In a significant move aimed at bolstering customer loyalty and enhancing the travel experience, United Airlines Holdings Inc. announced on February 19, 2026, a series of attractive new benefits for holders of its MileagePlus® credit and debit cards. These enhancements, set to take effect for tickets purchased on or after April 2, 2026, promise to reward cardholders with increased miles, exclusive discounts on award flights, and expanded access to limited inventory on premium seats.

2. Key Features of the New Program

Enhanced Mileage Earnings

United Airlines is recalibrating its MileagePlus program to provide cardholders with the opportunity to earn up to double the miles when flying with United. Primary MileagePlus cardholders will earn significantly more miles per dollar spent on eligible flights compared to non-cardholders. For instance, MileagePlus® 1K® members using their United Club℠ card can earn an impressive 17 total miles per dollar. This represents one of the most lucrative earning opportunities in the airline industry.

Example of Mileage Earnings: A MileagePlus Gold member purchasing a ticket with their United Quest℠ card will earn 13 total miles per dollar, more than double the miles earned by non-cardholders. General MileagePlus members using a United℠ Explorer card can earn 9 total miles per dollar, which is three times the amount earned by those without a United card.

This new structure also mandates that general members must possess a United card to earn miles on Basic Economy tickets, further incentivizing card ownership.

Discounts on Award Flights

In addition to enhanced mileage accrual, United Airlines has introduced a discount system for award flights. Cardholders are now entitled to a minimum of 10% off all United award tickets. For Premier® members, this discount increases to at least 15%.

Example of Discounts: An award ticket that costs 15,000 miles will now only require 13,500 miles for primary cardholders, while a seat in United Polaris business class priced at 200,000 miles will be available for just 170,000 miles for those holding Premier status.

Expanded Access to Saver Award Inventory

United Airlines is also expanding the availability of its Saver Award inventory, particularly in United Polaris® Business Class. This exclusive access, previously limited to Platinum and 1K members, is now available to all MileagePlus cardholders.

Saver Award Pricing: Cardholders can access Saver Award seats starting as low as 72,000 miles for general members and 68,000 miles for Premier members, representing a 10% and 15% reduction, respectively. On average, cardholders can expect to save around 30% when booking these flights compared to regular award pricing.

3. A Customer-Centric Approach

Andrew Nocella, United's Chief Commercial Officer, emphasized the airline's commitment to rewarding its loyal customers, stating, "The most rewarding way to fly United is as a MileagePlus member, and the best way to get the most value from the MileagePlus program is to have one of our credit or debit cards." The changes reflect a strategic effort to attract and retain customers in an increasingly competitive airline market.

4. The United Card Portfolio

The enhancements extend across various United cards, including The United Explorer Card, The United Quest Card, The United Club Card, and others. The airline is also set to introduce new card options in international markets, including Brazil, Canada, and the U.K., further broadening the appeal of the MileagePlus program.

5. Conclusion

With these new benefits, United Airlines is positioning itself as a leader in the airline loyalty space, offering customers unprecedented opportunities to earn miles and save on travel. The MileagePlus program continues to evolve, ensuring that cardholders receive the best value and experience when flying with United. As the airline gears up for a busy travel season, these changes could significantly impact customer loyalty and overall satisfaction.

For more information on the MileagePlus program and the new benefits, customers can visit united.com/mpnews.

Original press release