United Airlines announced changes to its MileagePlus loyalty program that will take effect on April 2, 2026. Primary MileagePlus cardholders will earn up to twice the miles per dollar on United flights and receive a minimum 10% discount on award tickets, with higher discounts for Premier members.
The new structure reduces mileage accrual for non‑cardholders: members without a United co‑branded card will earn fewer miles on all flights and will no longer earn miles on basic‑economy fares. The program now requires a United card to earn miles on basic‑economy, reserving the most generous rewards for cardholders while still allowing cardholders and Premier members to earn miles on these fares at a reduced rate compared to previous policies.
United’s strategy behind the changes is to increase co‑brand card usage, deepen loyalty among its most engaged customers, and generate higher revenue from the card program while managing the cost of mileage liability for non‑cardholders. The announcement aligns with United’s “United Next” growth plan, which emphasizes customer experience and loyalty as key competitive pillars.
While the changes are expected to boost revenue from co‑brand card remuneration, they may create dissatisfaction among non‑cardholder members—particularly those who fly basic‑economy—and could affect United’s customer sentiment outside the U.S. where the co‑branded card is not available. The shift reflects a broader industry trend in which airlines reward cardholders more heavily to drive credit‑card acquisition and spend.
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