Mar 06 2025
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United Airlines Devalues Million Miler Companion Benefit

By Leila

a man and woman standing in front of a desk

Starting in 2027, United Airlines will devalue the companion benefit for its Million Miler flyers. Rather than inherit your status, your desingated compainion will receive status comensaute with the Million Mile threshold.

Devluation: United Airlines Makes Million Miler Companion Benefit Less Generous

Currently, you can earn lifetime MileagePlus status from United by earning so-called “butt-in-seat” miles (actaul flight miles, not elite bonuses or creidt card bonuses):

  • 1 Million – Gold
  • 2 Million – Platnium
  • 3 Million – 1K
  • 4 Million – Global Services

You can also designate a companion to share your benefits. Until now, it has been even sweeter: let’s say (like me), you are a 1 Million Miler (so you never drop below Gold status) but you fly enough to earn 1K status. Your comapnion would inherit your 1K status.

But that changes starting in 2027.

I recieved the follwoing email from United Airlines this morning:

Dear Matthew,

Being a Million Miler is an extraordinary achievement, and we appreciate your continued loyalty. As a valued member, we want to provide you with advance notice of upcoming updates to the companion benefits for 1 Million Milers.

Starting in 2027, 1 Million Miler companions will receive MileagePlus® Premier® Gold status, equal to the Premier status awarded to 1 Million Milers for life.

Here’s what this change means for you and your companion:

  • In 2025 and 2026, your designated companion will continue to receive your earned Premier status.
  • Starting in 2027, your selected companion will receive Premier Gold status for the applicable program year. As they do today, when your companion is traveling with someone at a higher Premier status level and is on the same reservation, they will continue to enjoy certain benefits of that higher status while at the airport.

a plane flying in the sky

So MillionMile companions will still enjoy status…but regardless of your own status, the status of your desginated companion will be limited to Gold for 1 Million Milers. Interestingly, companions of 2 Million Milers, 3 Million Milers or 4+ Million Milers will continue receive their sponsor’s highest earned status during the applicable program year.

To use the same example, if I fly enough to earn 1K status this year, my companion will drop to Gold status next year. However, if I was a 2 Mllion Miler and flew enough to reach 1K stauts, my comapnion would keep my 1K status.

This is a devaluation…there is no question about it. It will benefit some and hurt others, but at least United has no taken away the companion benefit.

Does this make me less likely to fly United? Probably not. But it is a clear devaluation and that’s always a sad thing.

What do you make of this change to United’s Million Miler program?

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