United Crucifies Frequent Fliers for Holy Week
An old axiom in public relations says that you should release bad news on Fridays. Hence, members of United Airlines' Mileage Plus program were right to be scared -- very scared -- when the airline announced a series of enhancements on Good Friday. These "benefits and changes" came in the form of the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. To sweeten the pot, the airline will be creating reduced-cost (15,000-mile) awards for domestic trips of less than 700 miles. And oh, by the way, come October 2006, you will have to pay up to $75 to book an award within two weeks of your flight AND there will be new award redemption levels. Most notably, redemption requirements for inter-island Hawaii flights doubled, first-class awards to Europe will cost 25,000 miles more, and awards to Australia will cost an extra 20,000 in all classes of service. Some "new benefits" United is offering there, eh?
United Airlines Announces New Benefits and Changes to its Mileage Plus Program [United]
Previously: United Premium Cabin Upgrade Puts Squeeze on Steerage, No Sleep 'Till St. Louis, United Discounting Award Seats to Sydney, London, Flying the Inconvenient and Bankrupt Skies, Hooters Unsupported in Chicago
