As we speak United introduced some main adjustments to incomes MileagePlus elite standing as of 2023. There’s one other change that was simply revealed, which I wished to cowl in a separate publish.
United not has award change & redeposit charges
Efficient instantly, United MileagePlus has eradicated redeposit charges on MileagePlus award tickets. Which means that no matter your elite standing, now you can speculatively lock in award tickets, after which redeposit them without charge.
Whereas United was the primary US airline to get rid of change charges on income tickets after the beginning of the pandemic, the airline wasn’t fairly as beneficiant with MileagePlus awards. Previous to this newest change, United had a reasonably sophisticated coverage, based mostly on whether or not it was 31 or extra days earlier than departure, and based mostly on whether or not journey originated in america or not.
Up till now, the airline has allowed award ticket adjustments without charge, although award ticket redeposits have value as much as $125 when executed inside 30 days of departure. There was a trick to get this waived by transferring the itinerary additional into the longer term, however that was finally an unnecessarily trouble.
United is catching up with American & Delta right here
United may be very a lot taking part in meet up with American and Delta right here:
- American AAdvantage eradicated award change and redeposit charges in November 2020; that was thrilling, since AAdvantage is the one one of many “huge three” US airline frequent flyer applications that truly has industry-leading award redemption charges in some areas
- Delta SkyMiles doesn’t cost award ticket change and redeposit charges, aside from primary economic system tickets; since SkyMiles is kind of a revenue-based frequent flyer program at this level, the coverage between money and award tickets matches
I’ve discovered the power to redeem miles with out change charges to be a game-changer, particularly with how arduous award availability could be to return by. It’s good to have the ability to lock in one thing on the time of reserving, after which change it because the departure date approaches.
Within the case of United MileagePlus, I’d say that is an particularly thrilling change, for the reason that two greatest Star Alliance applications for award redemptions (Air Canada Aeroplan and Avianca LifeMiles) do cost charges for award ticket redeposits. This could possibly be a motive to guide by way of United, even when award charges are greater.
Backside line
United MileagePlus has eradicated all award change and redeposit charges. Whereas the airline eradicated award change charges in 2020, redeposits inside 30 days of departure have value as much as $125 per passenger. I’m glad to see this modification, because it signifies that the most important frequent flyer applications in america all not have award redeposit charges.
What do you make of this MileagePlus change?
