Most travel loyalty programs recognize that this is the time to reward loyal members, rather than devalue program perks. And then there’s United MileagePlus…
United devalues partner awards close to departure
United MileagePlus no longer publishes award charts, meaning there’s no transparency when there are changes to award pricing. Well, it looks like in the past 24 hours or so, United has raised the cost of partner airline award tickets booked within 30 days of departure.
Specifically, the cost of MileagePlus partner award tickets booked within 30 days of departure has been increased by 3,000-4,000 miles one-way.
United has increased the cost of partner award tickets again
For example, a one-way Lufthansa award ticket from Chicago to Frankfurt costs:
- 33,000 miles in economy class more than 30 days out, 36,000 miles in economy class less than 30 days out
- 77,000 miles in business class more than 30 days out, 80,500 miles in business class less than 30 days out
A one-way All Nippon Airways award ticket from Chicago to Tokyo costs:
- 38,500 miles in economy class more than 30 days out, 42,000 miles in economy class less than 30 days out
- 88,000 miles in business class more than 30 days out, 92,000 miles in business class less than 30 days out
A one-way Ethiopian Airlines award ticket from Newark to Addis Ababa costs:
- 44,000 miles in economy class more than 30 days out, 48,000 miles in economy class less than 30 days out
- 88,000 miles in business class more than 30 days out, 92,000 miles in business class less than 30 days out
This is the third partner award devaluation
This is bad enough as is, but what makes this even worse is that this is the third devaluation to partner award tickets in less than a year:
- In November 2019, United increased award costs close to departure, for travel on both United and partners
- In April 2019, United increased most partner award costs by 10%, though in the process the extra close-in cost was eliminated on partner airlines in many regions
Now we’re essentially seeing both of those policies stacked — not only did United devalue partner award costs by around 10%, but there’s also a higher cost within 30 days of departure.
In other words, a Chicago to Frankfurt MileagePlus business class award ticket on Lufthansa:
- Used to cost 70,000 miles
- Then it cost 73,500 within 30 days of travel (as of November 2019)
- Then it cost 77,000 miles no matter when you booked (as of April 2020)
- Now it costs 80,500 miles within 30 days of departure
Expect to pay more for Lufthansa award tickets within 30 days of departure
This change is unjustifiable
The way reimbursement for award tickets works between airlines, United is paying the same amount whether you book a partner award ticket close to departure or far in advance.
It’s not that United is passing on some increased cost that’s being incurred. Rather United assumes that people are willing to pay more to fly last minute on award tickets, so the program is seeing what it can get away with by increasing its margins on redemptions.
I understand airlines are in a tough spot, but devaluing the miles of loyal members doesn’t exactly seem like the right approach to take here. Never mind the fact that the program has just been used as leverage for a multi-billion dollar loan…
This is another disappointing change from United MileagePlus
Bottom line
United MileagePlus has devalued partner award redemptions yet again, for the third time in less than a year. This is also the second time that this has happened during the current pandemic.
The price increase doesn’t reflect any increased cost United is incurring, so this is pure greed. This is very disappointing from MileagePlus…
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