Another devaluation in the world of points: United cuts the value of miles effective immediately
The devaluation season seems to have begun, in some ways this was to be expected since in the past 12 months [...]
United Airlines
Star Alliance
It seems the season of the devaluations, in some ways this was to be expected since cash ticket prices have risen dramatically in the past 12 months.
In this article:
It was therefore inevitable that inflation would also affect point payments. Add to this the fact that in recent years, especially in the U.S. where points are a currency equal to the dollar, it has rained bonus after bonus it was only a matter of time and now we will see who will be next.
The latest write-downs
In recent months we have seen several moves by airlines. Emirates raised the cost of award tickets to the end of 2022. Just in the past few days has come that of Finnair, which has not only raised the fees and surcharges of its award tickets, but has also Raised costs for award tickets and upgrades with points. Singapore Airlines had done something similar in early 2022, just as the travel world was about to reignite its engines.
The devaluation of United
Among the latest devaluations today's is the one that Only marginally affects Italian reward travelers. United Is not among the Membership Rewards partner companies in Italy nor is it a "popular" carrier among Italian frequent flyers. Certainly with the likely sale of ITA Airways to Lufthansa and the entry of the Flying in the Star Alliance things were bound to change.
Unlike Finnair, which was kind enough to give a month's notice, United's MileagePlus members woke up this morning to a cold shower. Devaluation arrived overnight without any warning.
According to early reports made by American bloggers, for example. Ben Schlappig of OMAAT, we are talking about an average depreciation greater than 30%.
Award tickets both United and those booked on partner airlines have increased, here even touching 50% increase.
Some examples
- Redeeming an award ticket in Economy, between EU and Europe, in the old saver fares increased from 30,000 to 40,000 miles each way
- Redeeming the same route in United business class has increased from the old 60,000 miles to 80,000 miles each way
- Speaking of award tickets with partners detach a SWISS business class ticket regularly goes from 73,000 to 75,000 miles each way now up to 97,100 miles or more
- Flying economy or business class with Lufthansa, Turkish, TAP Air Portugal and other Star Alliance partners now also requires the 33% in more miles
Lufthansa's first class has not increased
It is not exactly the same as sleeping in first class
The only award ticket with partners that would appear not to have increased Is the most exclusive and difficult to book, Lufthansa's First Class. 121,000 United MileagePlus miles are needed to detach this ticket. each way, a lot but still a few compared to now being asked for the same route in simple (and not even nice) business class with the same carrier.
In conclusion
At the moment my flagship program in the Star Alliance world is Singapore Airlines' Krisflyer. The motivations are the partnership with Amex, although here there has been a devaluation in conversions from MR to KF points, however, I was waiting for ITA's transit in SA to decide whether to continue with Singapore or go for other programs such as Air Canada's Aeroplan, which remains one of the best in the North American landscape.
