Over at Milepoint, UA Insider has posted an update to the Mileage Plus Programme from 2012
Lets look at the beef of it and break it down into simple stuff:
Elite Qualification
This has two big changes, the first is is a minimum of Four Segments must be flown on United/Continental or Copa metal.
In addition a new qualification level has been introduced
- Premier Silver: 25K PQM or 30 PQS
- Premier Gold: 50K PQM or 60 PQS
- Premier Platinum: 75K PQM or 90 PQS
- Premier 1K: 100K PQM or 120 PQS
- Global Services: Invitation only
(Note: PQM = Premier Qualifying Mile, PQS = Premier Qualifying Segment)
The idea of introducing a revenue based programme has thankfully been thrown out.
Changes to Bonuses:
Premier bonuses:
- Premier Silver: 25% bonus miles (no change)
- Premier Gold: 50% bonus miles
- Premier Platinum: 75% bonus miles
- Premier 1K and Global Services: 100% bonus miles (no change)
Fare Class bonuses for United/Continental:
- Full-fare Economy Class (Y/B) fares: +25% bonus miles
- Discounted Business Class (Z/P) fares: +50% bonus miles
- Full-fare Business Class (J/C/D) fares: +75% bonus miles
- 2-Cabin First Class (F/A) fares: +75% bonus miles
- 3-Cabin First Class (F/A) fares: +150% bonus miles
Well that’s going to hurt some people who fly domestic expecting mega bonuses. Even International is going hurt on those bonuses.
Complimentry Upgrade Zones Change
Yup, they’re playing with zones.
New CPU geography for United, Continental and Copa.Our rationale for offering CPUs (UDU or EUA in the old speak)will almost entirely be based on how the premium cabin of the flight is marketed. Simply put – markets where the premium product is predominantly our domestic standard will be eligible for CPUs, and all others will not. Based on our current network, this is how our CPU program shakes out geographically:
- Mainland U.S. (except p.s. markets JFK-LAX/SFO), Alaska and Canada
- Hawaii (California to/from Hawaii, plus any other market operating with a domestic premium product, such as Chicago-Honolulu)
- Mexico/Caribbean/Central America
- Northern South America (except New York-Lima)
- Southern South America (Copa flights only)
- Asia/Oceania (except transpacific, Honolulu-Guam, Tokyo-Singapore/Bangkok nonstops)
RPU (What were CR-1’s)s will be eligible in these same markets plus our p.s. and all Mainland U.S.-Hawaii markets.
No surprising again, and a bit more controlled.
Full Fare Economy Upgrades
Premier members traveling on certain full-fare Economy Class fares will be eligible for an instant upgrade as early as ticketing. Specifically, all premier members will be eligible for instant upgrades from Y and B fares, and Premier 1K members will additionally enjoy instant upgrades from M class fares. Y fares will instantly upgrade using last-seat availability. B and M fares will have expanded upgrade availability, but it won’t always be down to the last seat.
Again, controlling the stock up upgrades, but unless you;re a Premier Elite, and payout out cash, don’t expect an instant upgrade.
The Silver Slapdown
It seems there has to be a major hit, and it’s at United’s lower levels that is getting hit hard.
Baggage changes for Premier Silver. The complimentary baggage allowance for Premier Silver and Star Alliance Silver members will be reduced to 1 complimentary checked bag weighing up to 50 lbs.
That’s a big ouch no matter how you dress it up. If you’re lugging crap over the pond and you need two bags, it’s going to get an awful lot more expensive.
Economy Plus access at check-in for Premier Silver, improved access for all other levels. To ensure we have better seating options for our top premier levels, advance complimentary access to Economy Plus will be limited to Premier Gold members and higher plus one companion (Premier Platinums and above may have up to 8 companions). Premier Silvers and one companion will continue to enjoy complimentary space-available access to Economy Plus starting at 24 hours before departure.
Another ouch for Premier Silvers as one of the main benefits has gone bang. If you want to guarantee E+ at booking, you’ll need to be Premier Gold – or pony up.
Changes to Complimentary Upgrade Taking effect and order too.
New CPU clearance windows. CPUs will begin processing automatically starting at 120 hours for Global Services, 96 hours for Premier 1K, 72 hours for Premier Platinum, 48 hours for Premier Gold and on the day of departure for Premier Silver.
New CPU hierarchy.Our CPU/airport standby upgrade hierarchy will be as follows:
- Global Services
- Y/B/M instant upgrades that weren’t confirmed in advance (sorted by fare class then premier tier)
- Paid upgrades (i.e. GPUs, RPUs and mileage upgrades) sorted by status, fare class, and date of waitlist
- All remaining premier customers by status, then fare class
Basiclally, if you’re a Silver, forget it. Golds and above stand a fighting chance, but don’t bet on it.
Lifetime status
If you’re a heavy hitter travelling the odd few million miles, this will affect you as United formalises it’s Million Miller and Beyond. These take effect in Spring 2012.
- Continental and United lifetime earnings will be combined. You all guessed that much, but the key will be how we do it. Continental’s lifetime earnings have been EQM-based, and United’s have been based on actual flight miles. Starting in 2012, the program will be based on actual flight miles, however, we will make a one-time adjustment on the United side to boost everyone’s lifetime earnings to EQMs dating back to the beginning of the program
- Lifetime premier benefits for 1 million miles = Premier Gold, 2 million = Premier Platinum, 3 million = Premier 1K, 4 million = Global Services
- Million milers will be able to designate a spouse or significant other to always have the same premier tier as them (this includes when the million miler member earns a higher tier). The spousal premier benefits will be identical as the member, except they will not include RPUs and GPUs. This spousal benefit will replace the one-time and annual upgrade gifts, and hopefully you’ll agree this is a better deal
- Continental’s Infinite Elite members (the limited few of you that earned this back in the early 90’s) will be grandfathered in and given lifetime Premier 1K status, but without the GPUs. We hope you’ll agree this is a generous resolution
Whilst not great for some, it doesn’t seem that bad. For those of you flying the new United, this is Something to shoot for. But you’ll note it’s on actual flights – not shopping miles, not bonus, actual bum in seat flight miles.
There’s more over at the milepoint forum, and no doubt on the United Forum at FlyerTalk, but there are some reasonable changes in here. Not all good (especially if you’re a Silver, then it’s awful news to be honest), but it’ll give those silvers something to shoot for.
