.

@BillC - "To briefly address your comparison, international flights generate more net profits/flight than domestic flights, anyway!"

^^Citation needed. I can't help but believe the the bean counters at UA at least glimpsed at the overall margins between revenue generated from segment driven elites vs mileage driven elites when coming up with this new model, as well as margins between domestic and international flights in total.

Also, I do apologize for my tone in my last post. I don't think anyone should be "punished," but I do think there should be some realignment of the elite tiers. Regularly boarding flights with 10+ other 1K's, and seeing just how many of us there are, is eye opening. Not nearly as exclusive as one would think. - Thank you UA for unintentionally letting us see that with your recent pre-boarding changes.

So, for the long haul flyers. Let's pretend you take "6" annual long-haul round-trips (a number I'm using based on comments in this thread), generating 15 hours of flight time per segment (using the example of the IAH to SYD flight), that makes a total of 180 hours in the air.

Now take flyers like myself, where I'm sitting at 122 segments with an average of 1.5 hours of flight time, coming in at 183 flight hours so far this year.

So, you're telling me that in the eyes of the airline, where you generate no more flight time than myself, while struggling to make the minimum PQD for 1K status, and I'm about to cross $24,000 PQD doing short-haul domestic hops, you should be at the same status?

I think some of us are spending a lot more money, and considerably more time in airports than others. I'm sure there's more business savvy behind the new changes, but I can't help feeling rewarded for my consistent loyalty, week after week, by the new program.

@BillC - I have over 1 million United miles so me and my wife are Gold for life. That takes care of the baggage allowance

Regarding the 6 upgrades they give you (that always seen to be wait list upgrades). If I was actually able to use them then I would spend less money and not make the 1K money spent threshold (which was $15,000 this year). This year I will spend approx. $19,000 and have 30 segments. Next year that same amount would get me Platinum. I think Platinum is really not much better than my lifetime Gold.

@Kat:

Thanks for the link. You're right -- very small window so I'll have to be careful when I open it. I'd say it's much too small for leisure flyers not based at a Delta hub, though (but maybe that's the point).

I racked up Lifetime Gold on Star Alliance through United and Lifetime Sapphire (Platinum) on One World through American before I retired but my SkyTeam program was Flying Dutchman/ Flying Blue and although I made Platinum many times I was not able to get Lifetime with them. Sorta sucks to be non-elite with SkyTeam since I do still fly KLM/Air France (and occasionally Delta).

@BillC, thanks again for the wise advice. It’s much appreciated. Since I’m Platinum now I will likely take that advice & ride out 2020 to see how it shakes out for us long haulers though you’re in the air more than I. I still think they are making a big mistake but greed seems to come before loyalty these days, it seems like US had gone downhill since the Continental merger.

@counsellor here is the Delta Status match link-
https://www.delta.com/us/en/skymiles/medallion-program/status-match-challenge
The hitch is it’s only good for 3 months...

Good luck to all.

I have been a loyal UA platinum member for years always exceeded 75k miles and 9K with approx 30-40 flights a year, most for work.

Seeing that my territory flights consists of Los Angeles to Hawaii , Los Angeles to Tokey & Guam, and Los Angeles to New York as well as EU and Africa for vacations. Everything is long-haul for me! Token and Guam are over 3k flights.

So basically United has become greedy jerks & I and other long haul flyers are being punished (as if 14 hours plus on a flight isn’t bad enough, even on a Dreamliner flatbed) and people that fly multiple cheap flights to Vegas etc. are going to be rewarded for a bunch of cheap 200- 300 flights??

This program was voted best for years for a reason; United wake the F up! It is now officially the lamest program ever and will not build any business or loyalty. I will be defecting to Delta who is doing a status match for me and others that are in the United elite program.

This is the kiss of death for United. Bye bye.

Well, this is just off the top of my head, but you might want to look into Cathay Pacific to see how it might fit. It does service your Asian destinations, and is a member of the One World airline alliance which includes LATAM Airlines Group that mostly covers your South American ones. Since One World also includes American Airlines and British Air, they would probably cover any international destinations you can't get to on Cathay or LATAM. Finally, American has an extensive US domestic network.

I don't think you are missing anything Sam - United just wants to reduce the "clutter"....but there is not a lot of logic there. You are right about the $ - it should not matter how they get them or how many segments you fly - if they want revenue, then $18k is revenue any way you get it - and it's better for them frankly if they get it on 4 x $4.5k flights because they only service you for 4 trips! Whereas someone taking 20 trips to get to $18k is using a whole lot more of United operations....but they clearly have VP level people who don't have much up top to work that out.

Their problem is that they are likely going to see a drastic reduction from some customers - since a whole lot of people will no longer feel "pulled" to United as they know they will not get to a level that gives them any additional value. That is clear from many comments on this list. Frankly, the only real value to me is that the 6 international upgrades I get each year are great as my wife gets to use them on long trips and that saves me a ton of money! So it is definitely something of value to me personally.

The evidence has been piling up - the new Polaris Clubs strictly for Business International - and they are packed out - and pretty nice too. They are basically at the level or above of many of the regular European lounges - but the regular United clubs are moderately trashy - although they too have been upgraded, but only because they were just unacceptable. So all that money into Polaris clubs was a sign of United's direction. Then they kept raising the PQD levels for 1k - 2 years ago $12k, this year $15k, next year $18k - thats a 50% increase in 2 years. So, United wants to focus on full fare business customers - ironically, most people whose companies pay business, probably wont worry about it.

54 PQFs are easier to earn living in a non-hub town - so every flight I take just about anywhere gets me 4 PQFs - this year I will do 64 PQFs - and next year if I get too close, I will just make sure I take a couple cheap trips requiring 6 segments which is easy when you live in the bush...

But the bottom line on this is that United has decided they only want high paying customers. That is certainly good value for people like my son who travels weekly and pays top dollar , but never makes a high level on any airline despite the fact that he spends >$20-25k each year. I have been 1K ever since United and Continental merged and I have more than met the mileage but pretty much squeaked by on the PQD. I do pay for upgrades on international flights at about $500 or $600 each plus 30k miles about 10 times a year - that will now be counted in expenditure as I understand it - before it was not. But I rarely if ever pay business tkts as my institution does not allow it. Despite this, I figure I will retain 1K regardless but when they raise it even more, I suspect that will be the end of my United preference at over 2.5M miles flown so far.

United claims from above "United claims that they expect the total Premier population to grow based on these changes, though they expect a realignment of elite tiers. Notably, they expect more members at the lower elite tiers and fewer 1K members." This will undoubtedly be true - but I see a huge reduction in gold, platimum and 1K, not just 1K. I think this is going to pretty much devastate Uniteds reputation (if they even have one) and it will be hard to get it back.

My guess is in about 12 months time, who ever is the current United vice president who came up with this brilliant plan, will be looking for a job.....at least I sure hope so....and maybe United will create a new plan to " enhance our flying experiences...."

Anyone who qualifies solely on segments deserves the status. 200 segments a year? Effff that

I’m halfway to million mile status and bounced between 1K pre-PQD and silver (plat for 2019). I no longer see any reason to keep flying United.
I no longer see any reason to keep my mileage plus credit card. $95 fee for 2 club passes that i’ve used one of in the past 6 years? Free checked bag? Shrug. 1-2 award miles per dollar? Pretty useless when I need to spend $30k for enough award miles for a $300 flight.
Really disappointed with this change, but now the new short haul half business regional jets make more sense. Pay your pilots even less and accommodate all the new segment-based 1Ks on their 1 hour hops. These use to be the only flights a gold stood any chance of making the list, now aside from multi-hour delays clearing seats gold will be E+ 99% of the time.

Next up - E+ co-pays by status level. 1k keeps them free, plat can choose a window or aisle for 75% off, gold 50% off, silver 25% off 24 hours out, and everyone else full price.

Frequent flyer programs have notoriously ignored frequent flyers for years! They rewarded infrequent long haul flyers, partially because they rarely can cash in on the benefits. Finally a program is really going reward loyalty! I may switch Back to United. I earn top tier status with whomever I fly. I do 200 segments a year. Mostly short haul domestic, a lot of transcon, and some international. I get an email with 130 segments at Delta that says “congrats on being halfway to diamond” because of my miles. That is stupid, but that’s how all of us real frequent business travelers get treated. 30 long haul segments is not frequent. 150 short haul segments is frequent. Maybe change the “mileage” part of the name, but it is now a true frequent flyer program.

I have been with MileagePlus since 1987 and 1K member since 2002. Very disappointed by all of the changes made by United recently. Since I am based in Asia now, there is no way for me to be qualified based on the segment rules. Fortunately, I am Lifetime Platinum already. Starting in 2020, I will give up the 1K qualification. Instead, fly on any airlines which provide cheaper discounted business class fare. I really don't care it is business or basic economy when a flight takes less than 2 hours, although I am qualified for the highest tier of a local airline here. Why do I need a flat bed if I fly from SFO to SAN or SEA? Exchange award tickets have become very difficult and costly on the United. If United is so sure about such changes, they will suffer when another financial crisis hits the global market. MileagePlus is not a loyalty program anymore.

Pretty radical? Maybe for 'Muricans, but in Europe we have for example Flying Blue where also the distance don't count, but the qualifying points. BA uses the same principle with their avios. SK has the same, partially. You earn equally little in Economy short haul as in economy long haul. Still they use miles/points rather than a separate qualifying system. Lufthansa has had a system for years where you can earn business class only points to qualify for HON circle.

When it comes to earning points on long haul economy (aka: when a customer or employer pays) I actually do the same as is suggested here: fly partner airlines. It's no use getting 125 points on my EuroBogus account with SK for flying with them when I can get 2500 with Lufty (and get better service, more comfortable seats and better meals on top of that) on the same route.

The bottom line is, as always: if you are unhappy with a product or service provider, then vote with your wallet, vote with your feet. There are more airlines flying (in)to the US than United.

@DCS

I still sense anger through my grey matter. Careful of the Depression stage.
I also never think that UA is or was above-the-rest FF program, ever. It is mediocre at best. Both in terms of benefits or mile value.
And correct me if I'm wrong but isn't Panglossian = foolishly think best of all possible worlds not just almost. Which you are correct. If you are liberated and pay premium cabin, you should not restrict yourself to only *A as premium cabin almost offset your status benefits. Even with your Panglossian view, SQ is probably not the best (depending on airline and fare) to fund your annual Year-end Asian Escapades(tm), you really trademark that, LOL. Anyway, if Asia is your fetish your best bet is Aeroplan or LifeMiles. Don't take my word for it (you don't seem to anyway), go compare yourself.

And as trash Delta miles are in extreme case, most of the time there are still decent redemption to be made. You just have to be a bit wise and flexible just like any other program. I was merely pointing out DL for you due to you being in their hub city, and already have lifetime status to be less loyal before UA screw its customers (not yet back when I warned you).
I don't think collecting DL miles is a wise choice either, but it sure feels much better flying with DL. It's a trade off I think is worth it.

@AAfreq
I predict MM will change in to M$. Lifetime status starts at a million dollar instead of miles. And while you get to keep your status title, your benefit might not hold. As seen with credit cards or some hotels, you will 'earn' a benefit from $ spend. $200 your miles don't expire, $350 you get early boarding, $750 you get free bag, every $1000 you get a 500 mile up grade, every $2000 you a get lounge pass. etc.

If you personally have issue trying to keep miles from expiring, either get their credit card or do some shopping. As a customer, don't blindly give any single airline your money, they can screw you like UA.

Congratulations United! I fly 9 international flights per year, from USA to Asia, or South America. Usually this would put me in Platinum, or even 1K. Now, I may not even get to Gold, which doesn’t give you much.

Thanks for punishing long haul travelers. Perhaps what you should have done was a lot more simple: reduce the number of segments needed to achieve status. That would make both short haul and long haul passengers happy, but instead, you decided to do that. You forgot that those frequent flyer programs indeed make people chose your company when they have benefits. Now, I will not have any. Why should I still choose a United then?
I will enjoy my status for the next year, use all my upgrades and then switch to Delta, which seems to have more respect for their loyal customers than United.

Thanks to those on this blog pointing out how to keep 1K status on long haul international flights! As a 1K MM flying 10-12 times a year transatlantic (but hardly any domestic) I first thought that was it, but the future is clear: only book on LH and AC (generally much nicer anyway, with flight attendants who actually seem to like their job) and drop the Explorer card which was pretty much useless already. On the other hand, the 1K perks are only useful if flying United metal? Will try this one year before doing a status match on Delta.

To me these changes seem quite retro, which is interesting. They look like a nod back to the original frequent flyer programs of the 1980's, which were designed to reward the folks who spent the biggest chunks of their lives on planes and at the airport, aka the "frequent fliers." The new PQ-whatever system seems to be aimed at merging that original intent with the new world of revenue requirements.

Whether or not this is a good thing, of course, depends on your point of view.

Also, isn't it weird how many things in our culture right now seem to be pointing back to the 1980's? I feel like I'm seeing that EVERYWHERE!!!

Looks like ill be flying United next year. I am one of those folks the change will be good for. I take lots of short trips for work and live in a United hub. This year I knew I would not qualify for any meaningful staus with any airline because the flights are so short (Maybe the lowest status but I figured that wasn't worth taking a bunch of extra layovers for). So I just picked the airline with the best schedule for me. But with the change, I will easily make platinum if I stick with United for the majority of my flights. I probably won't spend enough for 1k but it might be close.

I earn Delta Gold status by taking 60+ hellish flights a year to/from LaGuardia. My Delta spend is generally $14k a year. On top of that I do around 15 short haul domestic flights a year with United when it’s convenient, spending around $3-4K a year. Under United’s new program I could easily be platinum. The program changes definitely reward business travelers like myself that spend every Monday and Friday in the air. I realize there are very few people like me in the flying population and definitely understand the frustration. However, for selfish reasons I look forward to the new program structure.

On a side note: What incentive is there to have a United co-branded credit card? Am I missing something? I feel like these credit cards are borderline worthless.

This new program will be basically only keeping the business travels around. 99% individual travelers will not be able to keep their current status. When I was in college, I got the Silver status with Delta because I fly trans-pacifically twice a year in economy. Sometimes I just pay for cheap transcontinental flights just to keep my status. United's new program will take the fun away from passengers like me. Hopefully Delta and American won't follow.

Honestly, what's really the point of doing this? Platinum and below members cannot access the lounge for domestic travel. No one flies internationally that frequently to occupy the lounges. Those who fall out of Silver will probably just get credit cards for luggage checks. That basically leaves the mile boosters, Economy Plus upgrades, and priority boarding? Is United really getting this stingy? Did they calculate the potential financial loss over the loss of frequent travelers?

RE: “ Rather oddly, this seems to be punishing international travelers, so I’m not fully sure I get the motive there” -

As a non-hub mainly domestic flyer who goes out of my way to fly United, this feels like United finally is starting to value my loyalty.

I’m on four united flights a week, but that’s barely enough to get 6000 PQMs in distance each month. A guy takes one flight to Europe and nothing more and he’s got more PQMs than me.

Which one of us is more loyal?

This feels like it levels the playing field.

United 1K here. Not surprised by the change. For the last few years I have heavily relied on miles and Explorer card waiver to reach Premier status. With the 2020 increase in PQD required, I knew it would be impossible to get to 1K again given my company's policy to book Economy tickets. I would have to fly nearly 150K worth of miles to reach the $15K PQD.

Ever since United introduced Basic Economy and made me pay extra just for the privilege of actually using my Premier benefits, I have decided to become airline agnostic and pay for the upgrades I want as I go. This only affirms my decision. I have already decided to close my Explorer Card account and will focus 2020 on spending my miles. Probably for the best as air travel is really bad for the environment anyway.

@Lucky -- You should take a look at Lufthansa's Miles And More program which has been doing this for awhile.

I actually spent down my UA miles years ago and used Miles And More as my preferred Star Alliance accumulation vehicle.

So for those of you who otherwise like flying United but who hate the new program, consider Lufthansa Miles And More. Why? Two reasons:

(1) When you reach Frequent Traveller status at 35,000 status miles (not miles flown), you get access to Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian, and maybe LOT Polish lounges for FREE when travelling. (Senator status at 100,000 status miles is harder in my view -- although I am nearly there this year with 83,000 status miles and 80 days left to go in the year.) Once you reach Senator status (which is Star Alliance Gold), then, of course, you can use the United Lounges too.

(2) Status is good for TWO years, not one. This is unheard of in USA frequent flier programs.

United Airlines may have taken things one step too far with this move. This situation seems like a perfect storm for a class action lawsuit. How many customers have already purchased airfare for 2020 with the expectation of earning certain PQDs, PQSs, and PQMs? Some have undoubtedly made purchases into specific fare classes (e.g., Y, B, R, etc...) solely for the purposes of securing upgrades, increased chances of an upgrade, or accelerated PQS/PQM earnings. This sort of monumental change couldn't have materialized overnight. How many tickets has United sold within the past month under false pretenses -- knowingly misrepresenting the MileagePlus PQM and PQS accrual details published on their provided eTicket receipts?!? Maybe this new policy stinks, maybe its great. However, changing accruals associated with tickets that have already been paid for therefore changes their innate value and is a total act of fraud. United should have made an announcement like this in February 2019 before it was even possible to purchase tickets for the 2020 calendar year...or...waited until February 2020 to roll out a new plan for the 2021 year.

I've been 1k for the past 15 years. To me the only advantage of that status level was the GPUs, since I am 6'5 and I have to make four trips to Asia every year. If I worked for a company that paid for me to fly business class I wouldn't care about my status level at all. So what if you can board a bit earlier, and I have over 600k miles in my account that I will never use, so I don't really care about the miles I earn. As it is, I will make 2 million lifetime next year, and blow my 6 GPUs in the process. Since 1k will now be out of my reach due to my limited travel budget, I expect I will be spending significantly less money on United in the future. Someone mentioned "too many 1k's". Too many for what? I often see empty business class seats on flights to Tokyo or Taipei, so that can't be it. Anyway, I don't see how this will encourage people to spend more money on United, and I expect that many people will be spending less, if any at all.

I am not sure United thought this out very well. I have been flying with them pretty loyally since 2010, and shifted all of my flying habits to (A) United first, (B) Star Alliance second. I fly frequently, but not so much to be near Platinum/1K/GS. I am typically around Silver or Gold, which I appreciate for the option to book Econ+ as I am quite tall.

I agree with most that it is clear that United is trying to award and recognize their big spenders, which makes since on the surface. However, the new program is also (perhaps inadvertently) going to encourage people to book Star Alliance flights NOT with United. Here are a couple of examples:

I have a leisure trip booked in February to MCT. United does not fly to MCT, but SWISS does. I booked my ticket thru United on SWISS to MCT. The price was the same whether I booked through United or SWISS, but at the time I booked it through United I did so to ensure I got both the PQM and the PQD. Under the new program, the trip will get me 4 PQF and 618 PQP, as I booked through United it is a 016 ticket. However, had I booked directly with SWISS, I would get 4 PQF and 865 PQP, spent the same amount of money overall, and not sent a single dime to United.

Another example is my business trips. I typically travel to MXP about 4 times per year for work, which given the short flight (less than 10 hours each direction) will only reimburse for economy. Normally, I book the direct flight from EWR to MXP, and have been very happy overall with the experience. For my upcoming trip, if I book the direct through UA I would get 2 PQF and 928 PQP. Now, while I may still prefer the direct flight, were I in need to requalify my elite status I could fly Lufthansa or SWISS for about the same price with a layover and get 4 PQF and up to 1600 PQP (depending on fare class, assume up to 100% award miles for about 8000 miles round trip divided by 5) by booking a flight directly through one of them.

In essence, based on my own habits (and perhaps similar habits of other elites at or near the Gold level), it seems that United is rewarding the medium- to long-haul economy fliers for taking that flight with one of their partners. Am I mistaken?

I think this actually hurts certain flyers. I looked at an ORD-SIN RT flight in economy. Did one in November and one in February. Both a Friday-Friday, both economy, both same itinerary. Cost within $50.

Under the old system, it would require 3.4 of these trips to earn Silver status. Under the new system, this would require 5.1 trips.

What this will do is work good for those that fly a lot of shorter flights. In 2017, I had 45 segments with United, spent over $7600, but the mileage was just under 48,000 I believe. In the old system I was only Silver, because I didn't meet the PQM/PQS, even though I spent enough to be Platinum.

This virtually kills the program for people *outside* North America. We don't have PQD requirements thus far but will have them in 2020. They're quite high as well.

I'd argue the change is less extreme for Americans. PQD was the binding constraint for most people, amirite? Sure, there has been some name reshuffling etc. but in effect, what they've done is increased the PQD thresholds...

Sure, the increases are significant, too. But again, I think hardest-hit are those outside North America.

I've been both a United frequent short distance/high segment traveler and a long distance/low segment traveler. As of now, the latter. I can hear my former self cheering this development, but my current self laments it. United is clearly tightening the screws on international travelers to get them spending more money on upgrade options, which are now much more plentiful (Economy Plus, larger Business Class cabins, etc, etc.). International travelers, that funny feeling in your back pocket is United reaching for your wallet.

Fantastic for business travelers like me who easily meet PQD requirements but can't hit PQM or PQS segments because they're all short-haul domestic flights. On paper at least, I love the changes. Why the shock about "it doesn't matter how far you fly anymore" aspect to this? It's simple. If I pay $500 for a last minute economy flight within the US (on a POS ERJ-145 or CRJ-700 possibly), and you pay $1,300 for a economy flight to Japan, why should you blow out your PQM numbers compared to me? Cause you "suffered" on a plane for longer? I wouldn't be surprised to see these programs just go revenue based at some point, as you mentioned, with maybe a minimum number of flights as a one-time, floor threshold for elite status.

As someone who flies mostly long-haul business class, this makes a lot of sense to me. Distance flown bears zero correlation to profitability anymore, and it doesn't make sense to grant perks based primarily on this metric. I would actually welcome a similar program at Delta, as this year I'll be spending around $25k between personal/business travel but won't qualify for Diamond status as there aren't enough MQMs.

Notwithstanding the above, those who complain should understand that the consolidation of years past and elimination of several carriers (CO, NW, HP, VX) has allowed the US3 to consolidate and fully flex their monopoly power. This is the consequence of reduced competition.

The clear problem with the theory that status should be solely aligned with spend is that the people who are flying paid first/business class tickets all the time are the people who have the least incentive to care about earning status. If you're already flying paid first class on United, you get very little additional benefit from being 1k, and the same is true on United's competitors. Basically, this United change relies on the assumption that people flying on the most expensive tickets will push their companies to put them on United consistently for the benefits it provides on their occasional leisure travel (assuming that their leisure travel is solo or with a partner but no kids, since most of the relevant benefits don't extend to more passengers anyway). Of course, even this is only relevant for employees of companies that don't already have corporate contracts with United, and in relation to employees who have the kind of jobs (usually extremely well paying) that are willing to pay for business/first class travel, but who don't pay for it out of pocket when traveling on their own.

It seems to me that the people who care much more about status, and thus who are willing to redirect their (and their employer's, to the extent they can) business on the basis of earning/using status, are people who normally fly in economy. These people care a lot about the extra legroom that comes from consistent free E+ upgrades, about getting a fair amount of upgrades to business/first (not relevant if you're buying those straight up in the first place), and about the lounge access on international flights. Yes, their tickets cost a lot less but they are the ones who will actually care to shift their business and to pay a bit of a premium to do so - the people I know who are diehard United loyalists are in this category. My dad, for instance, flies almost exclusively United/Star Alliance even when other options are both cheaper and more direct. Yeah, it's only around $10,000 of yearly spend (so pretty consistently platinum, occasionally 1k or dropping to gold), but over decades of doing this, that adds up. He may be hooked enough that he won't change his patterns (thanks to million miler status), but for younger people who aren't in a position to have someone buying us paid first class tickets, there's just really not much incentive for loyalty when the amount of spend needed to get serious benefits is so ridiculously high.

So maybe this will be great for United, but I'm definitely not convinced that it's a great business move.

This definitively punishes my status. I travel mostly international (from the US) and long haul flights. In a week's time when other travelers can put in 3/4 segments, I can obviously do only one, maybe two. I guess the system is aimed at rewarding local US based regular flyers, rather than those spending and covering lots of miles. In my case, time to sit back and review what's out there in the market (in other words, see if Delta is more convenient for my travel patterns - there's no way I'm getting close to AA).

Why be loyal to any airline? For years airlines have punished their loyal followers with these types of changes so why is this surprising? It doesn't affect me or anyone else that sees free agency is the way of the future. I understand this will affect business travelers where there are contractual agreements between companies and airlines. However, for the rest of us who do not live by those agreements, earn transferable points/miles on credit cards and just be done with this airline status garbage. It's an incredible waste of time and money.

Seems logical to me and likely to align the ranks of elites with more closely with their value to United.

Rather oddly, this seems to be punishing international travelers, so I’m not fully sure I get the motive there.

C'mon Ben. These changes are disadvantageous to people who fly long, cheap flights but advantageous to people who are flying full fare and premium long haul flights. And that does align with the value of the customer to United.

If the distance people fly doesn’t matter, why does the number of segment someone flies matter?

Because segments align more closely with number of tickets you buy (distance is weakly aligned). This ensures that, except for the top spenders (who won't be concerned with segments) that people do most or all of their flying on United flights.

The idea that your value to the airline is tied to the net number of miles you fly is a hold-over from the days when pricing was more closely aligned with distance. In the current environment, with tons of Mid-East and Asian based carriers competing on price, distance an price (and therefore value-to-the-airline) aren't correlated at all. Distance-based elite schemes come about through market forces not natural law, now that the market looks different the programs are changing.

These changes are great for big spenders, which means, only for people that fly with tickets paid by their employers, usually big corporations.
People that fly on vacations or small business owners like me that have to pay for their tickets usually do not spend 24k per year.
What these stupid airlines in the USA do not realize is that these big corporations will keep paying for their employees tickets despite of anything, because their focus is on their business needs and they will have to pay for the travel costs whatever it might be.
The big 3 airlines (UA,AA,DL) should be trying to please the vacationers and small business owners that cannot afford to pay for First/Business every time they fly and would like to rely on their status for benefits such as upgrades and other smaller perks.
These are the ones that will be loyal to the airline who gives them more benefits.

These changes are fantastic! As someone who travels 70% domestic on expensive fares, reaching status is actually easier for me.

I take 7 or so paid J international trips a year, though very discounted. So my domestic spend will make up for that. I’m at $36k this year with about 10k more spend still to fly. I like that this will lessen the 1K ranks, freeing up upgrade space for what United considers more valuable customers.

Labeling these changes as negative just because it’s no longer easy is a 2013 state of mind. Airlines now care only about revenue (like a good business should). Don’t put history into judging whether this is valueable for the customer or not. Ben you’ve said so yourself that the traditional game is over and has been for several years, this just hammers home the point. Those of us that travel for work and have flexible travel terms are making out, as we should.

These changes (along with changes to revenue-based redemption) make the following easier for most who are not road warriors flying on someone else's dime: fly who makes sense schedule and price wise. Expect very little because that's what you'll get--But that's what you've been getting anyways. Dump the UA cobranded card for a cash-back card. There is very little value there for most and what value there is just too difficult to squeeze out. Take what they'll give and be surprised when something meaningful comes out of it.

I’m actually OK with the changes as a infrequent j business traveler who takes 1-2 intl J vacations per year. I always put up 7-8k of EQD on American & OW partners per year but always have to take circuitous connections or MR my way to meet on EQM because I fly high cost, low distance routes. Also good that you can earn PQD on partner marketed tickets now which was a big hang up for me participating in MP before (just got off a $3K Partner flight that wouldn’t have counted for squat in the previous program). The lack of PQS bonus for incentivizing first class is confusing though. But American has been frustrating me lately, so with Comparable United status now achievable by allowing partner spend and dropping PQMs, I might be moving over in 2020 (if EWR can get more Polaris planes).