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United Overhauls MileagePlus to Favor Cardholders Starting April 2

The airline says the redesign targets co‑brand signups and card spend to bolster loyalty revenue from banking partners.

Overview

  • Members without a United card will earn 3 miles per dollar on United flights, down from 5, while cardholders earn 6 miles per dollar or more depending on status and card used.
  • At the high end, Premier 1K members paying with a United Club card can earn up to 17 miles per dollar under the new structure.
  • General members without a card will no longer earn miles on Basic Economy tickets; Premier elites still earn on those fares, and general members with a card regain earning.
  • Cardholders receive automatic award discounts of at least 10%, or at least 15% for Premier elites with a card, plus expanded access to Saver Award inventory including Polaris business class seats.
  • The rules apply to tickets purchased on or after April 2, 2026, and United plans to display cardholder award pricing on its site to make the discounts visible.