United Airlines Changes Frequent Flyer Program for Chase Cardholders

United Airlines is set to revamp its frequent flyer program by making it easier for customers to attain elite status via its co-branded Chase credit cards, in a clear move to incentivize high spenders. This follows similar adjustments made by other airlines to their profitable frequent flyer programs.

In a departure from its trend to adjust requirements since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, United Airlines has decided to keep the overall requirements for elite status unchanged for the coming year. Instead, starting in 2024, customers will receive 25 qualifying points for every $500 spent on co-branded cards, as opposed to the current system that awards 500 points for every $12,000 spent. Moreover, United will also remove the current limits on credit card expenditures that count toward elite status.

To achieve the lowest level, silver status, travelers will need to accrue 5,000 qualifying points and take a minimum of four flights, or they can achieve this status through a combination of flights and points. Elite members enjoy benefits such as free upgrades when available, priority boarding, and other perks.

There has been a surge in the ranks of elite frequent flyers in recent years as spending continued during the pandemic. Airlines allowed these customers to maintain their tier status even if they weren’t flying. This scenario has posed challenges for airlines in maintaining exclusivity while also making their programs realistically achievable. It has also caused frustration among elites who find themselves competing with other travelers for upgrades and lounge access.

In a similar move, Delta Air Lines announced in September that elite status would be determined solely based on expenditure, not a combination of flights and spending. However, after customer complaints about changes to the SkyMiles program and limits to lounge access, the airline partially retracted some of these planned changes last month.