New MileagePlus Updates - 6 October

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More flexible award booking and streamlined fees

Just received an email from UA on this.
MileagePlus Updates.

As usual with changes to FF programs, there are a few euphemisms, such as "more flexible" and "streamlined".

As far as I'm concerned, the "streamlined" fees will mean that from 6 October I will have to pay USD $50 for any change/cancellation to an award booking less than 2 months out, where presently there is no charge.

And the "more flexible award booking" system will mean I will have to use more miles for certain itineraries.

So there you go, more flexible and streamlined...
 
Re: More flexible award booking and streamlined fees

Some programs have been milked to death. Airlines just catching up.

Not saying I agree with changes. Just an observation.
 
Re: More flexible award booking and streamlined fees

I assume you mean catching up with the likes of FF program leaders such as Qantas. It's a downward spiral for all.
 
Re: More flexible award booking and streamlined fees

I assume you mean catching up with the likes of FF program leaders such as Qantas. It's a downward spiral for all.
No I mean catching up with all the loopholes in the system.
 
Re: More flexible award booking and streamlined fees

loopholes in the system.

In my opinion not really loopholes, but you might like to give us a few examples of these loopholes as you see them.

It's just that Continental (aka United) has difficulty administering its current documented policy and procedures and wants to dumb them down and at the same time reduce benefits to Mileage Plus members.

Pity they can't just be a bit more honest about it (but then they are an airline).
 
Re: More flexible award booking and streamlined fees

I can't see any changes to the points needed for redemptions ?
Other than stopover benefits that I don't use and the $50 change fee, are their any other changes ?
 
Re: More flexible award booking and streamlined fees

I can't see any changes to the points needed for redemptions ?
Other than stopover benefits that I don't use and the $50 change fee, are their any other changes ?

There is also "streamlining" for the change/cancellation fees for Golds, Silvers and General members, some up, some down.

I guess if you never have an award with a stopover or an open jaw then the miles required may not change (but who can be sure at this stage?). I often use round-trip awards with a stopover/open jaw when travelling to Europe, and the new system will cost me an extra 10-20,0000 miles per trip, depending on the itinerary.
 
Re: More flexible award booking and streamlined fees

There is also "streamlining" for the change/cancellation fees for Golds, Silvers and General members, some up, some down.

I guess if you never have an award with a stopover or an open jaw then the miles required may not change (but who can be sure at this stage?). I often use round-trip awards with a stopover/open jaw when travelling to Europe, and the new system will cost me an extra 10-20,0000 miles per trip, depending on the itinerary.

And you can still do an open jaw, and still have a stopover.

The previous UA stopover rules were so over-generous and so regulatory rorted that even I have trouble being critical of the change.

Now - the fees are another story.
 
Re: More flexible award booking and streamlined fees

And you can still do an open jaw, and still have a stopover.
Yes, of course, but in many cases it will cost more. That's my concern.
 
Re: More flexible award booking and streamlined fees

Yes, of course, but in many cases it will cost more. That's my concern.

Sure - but this change is in the same realm as mASAs.

Great while the perk lasted - but was never going to last.

I'm not a UA program fan - in fact I've been earbashing UA execs at industry events every chance I get.

But their stopover rules were ridiculously generous. It may cost you more now, but will still probably be cheaper than doing the same thing with AA.

I just don't see the stopover changes as a strong point to complain about.

Being able to scam multiple 23 hour stopovers on a single award, totally against the spirit of the rules, is what caused this loophole to be closed.
 
While I would view this as a negative change, I must admit that I did find United's award routing rules previously to be particularly generous. At least you can still, theoretically, get a free stopover and open jaw. It could have been worse, I guess.

Annoying about the change fees, though!
 
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Re: More flexible award booking and streamlined fees

Being able to scam multiple 23 hour stopovers on a single award, totally against the spirit of the rules, is what caused this loophole to be closed.
I don't think I've seen anything in the changes to suggest that international connections of less than 24 hours are being addressed. Happy to be proved wrong, though.

My concern is the changes to (elimination of) real stopovers. In future there will be less flexibility in terms of where a "free" stopover can be made within a round-trip. However, I'm starting to see that there could be some interesting possibilities using the free one-way associated with the other two one-ways that previously would have been a round trip award ticket. But it will still cost more.

And who said that inflation was too low?
 
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Re: More flexible award booking and streamlined fees

In my opinion not really loopholes, but you might like to give us a few examples of these loopholes as you see them.
No disrespect but one of your recent bookings is an example.

Frequent flyers on these websites are getting smarter as a group. Airlines are fighting back. They have to fight back to survive.
 
Re: More flexible award booking and streamlined fees

No disrespect but one of your recent bookings is an example.

Good reply, JohnK, but I don't recall saying anything about exploiting the particular "loopholes" that UA is closing in its upcoming changes to Mileage Plus awards. I may have said something about other benefits you might regard as loopholes, but I really can't be sure, can I? I do think, however, that others have previously boasted on this board of manipulating the system to the extent of what I might consider to be almost rorting.

It strikes me, though, that some people who support the watering down of published Mileage Plus benefits may just be unhappy that their own preferred FF program is not as generous (eg QF, AA), and they may not even be Mileage Plus elites.

Also, why not check out the comments on Flyertalk, if you haven't done so already, to get a broader view of this issue.
 
Re: More flexible award booking and streamlined fees

Hi,

I *think* my understanding is correct, in that the following itinerary will be okay to book:

I am looking at a trip MEL-HAN-HKG-MEL or MEL-HAN-DPS-MEL around Sep 2017 (which I would look to book in Sep 2016). This is currently possible using multi-city and I believe will still be possible post Oct 6th but I don't have as good a grasp of the new rules. If I book it before Oct 6th, my understanding is that the old rules apply, is that correct? Currently this prices out as 60K points plus taxes in J, will it be the same if I book after Oct 6th?

Thanks
 
Re: More flexible award booking and streamlined fees

It strikes me, though, that some people who support the watering down of published Mileage Plus benefits may just be unhappy that their own preferred FF program is not as generous (eg QF, AA), and they may not even be Mileage Plus elites.

Also, why not check out the comments on Flyertalk, if you haven't done so already, to get a broader view of this issue.

Well Clifford - I'm a 1K, I'm also highly critical of the many customer-unfriendly policies and program design elements of MileagePlus.

I'd also suggest that FT is hardly a good reference point on this particular issue. Of course all the mileage-junkies are up in arms.

Personally - I'd love for the over-generous, uber-exploitable routing rules to remain.

But quite frankly - there are MUCH BIGGER issues to fight for improvement on when it comes to improving the value-offering of the MileagePlus program - and the predictable whingeing on the predictable (and reasonably fair) tightening up of over-generous stopover rules, takes away from legitimate arguments against the outrageous new fee structure, or the other dozens of more important (and more arguable) aspects to the program to seek positive change for.

The boy who cried wolf is a story that is appropriate here.

But if you can identify any other program that is even as close to generous as UA's when it comes to stopovers - let us know. Perhaps I've overlooked it in my assessment to not sink the boot into UA over this.
 
Re: More flexible award booking and streamlined fees

I'm not a UA program fan - in fact I've been earbashing UA execs at industry events every chance I get.

Can United Airlines plz hurry up and hire you to fix the loyalty aspect of the program? I mean, they could go ahead and add a 25th status level or change stopover rules but the underlying fundamentals of promoting loyalty won't improve til someone like you gets involved. Your write up on psychology of loyalty programs is excellent.

Hear that United execs? You need dfcatch.
 
Re: More flexible award booking and streamlined fees

Can United Airlines plz hurry up and hire you to fix the loyalty aspect of the program? I mean, they could go ahead and add a 25th status level or change stopover rules but the underlying fundamentals of promoting loyalty won't improve til someone like you gets involved. Your write up on psychology of loyalty programs is excellent.

Hear that United execs? You need dfcatch.

You're too kind Trippin'.

But yes - I think they need another status level. That oughtta fix it.

I mean, I just don't think that:

- Silver
- Gold
- Platinum
- 1K
- Global Services
- Chairmans Circle

Is enough....
 
Re: More flexible award booking and streamlined fees

Frequent flyers on these websites are getting smarter as a group. Airlines are fighting back. They have to fight back to survive.

With respect to award bookings there's probably not much for the airlines to 'fight back'. Award seats are seats that would not be sold otherwise - exactly why availability is limited. The airline is losing nothing except wiping miles off member balances.
 
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