United Airlines is drawing a stricter line among passengers on its planes. United Mileage Plus Some are credit or debit cards and others are not. Starting with tickets purchased after April 2, cardholders can earn significantly more miles on United flights, receive automatic discounts on award tickets, and have expanded access to some of the airline’s lowest-price award seats, including long-haul Polaris business class.
Change rewards loyalty. They also made it clear that having a co-branded card will become increasingly important to full participation in MileagePlus going forward.
Here’s what this means in practical terms: In other words, there are pros and cons.
How to earn miles faster
The headline change is mileage accrual. Basic United cardholders can now earn up to twice the mileage per dollar on United flights compared to non-cardholders, and even more when paying for tickets with their United card.
MileagePlus 1K members using a United Club card can earn a total of 17 miles per dollar on eligible United flights. MileagePlus Gold members who pay with their United Quest card will earn 13 miles per dollar spent. That’s more than twice as many miles as a Gold member without a card would earn. Regular members using the United Explorer Card earn 9 miles per dollar. 11 miles per dollar with a United Club card.
Travelers who already fly frequently and have status on United flights will see their mileage accrual accelerated. Over a year of business travel or several long trips, the difference becomes significant. You can earn thousands more miles on the same trip just because you purchased your ticket with your United Card.
There is also a new baseline shift. Regular MileagePlus members must now have a United card to earn miles on basic economy tickets. Without the card, those fares will no longer generate redeemable miles. This represents an enhanced benefit for regular customers who purchase United’s lowest fares and do not hold a co-branded card.
The message is simple. The program’s highest yields are now structurally tied to card ownership.
Automatic discount on award tickets
United is also introducing an “always-on” bonus discount for cardholders. Primary cardholders can save at least 10% on every United award flight they book. Premier tier cardholders can enjoy at least 15% discount.
Discount applies to all rooms. For standard cardholders, the 15,000-mile economy class award costs 13,500 miles. For Premier members with a United card, the 200,000-mile Polaris business class award will be reduced to 170,000 miles.
On the surface it’s simple math. This will change how much your mileage actually increases. Travelers who consistently redeem miles on United-operated flights will see their balances last longer, especially when using premium cabins, which can result in higher mileage totals.
United says basic cardholders can already see discounted prices in the app and on United.com. The airline plans to display discounted prices more broadly so customers can compare standard fares and cardholder fares side-by-side.
Especially for frequent travelers for long distance travel, a 10-15% discount can effectively increase the purchasing power of every mile you earn.
Expanded Saver Awards — Includes Polaris
The third change is accessibility. United is expanding Saver Award inventory in Polaris business class for regular MileagePlus members who hold a United credit or debit card. Previously, certain Saver seats were restricted to higher-tier Premier members.
Saver awards represent United’s lowest mileage price for award tickets. Availability is always variable and access to premium room Saver spaces may be limited.
United said about a third of flights on which Saver fares are available include exclusive inventory for cardholders and Premier members. This includes routes to London, Hawaii, Florida, Cancun and Tokyo.
The Polaris Saver Award is currently available for prices as low as 80,000 miles. The new 10% Cardholder Discount allows cardholders to purchase eligible seats starting as low as 72,000 miles. Premier tier cardholders can check prices down to 68,000 miles.
United also notes that cardholders save an average of about 30% compared to standard award prices when they book Saver Award flights marked “Cardmembers Save.” In addition to the new discounts, the expanded access allows cardholders to find more premium cabin seats at lower qualifying mileage costs than ever before.
For travelers who value international business class travel, this is probably the most attractive improvement. Adding a discount to your ride can substantially increase your chances of securing a low-mileage seat.
Good for travelers
If you already have a United card and fly the airline regularly, the changes are mostly positive. Earn miles faster with paid tickets, use fewer miles when booking award tickets, and have access to a wider selection of affordable inventory.
The benefits are most meaningful to three types of travelers:
Frequent fliers with Premier membership can build elite status with card bonuses and receive a 15% bonus discount.
Business travelers who have their airfare reimbursed by their employer but can collect miles to convert higher accrual rates directly into personal rewards.
Vacationers planning to travel in premium cabins, especially on long-haul Polaris flights. Expanding Saver access and discounts can save you tens of thousands of miles.
The structure is also simple. Discounts occur automatically. There is no registration, no category rotation, and no limited-time promotions. If you have a card, the price reflects your benefits.
MileagePlus is still free to join with miles that never expire, no blackout dates for awards, and the option to combine miles and cash on airline tickets. United also does not allow change fees on award tickets and allows mileage pooling between travelers. Co-branded cards now act as multipliers within a broader framework.
Pros, Cons and Considerations
On the other hand, Mileage Plus is becoming more segmented.
Travelers without a United card will earn fewer miles for the same flight than cardholders. General members who purchase basic economy tickets will not accumulate any mileage without a card. Over time, the gap between those who send occasional flyers and those who have opted into the card ecosystem widens.
There is also a cost equation. United’s card portfolio includes products such as the Explorer, Quest and Club cards, along with business and debit versions. Annual fees vary, and premium cards pay higher fees in exchange for lounge access and other perks. The value of new mileage accelerators and bonus discounts should be weighed against the annual cost.
United’s bonus prices are flexible. A 10% or 15% discount will lower your total mileage, but the starting price may fluctuate depending on demand. Discounts applied to volatile prices can still represent significant mileage expenditures.
Finally, expanded Saver inventory does not guarantee widespread availability on all routes or dates. The space saved is controlled by capacity. Cardholders will have access to more inventory than ever before, but not unlimited access.
bigger picture
United is strengthening a strategy seen at major airlines. That means we’re creating greater integration between our loyalty programs and co-branded credit cards. Revenue from financial partnerships has become a key pillar of airline profitability. In return, airlines are increasingly offering some of the most attractive loyalty benefits through card ownership.
For travelers, the decision is more binary. If you fly United frequently, especially if you fly premium cabins, the new structure makes having the MileagePlus card more convenient. Increased mileage and consistent bonus discounts can add up quickly.
If you fly United occasionally and prefer flexibility between airlines, the program now offers fewer incentives at the entry-level level.
Starting April 2, differences will appear in both mileage balance and award price. United is not eliminating benefits. concentrating them
