United Gives MileagePlus Credit Cardholders More Miles, Exclusive Flight Discounts
Rhea-AI Summary
United Airlines (UAL) is changing MileagePlus rewards effective April 2, 2026: primary United cardholders earn up to 2x or more miles per dollar on United flights, receive at least 10% off award tickets (Premier cardholders get ≥15%), and gain expanded access to Saver Award inventory in Polaris business class.
Examples: 1K members can earn 17 miles/$ with United Club card; Polaris Saver Awards can drop to 72,000 miles (general cardholders) or 68,000 miles (Premier cardholders).
Positive
- Primary cardholders earn up to 17 miles per dollar (example: 1K with United Club)
- At least 10% award ticket discount for cardholders; 15% for Premier cardholders
- Expanded access to Polaris Saver Awards with prices as low as 72,000 or 68,000 miles
- Examples show cardholders can earn 3–4× more miles than non-cardholders
Negative
- General MileagePlus members must hold a United card to earn miles on Basic Economy tickets
- Non-cardholders will earn materially fewer miles on United flights versus cardholders
Market Reaction
Following this news, UAL has declined 5.24%, reflecting a notable negative market reaction. Our momentum scanner has triggered 43 alerts so far, indicating elevated trading interest and price volatility. The stock is currently trading at $110.80. This price movement has removed approximately $1.98B from the company's valuation.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus (15 min delayed). Upgrade to Silver for real-time data.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
UAL gained 2.55% with strong volume while key peers were mixed to positive (e.g., DAL +2.79%, LUV +2.09%, AAL +0.50%, ALK -0.29%, CPA +1.22%), pointing to a company-specific driver rather than a unified sector move.
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 10 | Loyalty partnership | Positive | +0.1% | Expanded Blue Sky collaboration enabling cross-selling of itineraries and loyalty usage. |
| Feb 05 | Conference appearance | Neutral | -3.1% | Barclays conference presentation on business trends and outlook by the CFO. |
| Feb 02 | Product upgrade | Positive | +4.9% | Starlink Wi‑Fi rollout to 300+ regional aircraft and Super Bowl ad push. |
| Jan 27 | Capacity expansion | Positive | -3.5% | Record 750 daily ORD flights and expanded summer network and staffing. |
| Jan 20 | Earnings beat | Positive | -4.3% | Q4 and full-year EPS and revenue beats with record <b>$59.1B</b> revenue. |
Recent history shows several instances where positive operational or financial news was followed by negative price reactions, suggesting a tendency for profit-taking or skepticism on good news.
Over the past month, United announced record 2025 results with full-year diluted EPS of $10.20 and revenue of $59.1B, plus strategic growth like a record 750 daily ORD flights and fleet/Wi‑Fi upgrades. It also expanded its Blue Sky collaboration with JetBlue. Despite generally positive fundamentals, several upbeat updates saw negative next-day moves. Today’s MileagePlus card enhancements extend that loyalty focus, building on the program’s central role highlighted in the recent 10-K.
Market Pulse Summary
The stock is down -5.2% following this news. A negative reaction despite richer MileagePlus rewards would fit a pattern where upbeat United announcements sometimes preceded selling, as seen after record $59.1B revenue and capacity growth updates. The expanded earn rates and 10–15% award discounts increase loyalty value but may raise questions about program economics. Historically, the stock has occasionally pulled back as the market digested similar positive developments.
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
MileagePlus members with a credit, debit or Chase co-branded card can soon earn up to twice as many miles for United flights as non-cardholders, get at least
United now offers its most loyal members who have a United card some of the richest rewards among airline or travel credit card programs
Starting with tickets purchased on or after April 2, primary United MileagePlus cardholders will earn up to twice as many miles per dollar from United for United flights than non-cardholders and earn even more miles when they use their United card to buy their ticket.* For example, MileagePlus® 1K® members will earn 17 total miles per dollar when buying eligible United flights with their United Club℠ card - which is among the most of any airline or credit card travel rewards program. United cardholders also get at least
United is also giving general MileagePlus members who have a United credit or debit card access to Saver Award inventory in United Polaris® Business Class that was previously only available to Platinum and 1K members. And when paired with the new award discounts for cardholders, United Polaris Saver Award seats will be priced as low as 72,000 miles (
"The most rewarding way to fly United is as a MileagePlus member, and the best way to get the most value from the MileagePlus program is to have one of our credit or debit cards. MileagePlus is designed to reward loyalty to United, and our best customers deserve the best benefits in the industry," said Andrew Nocella, United's Chief Commercial Officer. "MileagePlus members can now earn more miles faster with a United card – and every one of those miles will go further with our always-on award ticket discounts and expanded access to Saver Award fares."
Three New Reasons to get and use a United MileagePlus debit or credit card
- Earn more miles: United is recalibrating how MileagePlus members earn miles to better reward the airline's most loyal members. MileagePlus primary cardholders will earn more miles on standard United tickets – and get additional miles when they pay for their flight with an eligible United card.
For example, a MileagePlus Gold member buying a ticket using their United Quest℠ card will now earn 13 total miles per dollar – a more than double the miles earn compared to MileagePlus Gold members who do not hold a card. General United MileagePlus members who buy a ticket using a United℠ Explorer card will earn 9 total miles per dollar – three times as many miles compared to General non-cardholders – and if they use a United Club card, they'll earn 11 total miles per dollar – nearly four times as many miles as a non-cardholder.
MileagePlus members who don't have a United card will earn fewer miles for United flights than members who have one, and general members now must hold a United card to earn miles when traveling on a Basic Economy ticket.
Customers can go to united.com/mpnews to see details of the new mileage accrual rates and use the United mile calculator to see how many miles they can earn on their future flights based on status – and how many more miles they could earn by being a United cardholder. - Discounts on every award flight: United cardholders now save at least
10% on every United award flight they book – and Premier® members with a United card will save at least15% . Primary cardholders can see their savings called out on United's app and website, and soon United will show the discounted prices to everyone so customers can see exactly how much having a United card could save them on their travel.
For example, an award in United Economy® priced at 15,000 miles will now cost 13,500 miles –10% less – for primary cardholders without Premier status. A United Polaris business class seat priced at 200,000 miles will now cost 170,000 miles –15% less – for primary cardholders with Premier status. - Expanded Saver Awards: United offers additional inventory of Saver Award seats in United Polaris business class as a special way to recognize cardholders.
Saver Awards are United's lowest priced award tickets, and currently about a third of flights that have Saver Award fares available, have exclusive inventory just for cardholders and Premier members. This includes flights to places likeLondon ,Hawaii ,Florida ,Cancun andTokyo . Saver Award seats in United Polaris business class available to cardholders and Premier members currently are priced as low as 80,000 miles – with new award discounts for cardholders, these seats will now price as low as 72,000 miles (10% less) for cardholders with General status, or as low as 68,000 miles (15% less) for cardholders with Premier status.
On average, cardholders save about30% when booking Saver Award flights under the 'Cardmembers Save' banner on united.com and the United app compared to standard award pricing. With expanded Saver Award access and the new award discount, cardholders will have the opportunity to combine these savings and will consistently need fewer miles to book the same trips, while also having access to more Saver Award fares.
United's Card Portfolio
Cardholders can take advantage of earning even more miles and the new discounts with eligible cards including The United Explorer Card, The United Quest Card, The United Club Card, The United℠ Business Card, The United Club Business Card, The United Gateway℠ Card and The MileagePlus® Debit Rewards Card. United also offers eligible cards in
Benefits of United MileagePlus
MileagePlus is free to join and was recently rated one of the best airline travel rewards programs.** It offers program members benefits including miles that never expire, no blackout dates, ticket purchasing with miles or a combination of miles and cash, no change fees on flight award tickets, miles pooling allowing travelers to combine their miles in a joint account, the ability to use miles through the Blue Sky loyalty collaboration and more. As United flies to more than 380 destinations around the globe, MileagePlus helps make it easier for travelers to reach their dream destinations and cardholders unlock the most value when flying United.
For more information, visit united.com/mpnews.
* Eligible cards can be found at: united.com/en/us/fly/mileageplus/whats-new.html
** 9 Best Airline Rewards Programs for 2025-2026 |
About United
At United, Good Leads The Way. With
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SOURCE United Airlines
FAQ
When do United's new MileagePlus card benefits for UAL take effect?
How many miles per dollar will UAL MileagePlus 1K members earn with a United Club card?
What award ticket discounts do United cardholders (UAL) receive?
How will Polaris Saver Award pricing change for United cardholders?
Which United cards (UAL) qualify for the new mileage and award discounts?
