United MileagePlus Devalues Partner First Class Awards Severely – Lufthansa, ANA Redemptions Hit Hardest
United MileagePlus Devalues Partner First Class Awards Severely - Lufthansa, ANA Redemptions Hit Hardest - Lufthansa and ANA First Class Awards Significantly Devalued
United MileagePlus has significantly devalued its partner first class awards, with the cost of Lufthansa first class from the US to Europe increasing by 28% to 154,000 miles.
ANA first class awards between the US and Japan have seen an even more drastic increase of around 100%.
These changes also impact partner business class awards, with the cost of a one-way flight from the US to North Asia rising from 88,000 to 110,000 miles.
While Lufthansa first class awards on MileagePlus remain the same price, other devaluations, such as increased intra-Europe and intra-Asia partner award costs, have been introduced.
It's worth noting that United's program lacks transparency, as they do not publish award charts.
United MileagePlus has increased the cost of a one-way first class award flight from the United States to Europe on Lufthansa by over 25%, from 121,000 miles to 154,000 miles.
The cost of a one-way first class award flight from the US to Japan on ANA has more than doubled, increasing from 121,000 to 242,000 miles.
United has also increased the cost of partner business class awards, with the price of a one-way flight from the US to Europe rising from 70,000 miles to 43,900 miles.
United MileagePlus does not publish award charts, making it difficult for members to anticipate and plan for these types of devaluations.
Lufthansa first class awards on MileagePlus can only be booked within a few days of departure, further limiting the availability of these premium redemptions.
These devaluations are part of a broader trend of United MileagePlus reducing the value of its partner awards, which has been ongoing over the past year.
What else is in this post?
- United MileagePlus Devalues Partner First Class Awards Severely - Lufthansa, ANA Redemptions Hit Hardest - Lufthansa and ANA First Class Awards Significantly Devalued
- United MileagePlus Devalues Partner First Class Awards Severely - Lufthansa, ANA Redemptions Hit Hardest - Long-Haul Business Class Award Costs Increased Substantially
- United MileagePlus Devalues Partner First Class Awards Severely - Lufthansa, ANA Redemptions Hit Hardest - Last-Minute Partner Award Booking Fees Introduced
- United MileagePlus Devalues Partner First Class Awards Severely - Lufthansa, ANA Redemptions Hit Hardest - Intra-Europe Business Class Redemptions Spike in Price
- United MileagePlus Devalues Partner First Class Awards Severely - Lufthansa, ANA Redemptions Hit Hardest - United MileagePlus Overhauls Award Travel Pricing Structure
- United MileagePlus Devalues Partner First Class Awards Severely - Lufthansa, ANA Redemptions Hit Hardest - Maximizing Value from Remaining Sweet Spots
United MileagePlus Devalues Partner First Class Awards Severely - Lufthansa, ANA Redemptions Hit Hardest - Long-Haul Business Class Award Costs Increased Substantially
United MileagePlus has significantly increased the award costs for long-haul business class flights.
One-way business class awards to many parts of Asia now start at 49,500 miles, while one-way business class awards within Europe start at 30,000 to 33,000 miles.
In addition, saver award rates on United's flights to Tahiti's Faaa International Airport have also been devalued.
The one-way business class award cost to many parts of Asia on United MileagePlus has increased substantially, now starting at 49,500 miles, a significant jump from previous rates.
One-way business class awards for travel within Europe on United now require 30,000 to 33,000 miles, a notable increase compared to prior redemption levels.
United has devalued its Saver award rates on flights to Tahiti's Faaa International Airport, making it more costly for members to redeem miles for these destinations.
Redemption rates for Lufthansa first class awards between the US and Europe have increased by over 25%, from 121,000 miles to 154,000 miles one-way.
United has also increased its unpublished partner award rates for flights within Asia, further reducing the value of its miles for these premium cabin bookings.
One-way Saver transatlantic awards for travel on United's partner airlines now require an extra 2,300 miles in economy or 2,800 miles in business class compared to previous levels.
The award devaluation follows United's removal of its award charts in late 2019, similar to Delta's SkyMiles program, making it increasingly challenging for members to anticipate and plan for these changes.
United MileagePlus Devalues Partner First Class Awards Severely - Lufthansa, ANA Redemptions Hit Hardest - Last-Minute Partner Award Booking Fees Introduced
United MileagePlus has continued its devaluation of partner awards by introducing last-minute booking fees for partner airline redemptions.
This means that members now have to pay significantly more miles if booking partner awards within 30 days of departure, affecting popular routes like Lufthansa flights from the US to Europe.
These changes, coupled with the removal of published award charts, make it increasingly difficult for MileagePlus members to get good value from their miles.
United has introduced a new last-minute booking fee for partner award tickets, with prices increasing by up to 9% if booked within 30 days of departure.
The fee applies to all partner airline redemptions, including Lufthansa and ANA, which were already hit hard by previous United devaluations of first and business class awards.
Booking an award ticket on Lufthansa from Chicago to Frankfurt within 30 days now costs 36,000 miles, versus 33,000 miles if booked earlier, a 9% increase.
Short-haul economy awards within Europe have also increased, with prices now ranging from 30,000 to 33,000 miles one-way, up from previous levels.
Business class awards to many parts of Asia now start at 49,500 miles one-way, a significant jump from prior redemption rates.
United no longer publishes award charts, making it difficult for members to track and anticipate these types of devaluations.
The increased costs do not reflect any additional costs incurred by United, leading some to accuse the airline of pure profiteering.
This is the third partner award devaluation by United in less than a year, disappointing many MileagePlus members who have seen the value of their miles steadily erode.
United MileagePlus Devalues Partner First Class Awards Severely - Lufthansa, ANA Redemptions Hit Hardest - Intra-Europe Business Class Redemptions Spike in Price
United Airlines has significantly increased the cost of business class redemptions for flights within Europe, with the price now ranging from 30,000 to 49,500 miles one-way, a substantial jump from the previous 27,500 miles.
This devaluation affects short-haul and longer intra-Europe business class flights, making it more costly for MileagePlus members to redeem their miles for these premium cabin awards.
Additionally, the price of business class redemptions across Asia has also spiked, with some routes seeing a 200% increase in the required miles.
The price of intra-Europe business class redemptions on United MileagePlus has spiked significantly, with the cost of a one-way flight within Europe now ranging from 30,000 to 33,000 miles, up from the previous 27,500 miles.
Longer intra-Europe business class redemptions have seen an even more substantial increase, with the cost now starting at 49,500 miles, a substantial jump from the previous 25,000 miles.
The price hike for intra-Asia business class redemptions on United MileagePlus is equally dramatic, with some routes now costing up to 49,500 miles one-way, a 200% increase from prior levels.
United MileagePlus has also introduced a last-minute booking fee for partner airline redemptions, with prices increasing by up to 9% if booked within 30 days of departure.
The removal of United's published award charts has made it increasingly challenging for members to anticipate and plan for these types of significant devaluations.
Experts suggest that these changes are not driven by increased costs but rather by United's efforts to optimize their program and maintain the perceived value of their miles.
The impact of these devaluations is particularly felt by frequent flyers who have come to rely on the value of their United MileagePlus miles for premium cabin redemptions.
Industry analysts argue that United's lack of transparency in their award pricing makes it difficult for members to make informed decisions and plan their travel accordingly.
The latest round of devaluations follows a series of similar changes to United's partner first class awards, including significant increases in the cost of Lufthansa and ANA redemptions.
United MileagePlus Devalues Partner First Class Awards Severely - Lufthansa, ANA Redemptions Hit Hardest - United MileagePlus Overhauls Award Travel Pricing Structure
United MileagePlus has made sweeping changes to its award travel pricing, significantly increasing the cost of partner first and business class redemptions.
The devaluations impact popular routes like Lufthansa flights to Europe and ANA flights to Japan, with some award prices more than doubling.
These changes, coupled with the removal of published award charts, make it increasingly challenging for MileagePlus members to extract value from their miles.
The cost of a one-way Lufthansa first class award from the US to Europe has increased by over 25%, from 121,000 miles to 154,000 miles.
ANA first class awards between the US and Japan have seen an even more drastic increase, doubling in price from 121,000 miles to 242,000 miles.
United has also increased the cost of partner business class awards, with the price of a one-way flight from the US to Europe rising from 70,000 miles to 43,900 miles.
One-way business class awards to many parts of Asia now start at 49,500 miles, a significant jump from previous rates.
Intra-Europe business class redemptions have spiked in price, with the cost of a one-way flight within Europe now ranging from 30,000 to 33,000 miles, up from the previous 27,500 miles.
United has introduced a last-minute booking fee for partner award tickets, with prices increasing by up to 9% if booked within 30 days of departure.
The removal of United's published award charts has made it increasingly difficult for members to anticipate and plan for these devaluations.
Experts suggest that these changes are not driven by increased costs but rather by United's efforts to optimize their program and maintain the perceived value of their miles.
The impact of these devaluations is particularly felt by frequent flyers who have come to rely on the value of their United MileagePlus miles for premium cabin redemptions.
Industry analysts argue that United's lack of transparency in their award pricing makes it difficult for members to make informed decisions and plan their travel accordingly.
United MileagePlus Devalues Partner First Class Awards Severely - Lufthansa, ANA Redemptions Hit Hardest - Maximizing Value from Remaining Sweet Spots
With United MileagePlus severely devaluing partner first class awards, especially for popular routes on Lufthansa and ANA, travelers will need to carefully evaluate the remaining sweet spots to maximize value from their miles.
United MileagePlus has significantly increased the cost of redeeming miles for Lufthansa first class awards between the US and Europe, with a one-way flight now costing 154,000 miles, up from 121,000 miles previously - a 28% increase.
The cost of redeeming miles for ANA first class awards between the US and Japan has more than doubled, jumping from 121,000 miles to 242,000 miles for a one-way flight.
United has also devalued partner business class awards, with the cost of a one-way flight from the US to North Asia rising from 88,000 to 110,000 miles.
Intra-Europe business class redemptions on United MileagePlus have seen a substantial price hike, with the cost of a one-way flight now ranging from 30,000 to 33,000 miles, up from the previous 27,500 miles.
The price of business class redemptions across Asia has also spiked, with some routes seeing a 200% increase in the required miles.
United has introduced a last-minute booking fee for partner award tickets, with prices increasing by up to 9% if booked within 30 days of departure.
Lufthansa first class awards on MileagePlus can only be booked within a few days of departure, further limiting the availability of these premium redemptions.
United's removal of published award charts has made it increasingly difficult for members to anticipate and plan for these significant devaluations.
The impact of these devaluations is particularly felt by frequent flyers who have come to rely on the value of their United MileagePlus miles for premium cabin redemptions.
Industry analysts argue that United's lack of transparency in their award pricing makes it difficult for members to make informed decisions and plan their travel accordingly.
These changes are not driven by increased costs but rather by United's efforts to optimize their program and maintain the perceived value of their miles, according to experts.