So…what to do? All upgrades on partner flights will cost 40 PlusPoints, and your PlusPoints for partner flights will always be deducted at the time of request.”. 2. Watch. So it’s unlikely platinums will reduce upgrade availability much for 1Ks. So, will current Plat and 1ks get the points on 12/4, or will this only apply to people who qualify for Plat or 1k for 2020? Also, @lucky, do we know how this works with the extension policy? What you could see ultimately is a move that makes them more like miles themselves: United tried to get people to “burn” them on low-value redemptions. Cash prices for this same route were running $1,500+ at the time of the search. United just re-launched its Mile … After doing the math, you’d be getting a value of ~12.44 cents per mile. If you'd like to participate in the discussion, please adhere to our commenting guidelines. Marriott Bonvoy, then Marriott Rewards, and United Airlines MileagePlus launched a program called RewardsPlus back in 2014 that was modeled after what Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) and Delta Air Lines had in place for reciprocal elite benefits. It’s a bit like the system that Air Canada uses for their Altitude program, except it’s in addition to unlimited complimentary domestic upgrades. But I suspect, as has always been the case, high-value uses will still exist if you’re really willing to hunt for them. But they did not. That’s a value of ~1.98 cents per mile, which is an incredible use of your hard-earned rewards. United Airlines has launched a MileagePlus buy miles with up to 100% bonus. These changes affect how you earn Premier status and what counts towards qualification. 3. Marriott Bonvoy, then Marriott Rewards, and United Airlines MileagePlus launched a program called … To figure out the United Airlines miles value on your particular flight, use this formula: (Cash price of the ticket – taxes and fees you’d pay on the award ticket) / number of points required for an award ticket. Earn 60,000 bonus points | 2X points on travel and dining. United Airlines has announced changes to their 2020 Premier program. According to their announcement, if there’s availability in the PZ fare bucket, you could confirm an upgrade at the existing “price” just as you can today. What is included in United Premium Plus? With the way PlusPoints upgrades work, no one should be losing out here, at least with how things are currently set up: You can even use PlusPoints to upgrade on Lufthansa. However, it’s at least conceivable that my using more global upgrades will “crowd out,” say, a platinum or lower member who was trying to do a mileage upgrade into business on that route. @ Jim — Nothing has changed when it comes to the gifting policy. “-will they transform existing GPUS into Pluspoints or will you keep them until they are used?”. If spending a week in Hawaii sounds enticing, it’s easy to realize that dream with your United Airlines miles. How Do You Earn United Airlines PlusPoints? Will we still be able to use miles to upgrade? You are no longer guaranteed a certain value on a particular route because there’s no award chart. United’s webpage on upgrade awards is among its most detailed and covers pricing, rules, and more. “Each Global Premier Upgrade will be converted into 40 PlusPoints” —. Note: Please see my Advertiser Disclosure. Converting GPUs and RPUs into a single upgrade instrument that can be tailored for different situations, including using more of it to secure or confirm a critical upgrade, is highly imaginative…for the better! The question then comes: At whose expense do I get those upgrades? But, you can still find saver awards that somewhat align with the pricing from the old United Airlines award chart. Say you’re flying from Aspen to Houston to Newark to Hong Kong. :), The Platinum Card® from American Express, © 2020 MillionMileSecrets.com. Not sure where you get the 40 point devaluation from? On the whole I do think it’s a positive change but how it affects availability will be interesting. Both of these negatives have the potential to outweigh any positive. Time will tell. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Hi Chris, and thanks for the information. United Airlines has promotions monthly for buying miles, but they all max out at a 100% bonus or a 50% discount (the same offer because United usually limits the number of miles one can purchase per year, including any possible bonuses up to 175K). To upgrade a flight operated by United Airlines, United … PlusPoints is a new system that’s intended to give members a lot more flexibility, and on the surface it’s actually incredibly positive. United Airlines has just announced a significant adjustment to how their upgrades work for Premier Platinum and Premier 1K members. Why would this “eliminate the black market for reselling upgrades”? No thanks. While we do try to list all the best miles and points deals, the site does not include all card companies or credit card offers available in the marketplace. While I appreciate the increase in flexibility, there is still the waitlist that never clears. I realize under the new “no chart” system award tickets (and presumably award upgrades as well) will cost whatever United decides the market will bear, but do we have any “ball park” estimates? He travels about 400,000 miles a year, primarily using miles and points to enhance his first class experiences. It would seem that if this immediate upgrade is available, skipping the “waitlist” it will cost more than an equivalent RPU or GPU. I agree that there is more room for devaluation, but we’ll worry about that when or if it happens. @ Scott Cate — They expire the same as before. United Airlines miles are a favorite of the MMS team and our readers because they offer a decent number of award seats compared to other airlines. ( like additional GPUS each 25k miles)”, “… I just checked my email from United and it gives the following schedule for earning PlusPoints beyond the base allocations —, ‘Additional 40 PlusPoints for every 25,000 PQM or 30 PQS’, This translates to the same as the current program, with 40 PlusPoints being equivalent to 1 GPU” Required fields are marked *. Isn’t skip the waitlist a 1k only feature? So they still have the cost of catering, etc. Their … So, you can either have FLEXIBILITY with PlusPoints or you can the old GPU (and associated RIGIDITY), but you ***CANNOT*** have both. I’d take them over current day AA any day, and, at least for now, I get exponentially more value out of UA miles than I can with Delta, plus United’s own route network and partner network is more comprehensive than Delta’s. United Airlines has launched a MileagePlus buy miles with up to 100% bonus. United Premium Plus is a new section of a plane that is a blend between Economy Plus and Business Class. Once you’ve flown up front it’s hard to think about taking a long-haul flight in coach. What will happen with our mileage balance? Since people mostly care about the long-haul segments, this means you’re more likely to end up “burning” through an upgrade even if you didn’t get the benefit you wanted. Wait is the United leading on something???? So conceivably, 8 regionals that I otherwise would have let expire can be put to good use. Find a far off location to fly to in January, pay for coach in W+, ensure flight has PZ1 or higher fare class availability, upgrade using GPU, have fun vacation, amass large number of PQMs to jump start next year w/o expensive ticket but enjoying Polaris Business. We know United’s classes of service as business or first, premium economy and coach. Complimentary access to Economy Plus ... As partners, Marriott Bonvoy and United MileagePlus can bring you additional benefits and value when you travel. If I had to guess, I imagine they will offer a “skip the waitlist” option to 1K members in circumstances where the old system would have allowed Global Services members but not 1Ks to confirm availability (i.e., when there’s availability in the PN fare bucket reserved for GS but not in the PZ fare bucket used by 1Ks). United Premium Plus includes pod-like seats, more leg room, a private cabin area, and a few extra amenities here or there. Find an Airport Code Your Flight Information Cost of your ticket (ignore taxes and fees) Paying with United Mileage Plus … United has always been able to devalue this benefit by giving less GPU each year. Your email address will not be published. Flight Attendants In China Told To Wear Diapers, Alaska Mileage Plan Changes How Status Is Earned, Cathay Pacific’s A321neo Business Class Revealed, Thai Airways Selling Boeing 747, Airbus A380 Fleet, Best Airline Credit Cards for Miles & Points, United later announced negative changes to their elite status program, How United Airlines Upgrades Currently Work. Of hand has * already * taken place with this new upgrade program if the will! Extension policy mpp from the old United Airlines has announced changes to their 2020 Premier program flexibility! Up for credit cards through partner links earns us a commission less now to United,,! About the waitlist a 1K on the waitlist that never clears and Global Premier upgrades with PlusPoints you see... The long-haul segment entity mentioned herein upgrades directly on their website and sent out today! More room for devaluation change for those of us living outside the.! 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