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United's new MileagePlus reality: Cardholders win, others lose ground
Sean Cudahy is an aviation reporter covering news about airlines, frequent flyer programs and consumer travel issues.
February 21, 2026 • 7 min read
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Quick summary
United Airlines is introducing significant changes to its loyalty program, offering more benefits to members who hold one of its cobranded cards.
Starting in April, non-cardholders will earn fewer miles, while cardholders will receive more miles, automatic award pricing discounts and greater access to saver award space.
Those without a card or elite status will earn no miles on the lowest basic economy fares, marking a notable shift in earning potential.
These changes reflect a broader industry trend of airlines incentivizing card ownership to drive loyalty and revenue.
What to consider
Cardholders will receive at least 10% off award flights, with Premier members who also hold a card getting at least 15% off.
Non-cardholders, even those with elite status, will see reduced mileage earning and limited access to discounted award space.
Basic economy flyers without a card or elite status will no longer earn miles on those fares.
What you'll miss from the article
A detailed comparison of how these changes stack up against similar policies at other major U.S. airlines and the broader implications for frequent flyers.
Generated by AI with support from our editorial team.
Anyone who’s sat through an inflight credit card pitch or glanced at an airport billboard knows how heavily airlines have leaned into credit cards.
But one of the largest U.S. airlines just took things to a whole new level.
This week, United Airlines arguably went further than any competitor, so far, in drawing a distinction between customers who carry one of its cards — and those who don’t.
Members who do have a card in their wallet will earn more than they do today.
SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
United is also sweetening the deal for cardholders with automatic award pricing discounts and more access to the airline's cheapest "saver" award space. That means cardholders won’t just earn extra miles — they’ll get access to the best mileage deals when they go to book a flight.
Non-cardholders will not.
United’s rationale?
“We just know that when somebody has a credit card they are more valuable to United,” Jill Doyle, the airline’s managing director of its MileagePlus program, told TPG Friday, explaining the company’s thinking. “It was really just a way for us to double down on that continued evolution of really rewarding the customers that are giving the value to United.”
Airlines offering elite-like perks to customers who carry a credit card is, of course, nothing new.
For years, cards have given frequent flyers a way to earn miles on their everyday spending — while gaining some travel freebies like complimentary bags and lounge access.
And over the last decade, card spending has become almost as integral to earning status as racking up hours in the sky.
But until this week, we hadn’t seen an airline go as far as United in using both proverbial carrot and stick to push travelers to add a card to their wallet.
A United Airlines plane taxis at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS). SEAN CUDAHY/THE POINTS GUY
Come April, it’s not just that you’ll earn more miles and get better deals if you carry a United card — it’s that, if you don’t, you’ll be demonstrably worse off than you are today … even if you already have Premier elite status.
Also, if you don’t have elite status or a card, you’ll now earn zero miles on your flight when you book one of the airline’s cheapest basic economy fares.
Without a doubt, MileagePlus members who would rather not add a United card to their wallet will lose ground with these changes.
And if that's frustrating — "I totally understand the sentiment," Doyle acknowledged
“The reality is the ecosystem has changed over the last several years,” she said, alluding to the myriad of travel credit cards in the marketplace today, which make for a competitive landscape.
“We really are trying to match value with value," Doyle added. "And there is value to our MileagePlus members having a card.”
Another detail that's hard not to notice: United has also carefully constructed its mileage incentives so that members feel the pull to both carry a card and pursue status.
For instance, cobranded cardholders will receive at least 10% off award flights, going forward. Cardholders who are also Premier members will get at least 15% off.
But if you’re someone who already has plenty of other options in your wallet, that’s obviously a calculation you’ll have to make based on your own travel and spending habits.
Zooming out, all of this is the latest reminder of how critical credit card portfolios have become to the airline business model of 2026.
The construct brings in billions of dollars annually across the industry and regularly invites jokes about airlines being de facto banks that fly planes — quips that surely won’t end with United’s recent moves.
Delta made $8 billion last year through its tie-up with American Express, a partnership that’s widely believed to be the industry’s most lucrative.
And in an industry where airlines often emulate one another in making policy changes, one wonders how many carriers will soon follow United’s heavier-handed approach to wooing cardholders.
Bottom line
As for the Chicago-based carrier, these changes came after months of United executives leaving breadcrumbs about a big shakeup in the carrier’s loyalty program, and alluding to new ways it might find to drive more revenue through its existing card partnership with Chase.
Step one, it appears? Nudging more members to click “apply.”
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.
