[Read or Listen] How to Prepare for Miles & Points Devaluations
United Airlines Surprise Devaluation & Our New All Ways Away Website!
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Good morning,
We’re keeping today simple, as there was a surprise devaluation of United Airlines mileage program last week. While my fellow travel bloggers made it out to be a punch in the gut, I want to share some thoughts so you’re mentally prepared for future points and miles surprises.
Devaluations are Guaranteed
Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.
— Benjamin Franklin, 1789
While death and taxes are still certain for most of us, the wealthiest among us have already negated taxes and appear to be setting their sights on death-avoidance. Regardless of our thoughts on that, there are a few certainties in the world of miles and points, one of the main ones being devaluations.
A rewards devaluation occurs when the number of miles or points needed for certain rewards increases, thereby making your stash of points or miles less valuable. While it’s not exactly the same as currency inflation, it has a similar impact on making “prices” go up.
United’s Devaluation
The recent United MileagePlus devaluations are Europe specific:
Flights to/from Europe on United planes are roughly 33% more expensive in Economy (from 30k to 40k) and Business (from 60k to 80k) class
For now Economy Plus seems to be holding steady at 45k points
Flights to/from Europe booked on United.com but flown via a partner airline have also been devalued with some reports showing a 62% increase in points needed
What can you do?
While it’s not fun to see your hard (hopefully not too hard) earned points and miles diminish in value, there’s plenty we can learn from this.
Book non-EU United travel - If you have United MileagePlus points and are considering travel in the US, Middle East, or Asia, it may be wise to book now.
Keep your points flexible - When earning points, remember the mini-course: it’s best to earn points with a general rewards credit card (American Express, Chase, Capital One, Citibank) instead of co-branded cards that are specific to one airline or hotel.
Put them to work - Don’t hoard all your points and miles for bucket-list adventure, instead try to start using them gradually. Just like points devaluations are certain, so are opportunities to replenish your stash. If you’re swimming in excess points, you may want to consider redeeming them for cash back.
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