United Airlines is changing the structure of its MileagePlus loyalty program to increase benefits for travelers who use United-branded credit or debit cards and to reduce mileage earning for members who do not hold those cards.
Under the new rules, primary MileagePlus cardholders will be eligible to earn up to twice as many miles per dollar spent on United flights compared with members who do not carry the co-branded card. These enhanced accrual rates and other benefits will apply to tickets purchased on or after April 2.
In addition to higher mileage earning, cardholders will receive at least a 10% discount when they book travel using points or miles, United said. The airline framed the program update as a move to reward frequent customers who use the airline's payment products.
"MileagePlus is designed to reward loyalty to United, and our best customers deserve the best benefits in the industry," said Andrew Nocella, United's chief commercial officer.
The revision also imposes stricter earning limits for members who do not hold a co-branded card. United said MileagePlus members without the airline's credit or debit card will earn fewer miles on flights. The policy further states that general members who do not carry a co-branded card will not earn miles on basic economy tickets.
United positioned the overhaul as a way to drive greater adoption and use of its card portfolio. The company noted that, across the airline industry, loyalty programs have become significant profit centers, with carriers earning billions annually by selling frequent-flyer miles to banking partners associated with those credit card programs.
Separately, promotional material associated with the original notice highlighted an investment research product that evaluates United Airlines under the ticker UAL. That material stated the product, ProPicks AI, reviews thousands of companies monthly using more than 100 financial metrics and cited past winners it identified, including Super Micro Computer and AppLovin, with listed performance figures.
This rewrite preserves the timetable, benefit changes, and the supporting rationale United provided, while noting the explicit carve-outs for non-cardholders and basic economy fares. The company did not provide additional details in this announcement about the magnitude of the mileage reductions for non-cardholders beyond saying they will earn fewer miles, nor did it quantify projected changes in card adoption or revenue tied to the program update.