United Airways’ MileagePlus program has quietly elevated the mileage worth for a lot of last-minute saver awards. As first reported by View from the Wing, close-in financial system awards that have been beforehand priced at 15,000 miles at the moment are 20,000 miles one-way, representing a 33% improve.
The change seems to hit itineraries booked inside about two weeks of departure; pricing past that window usually seems extra typical.
TPG’s exams of well-liked short-haul United-operated home flights have discovered costs elevated by greater than 50% on some routes. Did United merely increase award costs for last-minute vacation vacationers, or will this worth be the brand new regular in 2026?
Here is what you want to know concerning the improve and how one can nonetheless guide last-minute flights on United for fewer factors and miles.
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United MileagePlus will increase last-minute award costs
United MileagePlus costs awards operated by United dynamically, so there isn’t a assure as to what worth you’ll pay from someday to the subsequent, though last-minute awards on the shortest home routes may sometimes be discovered for six,000 miles every means.
When looking for last-minute award flights from Los Angeles Worldwide Airport (LAX) to San Francisco Worldwide Airport (SFO), TPG discovered that one-way financial system flights now price no less than 13,900 miles. However after concerning the two-week window, the worth drops sharply by greater than 50%, costing simply 6,000 miles (on most days).
Within the Northeast, there are larger charges from Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport (EWR) to Dulles Worldwide Airport (IAD) close to Washington, D.C., over the subsequent 14 days earlier than most flights drop in worth to only 6,800 miles.
And from Denver Worldwide Airport (DEN) to Austin-Bergstrom Worldwide Airport (AUS), costs have risen to twenty,000 miles one-way for the subsequent 13 days (not 14), after which they lower again to fifteen,000 miles or decrease.
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In TPG’s testing, long-haul routes usually are not affected by last-minute award pricing will increase.
TPG reached out to United Airways for remark.
Are there cheaper methods of reserving last-minute United awards?
You can even guide United awards by way of Air Canada’s Aeroplan program, a Star Alliance companion of United. Whereas Aeroplan now costs United-operated flights dynamically (and will not have entry to as many United-operated seats as United MileagePlus has), on the identical routes above, we’ve got discovered the next decrease charges by way of Aeroplan for United flights departing throughout the subsequent 13 days:
- EWR to IAD: 10,000 Aeroplan factors plus $33
- LAX to SFO: 10,000 Aeroplan factors plus $33
- DEN to AUS: 15,000 Aeroplan factors plus $33
Word that Aeroplan provides a 39 Canadian greenback (roughly $30) companion reserving charge to United awards.
In case you are seeking to guide short-haul United flights departing throughout the subsequent 14 days and have transferable bank card factors and miles, think about redeeming them by way of Aeroplan as an alternative. As all the time, verify availability on the Aeroplan web site earlier than transferring, as these transfers can’t be reversed.
Backside line
This unannounced improve is a disappointing devaluation of the United MileagePlus program, because it was a good way to seek out worth in last-minute awards for emergency conditions, resembling touring for a household emergency or funeral.
The change continues a yr of quite a few detrimental United MileagePlus modifications, together with the top of the precious Excursionist Perk.
This can be a reminder that it is a good technique to earn transferable factors and miles to guard your self from surprising program pricing will increase.
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