MileagePlus Changed the Game. Here's What's Really at Stake
Live and Let's Fly • • business
Key Points:
- United Airlines is overhauling its MileagePlus program effective April 2, 2026, increasing benefits for United credit cardholders while significantly reducing rewards for non-cardholders, including cutting miles earned on flights and limiting access to premium award inventory.
- The restructuring aims to boost United's revenue from its Chase credit card partnership, which currently lags far behind Delta's and American Airlines' bank partnerships, by incentivizing more MileagePlus members to obtain United co-branded cards.
- A key challenge is that Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer exclusively to United, making United miles attractive to Chase cardholders; however, the new restrictions may push some Chase users to transfer points to competitors like Air Canada Aeroplan, which offers comparable Star Alliance awards without requiring a
