U.S Airways Reinstates Bonus Miles For Elites

In a press release today, U.S Airways announced the return of bonus miles for most flight activity and the 500-mile minimum perk, for all Dividend Miles elite members. 

Beginning November 20th, Dividend Miles elite members will receive bonus miles commensurate with their status level. For example, Gold members will receive 50% bonus miles for all eligible flights. The airline says it will retroactively credit members accounts back to August 6th, 2008, when the bonus miles perk was taken away. 

Further, Elite members will again appreciate the return of the 500-mile minimum accrual rule. Since May, the airline was awarding frequent flier miles based on the actual mileage flown - even on very short flights of say 300 miles. Now passengers who fly these short-haul flights will be given a minimum 500 miles. Again, the airline says it will retroactively credit passengers back to May. 

Dividend Miles members should expect all retroactive credits to appear on their December 2008 Dividend Miles account statements.  Full press release. 

United Announces 2009 Mileage Plus Changes

In a press release Monday, United announced some fairly significant changes to Mileage Plus, its frequent flyer program. Depending on your specific travel habits, you will find the changes either favorable or as yet another example of the devaluation of frequent flyer miles. 

• Restoration of 500-mile minimum accrual for elite members. This past summer United eliminated this benefit for short-distance flyPublish Posters. The policy changes is retroactive for flights dating back to July 1, 2008.


• Mileage Award Adjustments. UA will maintain the 25,000 mile requirement for economy saver tickets for flights within the U.S. But, it will increase the mileage requirement between 5,000 and 25,000 additional miles for flights between the U.S and different regions throughout the world.


• Co-Payment and reduction in miles requirement for upgrades effective July 1, 2009. If you purchase an economy class ticket, United often allows you to upgrade that flight with miles. The airline will lower that mileage requirement, but institute a co-payment of up to $500 for this benefit. Additionally, the airline will allow international upgrades, regardless of the fare class purchased. Previously, only higher cost fares were upgradeable.

American Changes 'Minimum 500 Mile' Accrual Policy

Change impacts non-elite AAdvantage members

Following in the footsteps of United and U.S Airways, American Airlines says effective January 1, 2009, it will award frequent flier miles based on actual miles flown, stripping away the minimum 500 miles awarded for short-haul flights less than 500 miles in length. For example, a flight from San Francisco to Los Angeles - about 337 miles in length, would earn the 500 mile minimum based on the old policy. With the new change, only 337 miles are earned. United and U.S Airways recently adopted the same policy.

Unlike the United and U.S Airways policy change however, American airlines has exempted its elite members from this. Thus, AAdvantage Executive Platinum, AAdvantage Platinum, and AAdvantage Gold members will continue to enjoy the 500 mile minimum on most flights.

Continental Reverses '500 Mile Minimum' Accrual Policy

Earlier this month Continental Airlines announced program changes to its frequent flier program, eliminating the 500 mile minimum travelers accrued in their account for flying short-haul flights effective November 15th. This meant a short flight of a few hundred miles would earn the actual miles flown, rather than the 500 mile minimum. Now, Continental has backed off from earlier announced changes, and is exempting its elite passengers from the policy change. This means Continental elite fliers will continue to receive a minimum of 500 miles for each flight, regardless the distance.

United and U.S Airways who also eliminated the 500 mile minimum recently, have yet to react to Continental's move.