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United unveils huge MileagePlus shakeup, rewarding cardholders with higher earn rates
Augusta Stone is a credit cards writer for TPG. She joined the TPG team in 2023 and is excited to take points and miles beginners with her on a journey toward maximizing rewards.
February 19, 2026 • 9 min read
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Quick summary
United Airlines is reducing mileage earning rates for travelers without elite status or a cobranded card, while increasing rewards for those who do.
Cardholders and elite members will receive higher mileage accrual and exclusive discounts of at least 10% on award flights, with greater savings for higher status tiers.
Most travelers booking basic economy fares will no longer earn miles unless they have elite status or a cobranded card.
These changes apply to tickets purchased on or after April 2 and represent a significant shift in favor of loyalty and cardholder engagement.
What to consider
Basic economy fares will not earn miles for most travelers unless they hold elite status or a cobranded card.
Cardholders must meet certain spending thresholds to unlock enhanced mileage earning rates, depending on the card type.
Business card earning rates remain unchanged in this update.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed breakdown of new mileage earning rates by status tier and fare type, plus how these changes compare to other major U.S. airlines.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
United Airlines is leaning in to its cobranded credit card holders, while making it tougher for flyers without a United card or status to earn miles.
United on Thursday revealed it’s slashing mileage earning rates across the board for members without status or a United credit (or debit) card in their wallet, while planning to award more miles to customers who do.
The carrier also plans to offer its credit card holders discounts of at least 10% on every award flight, with price cuts of 15% or more for flyers with Premier status.
These changes apply to tickets purchased on or after April 2.
Altogether, it’s one of the most aggressive moves we’ve seen by a U.S. airline to give prime treatment to customers who carry a card or earn status rather than those who don’t.
Here's what you need to know.
More miles and deals for United cardholders, fewer for other flyers
With the upcoming changes, United cardholders could earn up to twice as many miles per dollar spent as non-United cardholders. This is in addition to the miles you'll earn from your specific United card.
So, if you don't have a United card or status with the airline, you’ll see fewer miles hit your account going forward.
Here's a chart breaking down what to expect after April 2 on eligible United flights:
Elite status tier
Current earning rate
New earning rate
New earning rate for cardholders
MileagePlus member
5 miles per dollar
3 miles per dollar
6 miles per dollar
Premier Silver
7 miles per dollar
5 miles per dollar
8 miles per dollar
Premier Gold
8 miles per dollar
6 miles per dollar
9 miles per dollar
Premier Platinum
9 miles per dollar
7 miles per dollar
10 miles per dollar
Premier 1K
11 miles per dollar
9 miles per dollar
12 miles per dollar
A United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 at Denver International Airport (DEN). SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
Cardholders will get additional miles based on their elite status tier when paying with their card:
TPG reached out to United for comment on why business cards didn't see an earnings increase, but did not receive a response by the time of publication.
*Gateway Card unlocks Cardmember earn rate after spending $10,000 on the card within a calendar year.
The information for the United Club Business has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Noncardholders also won’t get access to the best mileage deals — something TPG has already seen happening, increasingly, at the airline.
Here’s how United explained the thinking behind these changes:
“The most rewarding way to fly United is as a MileagePlus member, and the best way to get the most value from the MileagePlus program is to have one of our credit or debit cards,” Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Nocella said in a statement Thursday. “MileagePlus is designed to reward loyalty to United, and our best customers deserve the best benefits in the industry.”
Basic economy restriction
United Airlines customers who book the airline’s basic economy fares will no longer be able to earn miles — unless they have elite status or carry one of the airline’s credit cards.
Beginning in April, the Chicago-based carrier will bar most passengers from earning MileagePlus miles when flying on one of its no-frills fares.
Here's a breakdown of the new earning rates for basic economy, going into effect April 2:
Elite status tier
Current earning rate
New earning rate
New earning rate for cardholders
MileagePlus member
5 miles per dollar
None
3 miles per dollar
Premier Silver
7 miles per dollar
2 miles per dollar
5 miles per dollar
Premier Gold
8 miles per dollar
3 miles per dollar
6 miles per dollar
Premier Platinum
9 miles per dollar
4 miles per dollar
7 miles per dollar
Premier 1K
11 miles per dollar
6 miles per dollar
9 miles per dollar
The economy cabin on a United 737-9. KYLE OLSEN/THE POINTS GUY
Flyers with Premier elite status will continue to earn miles, but at a lower rate than they do currently. So will loyalty members who carry an eligible United credit card.
With respect to basic economy, United already had one of the industry’s strictest policies when it comes to the no-frills fares.
The carrier is now the only U.S. airline that bars most passengers from bringing a full-size carry-on bag on board its planes when flying on one of these tickets — though there are exceptions for (you guessed it) cardholders and Premier status members.
Bottom line
United follows in the footsteps of Delta Air Lines, which has long barred its loyalty members from earning miles on basic economy bookings.
United flyers will continue to earn Premier qualifying points on basic fares, as they do today. But they already don’t earn Premier qualifying flights on those bookings.
By commenting, you agree to our Community Guidelines to help create a positive space for conversation. The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser, our partners, or The Points Guy (“TPG”). They have not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these parties. All responses are submitted by individual contributors, and neither the bank advertiser, our partners, nor TPG are responsible for ensuring that all posts and/or questions are answered.
