UA award mileage increase
Annual changes for
the Mileage Plus program
The changes to the Mileage Plus program for 2009 will reward our premium
customers with highly competitive benefits, while responding to increased
demand for United’s new international first- and business-class cabins.
Please keep reading for a brief overview of each program change, then visit
united.com for FAQs and details.
Restoration of 500-mile minimum accrual for elite members
Our elite members are the cornerstone of the Mileage Plus program. To reward
these members and allow them to requalify for their benefits more quickly,
the 500-mile minimum accrual on United flights will be restored for elite
members effective January 1, 2009.
This policy change will be applied retroactively to flights between July 1,
2008, and December 31, 2008. For elite members who flew United flights of
less than 500 miles during that timeframe, all affected mileage balances and
bonuses and earned upgrades will be adjusted by the end of the year to
ensure that your elite status is correct for 2009. Please see united.com for
full details.
Mileage awards
Mileage Plus continues to offer members more awards to popular destinations.
In fact, through August members redeemed 12% more awards in 2008 than in
2007. Also, United continues its policy of no fuel surcharges on award
tickets. However, changes will be made to award levels on January 1, 2009.
Note that our most popular Saver and Standard awards within the continental
United States will stay the same, but other routes and classes will change.
View revised Saver, Standard and partner award charts.
Upgrade awards
As United continues to introduce the new international first and business
class, which include lie-flat seats and other enhancements, demand has
increased. To ensure that the upgrades adequately reflect the value of a
first- or business-class seat, we are generally reducing the mileage
requirements and will be collecting a co-pay when miles are redeemed to
upgrade an Economy ticket. This change will be effective for upgrade awards
requested on or after July 1, 2009.
The co-pay amount will depend on the origin and destination cities, as well
as the type of ticket purchased. If you upgrade from a higher fare class,
your co-pay will be lower or even non-existent. Upgrade awards from Business
to First will not require a co-pay.
And to ensure that all Mileage Plus members have a chance to experience the
new international first and business class, beginning July 1, 2009, all paid
international Economy-class tickets can be upgraded with miles and a co-pay
. Currently, only select Economy classes can be upgraded internationally.
Please visit united.com for details about these changes, including helpful
FAQs and examples.
Thank you for choosing United and Mileage Plus.
Sincerely,
Graham Atkinson
President, Mileage Plus
