United pulls its Star Alliance partner award chart as it transitions to dynamic pricing
United's been busy making adjustments to its MileagePlus loyalty program.
It started with great news when the carrier announced that it was extending all currently valid Premier status until Jan. 31, 2022. Additionally, UA lowered the Premier qualifying thresholds for the rest of the year and removed award change and redeposit fees for modifications made 30 or more days before departure.
And that's when the good news stopped.
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Last night, we were the first to report that the carrier will be capping how many Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) you can earn through Star Alliance partner tickets. This will make it much harder to earn status with the airline going forward.
And now, just a day later, the Chicago based carrier is making some negative changes to how you redeem your miles. Specifically, the carrier is removing its Star Alliance partner award chart in a move that will usher in dynamic pricing for all award tickets.
Related: United Airlines makes it harder to qualify for status with partner flights
On Nov. 15, 2019, United started pricing awards for flights on its own metal dynamically, and it's now setting the stage to do the same for flights operated by its partner airlines.
As of today, the Star Alliance award chart is extinct — it's already removed from the carrier's website. There was no advance warning like there was when United made the same move for its own flights.
By removing the award charts, there's no telling how much an award will cost. United can change the price as it sees fit, and you'll have no idea if you're getting a good deal.
For the moment, the few partner awards we checked are still pricing at the lowest "saver" level from the now-extinct award charts. But it's anyone's guess when we'll start seeing the dynamic pricing applied to Star Alliance award tickets. Since these changes go into effect immediately, I'd make any speculative bookings you were considering now.
In explaining these changes, a United spokesperson offered the following statement to TPG:
"We announced in April of last year that all award pricing will be dynamic beginning November 2019. This change is consistent with other major carriers and allows us to align information regarding all MileagePlus award flights, whether it is for travel on United or one of our partner airlines."
Back when United announced that it was removing award charts for its own flights, we asked what does it mean for partner awards. At the time, the airline told TPG that they are, “looking more broadly at what best and the most effective way to move forward there." Clearly, they've decided that's what's "best" is to remove all award charts to "better align" the program.
Related: The day has arrived: United award charts are no more
Aside from the devastating news itself, the airline couldn't have chosen a worse time to make these changes. For one, it's not providing any advance notice. Devaluations are never a good thing, but I don't mind them as much when there's ample notice. And secondly, as airlines look to recover from the coronavirus, they're going to need to do whatever they can to get passengers back on their planes.
Since United's bleeding cash, I'd expect them to make their loyalty program more rewarding during this crisis, not less. After all, loyalty programs are large and important revenue streams for airlines.
But alas, here we are. Rest in peace, United's partner award charts.
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| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels. |
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Why We Chose It
Build your loyalty to Delta by applying for the carrier's mid-tier card option, the Delta SkyMiles Platinum card. The annual fee is quickly recouped by the card's travel perks, such as an application credit to Global Entry or TSA Precheck, annual companion certificate and so much more. Plus you can fast-track to elite status simply through card spend.Pros
- Earn bonus Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) and an Medallion Qualifying Dollar (MQD) waiver when you hit specific spending thresholds with your card within a calendar year
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year
- Statement credit for TSA PreCheck/Global Entry fee (up to $100)
- First checked bag free
Cons
- Doesn't make sense if you don't fly Delta
- SkyMiles aren't the most valuable airline currency
- Earn 90,000 bonus miles after you spend $4,000 in purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months.
- Receive a Domestic Main Cabin round-trip companion certificate each year upon renewal of your Card. Payment of the government imposed taxes and fees of no more than $80 for roundtrip domestic flights (for itineraries with up to four flight segments) is required. Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. See terms and conditions for details.
- Enjoy your first checked bag free on Delta flights. Plus enjoy Main Cabin 1 Priority Boarding and settle into your seat sooner.
- New: Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and purchases made directly with hotels.
- Earn 2X Miles at restaurants worldwide including takeout and delivery in the U.S., and at U.S. supermarkets.
- Earn 1X Mile on all other eligible purchases.
- Enjoy a per-visit rate of $50 per person for Card Members and up to two guests to enter the Delta Sky Club when traveling on a Delta flight.
- Fee Credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck® after you apply through any Authorized Enrollment Provider. If approved for Global Entry, at no additional charge, you will receive access to TSA PreCheck.
- Earn up to 20,000 Medallion® Qualification Miles (MQMs) with Status Boost® per year. After you spend $25,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year, you can earn 10,000 MQMs up to two times per year, getting you closer to Medallion® Status. MQMs are used to determine Medallion® Status and are different than miles you earn toward flights.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- $250 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees