Beginning April 2, United Airlines will boost MileagePlus point accrual rates for holders of cobranded United credit cards and reduce accruals for members who don't have a United card.
United cardholders will also receive point redemption discounts.
Meanwhile, for Basic Economy ticket purchases the carrier will lower accruals across the board, including eliminating them for MileagePlus members who have neither status nor a United credit card.
The changes will be in keeping with United chief commercial officer Andrew Nocella's remarks during an earnings call last month that the airline plans to orient MileagePlus more toward rewarding loyalty rather than offering quick enticements to attract new members. A special focus, Nocella said, would be placed on the United portfolio of cobranded cards.
Under the changes, a general MileagePlus member, without status or a United credit card, will earn three MileagePlus points per dollar spent on United flights, down from the current accrual rate of five miles per dollar. Holders of a cobranded credit card will earn six miles per dollar when buying a ticket. If the purchase is made with their United card, the earn rate will be higher, with the specific rate depending upon which card the flyer holds. For example, general MileagePlus members who hold the popular United Explorer card will earn nine miles per dollar on ticket purchases, compared to the present five-miles-per-dollar rate.
MileagePlus status members will see similar changes, with increased accrual if they have and use a United-branded credit card, and lower accruals if they don't hold such a card. For example, at the top end of the scale, MileagePlus 1K status members who hold the premium United Club card will earn 17 points per mile on ticket purchases, up from 12 per mile at present.
For Basic Economy tickets, United will cut all award rates as it attempts to further incentivize higher fare purchases. For example, general MileagePlus members won't receive award miles for Basic Economy tickets unless they hold a United credit card, in which case they'll get three miles per dollar. Until April 2, those tickets earn five points per mile.
For MileagePlus Premier Gold status members, United currently rewards Basic Economy purchases at a rate of eight miles per dollar. Rewards for those flyers will drop to three points per dollar on April 2, with a cardmember earn rate of six points per dollar.
Meanwhile, United credit card holders will soon enjoy lower redemption prices than MileagePlus members without a card. Discounts will for general members will be10% off standard flight award prices, but cardholders who have status will get 15% off.
Cardholders will also receive access to discounted Saver Award inventory for business class seats, a perk currently only available to Platinum and 1K MileagePlus members, which are the program's top two status tiers.