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Comments (5)
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Save/ShareUnited Airlines announced today how it will blend its frequent flier program with merger partner Continental's. United will start the combined MileagePlus program early next year. But its changes to the program are bad news for some budget-conscious fliers used to Continental's more generous terms.
The biggest change will affect members of Continental's OnePass program: Miles in the combined program will expire after a year and a half. (Continental never deleted miles after a certain date.)
United has also hiked its fee for using miles to upgrade to a better seat.
The first tier of status that budget travelers can aspire to will be Premier Silver, which can be reached after flying at least 25,000 miles over at least four flights on Continental, United or Panama's Copa Airlines. This status brings members some perks: one free checked bag. They can also gain free access to a program where they can apply to pass background checks and have accelerated passage through U.S. customs—not security—lines.
Bad news: If you only fly about 25,000 miles a year and only have Premier status, you only get first dibs on upgrades to an Economy Plus seat 24 hours in advance of departure. In the past on United or Continental, you could have access to larger seats at booking and your chances of getting an automatic upgrade were good. Now, economy-class fliers who are choosing between flying on United or another airline don't have the high likelihood of getting an automatic seat upgrade to lure them to pick United.
On the down side, there will be fewer flights on which to cash in miles for free tickets. United announced it expected to stop flying as much, with about two out of every 100 flights scheduled today in the U.S. on the combined airlines being removed by next year, reports the Chicago Tribune.
United will also reward travelers who purchase full-fare coach tickets with a 25 percent mile bonus. This is a change from the old system of one-mile equaling one reward point.
The combined program has 85 million members, reports the Associated Press.
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE CHANGES? POST YOUR THOUGHTS BELOW!
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I think it is really crappy to make miles expire just at the same moment that it is obviously going to be harder to redeem those miles because of two things: fewer fights and having to compete with all the people in both United and Contintental's rewards program for a reward seat.
I have had miles for years on Delta without being able to use them on a consistent basis. I think they are going to piss people off with this. Continental had the best rewards program in my opinion. You got rewarded without trying. That is a reward program that has value to me. For example, the automatic upgrades, the priority checked bag tag and being able to actually get a reward flight to Paris in June on less than two weeks notice. I will miss Continental.
If there is no benefit to medallion status, what is the point of being loyal. I don't live in a hub so I can choose virtually any airline that flies to where I am going. There is no dominant provider in New Orleans.
Posted By MsAnnaNOLA on September 22, 2011, 1:57 PM
I am saddened that Continental miles will lapse in such a short time. I have always been a loyal customer. I do no longer feel such a loyalty. I feel that something I looked forward to has been taken away. I wish them well. I am sorry they had a need to do this EDYTHE CARTER(frequent flier up to now)
Posted By edythe carter on September 27, 2011, 3:17 PM
I will miss Continental. Their products and branding are for more superior than United.
Posted By gsutiger2 on October 3, 2011, 1:15 PM
Thanks for your comments!
Posted By Sean O' on October 10, 2011, 9:08 AM
It's a shame but not surprising that Continental is downgrading it's rewards program rather that United upgrading theirs. I have used most of the miles I had on Continental (only about 25,000 left. I will try to use them on a short flight I will be taking in March and then only use American Express Pay with Points plan that can be used of many different airlines. Too bad, I liked Continental.
Posted By maxiem514 on January 20, 2012, 1:07 PM