ユナイテッド航空のマイレージプラス、2025年のエリート要件が間もなく発表になるはずですが…。
Live and Let's Fly のマシューくんによれば、本質的に大きな変更は無い。という最新情報です。
参照元：
これは… デルタ航空がスカイペソスの要件を高く設定しすぎて会員から非難囂々で阿鼻叫喚、あわててハードルを下げた。…という事態を鑑みているのでしょう。いずれにしても、2024年(暦年)にがんばって飛んで、2025年度の上級ステータスを目指す毒者さんには朗報でしょう。
ただマシューくんも書いていますが、全く変更がないわけではないだろう。…と。
個人的には、1K® 会員と Global ServicesSM 会員をもっと減らして欲しいです。
Thank you for discussing the changes in United Airlines' MileagePlus for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I know about JAL and ANA, there are rarely major changes in their FFPs. However, U.S. airlines seem to often have significant changes, and perhaps more often than not, they're not favorable for their FFP members. This tactic reminds me of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan, which initially sets a relatively high insurance score for new medical procedures, enticing medical institutions to perform the procedure, and then steadily decreasing the score. Still, in this case, United Airlines clearly states that they have no "material" major changes planned for MileagePlus for 2024-2025.
From the referenced URL, Mr. Nocella states that United Airlines continues to offer more premium rewards than American Airlines or Delta Air Lines. Given the backdrop of an inflationary economy and the increase in MileagePlus elite members, this news might be optimistically received by many top-tier members.
While there are no "material changes," it's implied that there might be minor adjustments. As you mentioned in your personal opinion, this could even involve a reduction in the number of 1K® and Global ServicesSM members.
It's noted that Delta Air Lines received a lot of criticism for making the requirements for their SkyMiles program more stringent. It's speculated that United Airlines might be considering this backlash in their approach, and this speculation might indeed be accurate.
It seems that United Airlines' strategy is crafted considering customer needs, market situations, and the movements of their competitors. Furthermore, it provides a glimpse into how United Airlines ensures loyalty, especially from valued customers like you, so that they continue to use the airline frequently and don't shift their allegiance to competitors.
Yamada Denki sensei,
DeleteJapanese air carriers already have much stricter schemes for their elite members and backdoors are closed as well. And the largest disadvantage for me is “Fuel Surcharges” a.k.a. ガソリン代. US carriers don’t apply those unexpected and unwanted fees, so far.
The requirements in this year, for the elite statuses in 2024, are already high enough for most of MP members… so the number of 1K must be shrunk but I’m not sure how much it will be. Currently, when I preboard at Frankfurt as 1K member, there is almost 100-yard long line – over 20 members. Prior to that, 5-10 GS members were already boarded.
Just for better preboarding, the possible options are either join the military deeper and become an active officer after killing some, or simply damage more physically to be certified as disabled. (…can’t laugh)
Tomorrow I’ll post an article regarding Delta’s new million miler program but during my research, I saw the modified webpage of SkyPesos Elite requirements for 2025. That page starts with “THANK YOU FOR YOUR FEEDBACK.” Delta is good and transparent, listning their customers’ opinions, at least. They understood the hurdles they set were too high and SkyPesos members are so uncomfortable and upset about it. If this were United, they wouldn’t listen. (LoL)
But please stay tuned. Delta is surprisingly adjusting their schemes to United’s ones…
I had a vague feeling that Japanese air carriers had already implemented strict schemes for their elite members. Moreover, I was aware that "backdoor entries" like achieving Diamond Medallion for life by relentlessly using the Delta AmEx card, as you elaborate in your next article, had been closed off. If such "backdoor entries" were still possible, I'm sure by now, with settlements through the Japanese AmEx Centurion, we would have had access to the JAL Global Club or the ANA Super Flyers Card.
ReplyDeleteI had also heard that Japanese airlines were imposing "fuel surcharges." However, I was under the impression that American airlines were also applying such undesirable fees. As you pointed out, this feels quite unfair.
Yamada Denki sensei,
DeleteThe SFC by All Nippon was fancy to me about a decade ago and I asked Mr. Y of ANA SF office who is in charge of treating Sega of America. He offered me a status match but what ANA could offer was Platinum elite membership for UA 1K®. That was disappointing, then furthermore, I asked the possibility to issue Super Flyers Card after became a Platinum member. Then the answer was negative. I had to keep ANA platinum at least a year after the conversion to apply SFC which is not interested at all. I don’t know the current rules at ANA but it was very strict for thrifty flyers – 50% to 80% of redeemable miles can be earn if I fly by Booking class Q or lower, even the booking class D business class was not fully sufficient to earn 150% miles… thus I immediately gave up to sell my soul to All Nippon.
And yes, ガソリン代 is the biggest issue of award flights by JAL or ANA. Even the ticket itself is almost free, that ガソリン代 can be JPY 100,000 or more. This is simply ridiculous and unacceptable even if the award seats are widely available. But the availability is also very narrow and tight.
Amongst Star Alliance members, I heard the better plans would be Aeroplan by Air Canada or LifeMiles by avianca. (←OT: abotut a week ago, Avianca introduced themselves as “avianca,” without capital letter. This is their new marketing after the bankruptcy.) However, non-U.S. based carriers are not trustworthy enough for me…
The only exception I am considering is Miles&Smiles by Turkish because I visit there so often. My current concerns are; 1) no preferred credit cards. Points-miles conversions can be either Citibank or Capitol One. 2) Turkish Lira is so unstable and being inflated like Pesos… 3) although I have many friends in Istanbul, the government doesn’t like Americans and Americans don’t like Muslims. These decoupling situations are severely worsened by Israeli war. 4) The world war III might began already so I can’t fly overseas soon…
I see, so even as a UA 1K® member like you, one cannot obtain the ANA Super Flyers Card through what's called a status match. Still, I wonder if there's a hidden door somewhere, similar to UA's Chairman's Circle?
ReplyDeleteHmm, so even if you become an ANA Platinum member, you need to maintain the ANA Platinum membership for at least a year after conversion to apply for the SFC. In that sense, selling your soul to ANA is much more challenging than selling it to UA, isn't it? (lol)
Fuel surcharges are indeed the biggest issue with JAL and ANA award flights. If the complimentary ticket we acquired is for first class, it might be justifiable, but for economy class, could the fuel surcharges end up costing more than the actual airfare itself?
Among the Star Alliance members, I have a certain level of trust in Air Canada due to my past experiences flying between Narita and Vancouver, or Miami, Toronto, and LaGuardia. However, I'm a bit hesitant about avianca. In that regard, like you, I tend to trust airlines based in the U.S., or at least Canadian ones.
Regarding your point 4) about the possibility that "World War III might have already started" - I also have an ominous feeling about this. If Western countries actively support Israel, and Russia, China, and the Middle East back Gaza... Japan doesn't really have its own national policy and would simply follow the U.S., so it couldn't possibly play neutral. If a large-scale war breaks out, Japan would have no choice but to join. It's a terrifying global situation.
Yamada Denki sensei,
DeleteWhen I got an offer of status match from ANA, I was before 1MM at United. Therefore the SFC is fruitful to fix myself to be Star Gold. After achieving UA1MM, I received Lifetime Star Gold so the shine of SFC became dull and useless. UA’s program is better – my better-half-san can share the same status with me (1K®/Star Gold) together, and we won’t drop lower than Premier Gold/Star Gold for Life.
Well… writing the status of Star Alliance, I still have a feeling of unmatched status levels if compared to OneWorld or SkyTeam. OneWorld has Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald. SkyTeam has Elite and Elite Plus. Therefore Oneworld has 3 levels and even SkyTeam has 2 levels of elite statuses. Star Alliances is the largest community so they have to dig out formerly scrapped plans – adding Star Platinum (probably UA1K, NH-Dia equivalent) and Star Diamond (UAGS, LH HON Circle or SQ PPS equivalent)..
Before Pandemic, I sometimes closely working with United’s corporate customer services where “one-stop-shopping” for 1K 2MM members. They are located in Houston and they are proud of they are the ‘real’ headquarter. (lol) Then, the fruitful info I heard from my rep was; someone above SVP or EVP can grant and proceed the waitlisted passenger(s). Unfortunately I don’t have any of those big shots are not my friends yet… probably not for life and becoming GS4MM might be earlier. Or too much natural radiation burnt me off… (btw. My 2nd suspicious tumor, which my primary doctor chopped off, is now being under diagnostic procedures but when I saw the sphere-shaped dark color tumor, I saw some similarities to the previous one – which was diagnosed non-Hodgkin lymphoma thus I had to receive the electron beam from LINAC to on my skull… I’m not a cathode ray tube!!!)
In regards to the WWIII, I stand for Israel. It’s not just me as a US Citizen, but my family-in-law is Jewish family. I hope Türkiye will not have strong Palestinian bias at all…
…and Yamada Denki sensei,
DeleteJapan is too much leaned to USA, we are on the same boat.
Close to Japanese islands, there are China and Taiwan, North Korea and South Korea. Be strong. Or Japanese territories will be taken out from those nasty warzones.
Once the World War happens, it happens everywhere and it’ll be like falling cats and dogs from the sky – actually the falling ones are ATACMUS, 火星 or千里馬. www
Please avoid making people like rubbish.
If my memory serves me right, the first time I met you on that message board, you were already a member of United's 1K®. However, I believe you hadn't yet achieved United's 1MM status. It was around that time that you received a status match offer from ANA. I see, so in that situation, SFC became a valuable means for you to achieve Star Gold status. Once you reach UA1MM, you can receive Lifetime Star Gold, right? In that case, the appeal of SFC for you would diminish and become redundant. Moreover, your partner can also share the same status (1K®/Star Gold) as you, and if both of you can maintain a status above Premier Gold/Star Gold for the foreseeable future, United's mileage program is indeed generous.
ReplyDeleteIn my mind, it's clear that Star Alliance > OneWorld > SkyTeam. I would think that smaller alliances would need to offer more benefits to compete with other alliances, but I guess it's not that simple. What would happen if SkyTeam were to be absorbed by OneWorld? Would it, OneWorld + SkyTeam, become a formidable competitor to Star Alliance?
Yamada Denki sensei,
DeleteSuper Flyers Card is a history for me. I am way beyond that. However… I am still curious how ANA million milers are being treated. At least I saw the million miler tags up to 3 million miles, but I am very interested in the perks and benefits for those who achieved 3MM at ANA.
> Would it, OneWorld + SkyTeam, become a formidable competitor to Star Alliance?
Personally I am not curious… imagine; Japan Airlines and Аэрофлот of Soviet are in the same team, code-sharing and treating passengers together?? That must be the days after World War III. …and their U.S. friends are Delta and AAmerican. (LoL)
Bottom line, I don’t think it’s not so competitive even those two alliances merged together. And if it happened, Star Alliance will be inviting Mid Eastern carriers.
The Super Flyers Card seems like ancient history to you now, doesn't it? That's because you've flown far beyond that with United. I'm also curious about how ANA's Million Milers are treated. I've heard that ANA has introduced a new top-tier 4 Million Miler tag for those who have flown 4 million miles. I'm very interested in the perks and benefits for those who have achieved this milestone.
ReplyDeleteWhat follows is my whimsical speculation as a landlubber on the preferential treatment ANA's 4 Million Milers receive.
Typical benefits for high-tier mileage members include lounge access, bonus miles, priority boarding, priority waitlist treatment, and upgrade privileges. However, the three most sought-after benefits would arguably be "lounge access", "bonus miles", and "upgrade" privileges.
Lounges offer a secluded, special place away from the airport bustle where I can enjoy unlimited food and drinks. For 4 Million Milers, there may even be a special room deeper inside where selected beautiful ANA ground staff offer special treatment (details unknown) – or so one might imagine?
Bonus miles are essentially the main benefit for Diamond members. Previously, bonus miles were calculated as 1.2 to 1.3 times the segment miles. However, it seems to have changed to 1.2 to 1.3 times the accrual rate based on the travel class. This was decried as a disadvantage by those Diamond members who fly Economy, but if I think about it, for classes with accrual rates above 100% (like Business Class), it's actually an improvement. In fact, for round-trip business class tickets issued in Kuala Lumpur, Diamond members, including bonus miles, get around 20,000 miles. But for 4 Million Milers, this could go up to approximately 30,000 miles – or so one might imagine?
As for upgrades, they're most powerful for domestic flights. Even if non-Diamond members request an upgrade first, a Diamond member who requests later will be prioritized. On international flights, especially to Southeast Asia, even Diamond members might not always get upgraded due to high demand. However, for 4 Million Milers, the odds are nearly 100% – or so one might assume? For long-haul routes, even if I book an Economy fare that would never usually be upgraded, by using double the upgrade points by the day before, I can request an upgrade, a true trump card for Diamond members. But for 4 Million Milers, a standard upgrade request might suffice – or so one might assume?
In conclusion, this was all the whimsical speculation of a landlubber who hasn't set foot on an international flight for over 15 years...