United Airlines Overhauls MileagePlus Program to Reward High-Spending Customers
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 19 2026
0mins
Source: CNBC
- Program Overhaul Context: United Airlines is significantly revamping its MileagePlus program to reward high-spending customers, effective April 2, marking the largest change in over a decade and reflecting the airline's efforts to differentiate itself in a competitive market.
- Mileage Reward Changes: Customers holding United credit cards will earn 6 miles per dollar spent on tickets, while those without the card will see their earnings drop to 3 miles, significantly enhancing the value proposition for credit card users and encouraging card adoption.
- Redemption Rate Discounts: Cardholders will now redeem miles at a discount of at least 10%, for instance, an economy-class ticket that costs 15,000 miles will now be available for 13,500 miles, incentivizing more customers to apply for the credit card to maximize their travel value.
- Elite Customer Benefits: Cardholders with elite MileagePlus Premier status will receive deeper discounts, with long-haul business class seats dropping from 200,000 miles to 170,000 miles, further enhancing loyalty and satisfaction among high-value customers.
Trade with 70% Backtested Accuracy
Stop guessing "Should I Buy MA?" and start using high-conviction signals backed by rigorous historical data.
Sign up today to access powerful investing tools and make smarter, data-driven decisions.
Analyst Views on MA
Wall Street analysts forecast MA stock price to rise
28 Analyst Rating
25 Buy
3 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 489.940
Low
500.00
Averages
660.00
High
739.00
Current: 489.940
Low
500.00
Averages
660.00
High
739.00
About MA
Mastercard Incorporated is a technology company in the global payments industry. The Company connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments, digital partners, businesses and other organizations worldwide by enabling electronic payments and making those payment transactions secure and accessible. It provides a range of payment solutions and services using its brands, including Mastercard, Maestro and Cirrus. It operates a payments network that provides choice and flexibility for consumers, merchants and its customers. Through its proprietary global payments network, it switches (authorizes, clears and settles) payment transactions. Its additional payments capabilities include automated clearing house (ACH) transactions (both batch and real-time account-based payments). It offers security solutions, consumer acquisition and engagement, business and market insights, gateway, processing and open banking, among other services and solutions.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Berkshire's 13-F Filing Under New CEO Reveals Strategic Investment Shifts
- Stable Apple Holdings: Berkshire maintained its stake in Apple at approximately 228 million shares, which, while below the historical peak of over 900 million shares, still represents 22% of its equity portfolio, reflecting confidence in Apple's long-term value.
- Significant Google Investment: Berkshire's share count in Alphabet surged from about 17.85 million to roughly 58 million, pushing the position's value to nearly $17 billion, indicating CEO Abel's strong confidence and willingness to invest in tech stocks.
- Exploration of New Investment Areas: The new $2.65 billion stake in Delta Air Lines and a minor position in Macy's signal Abel's readiness to enter sectors previously avoided by Buffett, further diversifying the investment portfolio.
- Aggressive Sell-offs: Berkshire exited positions in Amazon, Visa, Mastercard, and others, while slashing its stake in Constellation Brands by 95%, indicating Abel's intent to reshape the investment strategy and reinforce his personal style.
See More
Berkshire Hathaway's Major Portfolio Overhaul Under Greg Abel
- Portfolio Restructuring: Under Greg Abel's leadership, Berkshire Hathaway's equity portfolio underwent significant changes in the first three months, adding Delta Air Lines and Macy's, indicating a renewed focus on the airline and retail sectors.
- Massive Alphabet Stake Increase: Berkshire increased its stake in Google's parent company Alphabet by 224% in Q1, making it the company's seventh-largest holding with a market value of $16.6 billion, and the stock has rallied 38% since, showcasing the success of this decision.
- Reduction in Holdings: Abel dramatically cut the number of companies in the portfolio, selling off major stakes including Amazon and Visa, with Amazon's shares reduced from 10 million to 2.3 million, reflecting a significant strategic shift in investment focus.
- Return to Delta Airlines: Berkshire purchased 39.8 million shares of Delta Air Lines in Q1, currently valued at $2.8 billion, marking the company's first return to airline stocks since 2020, demonstrating confidence in the recovery of the airline industry.
See More
Berkshire Restructures Portfolio, Increases Stakes in Google and Delta
- Portfolio Restructuring: In Q1 2026, Berkshire Hathaway fully exited its position in UnitedHealth Group (UNH), marking the first portfolio shuffle under new CEO Greg Abel, indicating a strategic shift in the company's investment approach.
- Increased Google Holdings: Berkshire established a new $1 billion stake in Alphabet Class C shares (GOOG) and tripled its Class A shares (GOOGL) to approximately $15 billion, reflecting the company's continued confidence in tech stocks, which may drive long-term growth.
- New Investments and Reductions: The firm initiated a $2.6 billion position in Delta Air Lines (DAL) while trimming stakes in several core holdings, including Bank of America and Chevron, showcasing its confidence in the airline sector and caution towards traditional financial stocks.
- Positive Market Reaction: While shares of V, MA, and AMZN slipped marginally after hours, DAL and Macy's (M) saw increases of 3% and 6%, respectively, reflecting a positive market response to Berkshire's new investment strategy, particularly in the airline and retail sectors.
See More
Berkshire Hathaway Reenters Airline Sector with Delta Stake
- Delta Stake Acquisition: Berkshire Hathaway has acquired a stake in Delta Air Lines worth over $2.6 billion, making it the company's 14th largest holding, marking a return to the airline sector after exiting during the pandemic, indicating confidence in the industry's recovery.
- Portfolio Rebalancing: In the first quarter, Berkshire trimmed its stake in Chevron while significantly increasing its investment in Alphabet, now the seventh largest holding, reflecting a strategic shift towards technology stocks.
- Stock Sales: The conglomerate sold several stocks last quarter, including Mastercard and Visa, likely to unwind positions tied to departed investment manager Todd Combs, showcasing a strategic adjustment following management changes.
- Increased Cash Reserves: Buffett acknowledged the current investment environment is not ideal, with Berkshire's cash reserves nearing $400 billion, indicating challenges in finding suitable investment opportunities.
See More
Buffett Retires, Abel Takes Control of Berkshire Hathaway
- Leadership Transition: Warren Buffett retired on December 31, handing over the reins to Greg Abel as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, marking a new era for the company where Abel's leadership style and investment strategies will significantly impact future growth.
- Portfolio Overhaul: Abel completely exited 16 positions, including Amazon and Domino's Pizza, during Q1, demonstrating a bold restructuring of the portfolio, particularly the reduction in Amazon, which reflects a reassessment of value investments.
- Increased Stake in Alphabet: Abel tripled Berkshire's stake in Alphabet to approximately $23 billion by purchasing over 36 million Class A shares and 3.5 million Class C shares, indicating confidence in tech stocks and a focus on future growth potential.
- Cloud Computing Growth: Google Cloud achieved a 63% year-over-year growth rate in Q1, showcasing Abel's investment strategy that not only targets traditional industries but also actively invests in high-growth tech sectors, reflecting a shift in Berkshire's investment direction.
See More
Berkshire Hathaway Restructures Portfolio with $2.65 Billion Delta Investment
- New Investment Moves: Berkshire Hathaway disclosed a $2.65 billion investment in Delta Air Lines, indicating confidence in the airline industry's recovery and laying a foundation for future revenue growth.
- Small Stake Adjustments: The company also acquired a small stake in Macy's, demonstrating ongoing interest in the retail sector despite challenges in the overall retail environment.
- Divestiture of Smaller Stocks: Berkshire sold off holdings in Amazon and UnitedHealth Group, reflecting a significant shift in its investment strategy that could impact the market performance of these companies.
- Management Change Impact: This portfolio reshuffling occurs in the first quarter under new CEO Greg Abel, highlighting the direct influence of leadership changes on investment decisions and potentially leading to further adjustments in future investment directions.
See More
Berkshire's 13-F Filing Under New CEO Reveals Strategic Investment Shifts
- Stable Apple Holdings: Berkshire maintained its stake in Apple at approximately 228 million shares, which, while below the historical peak of over 900 million shares, still represents 22% of its equity portfolio, reflecting confidence in Apple's long-term value.
- Significant Google Investment: Berkshire's share count in Alphabet surged from about 17.85 million to roughly 58 million, pushing the position's value to nearly $17 billion, indicating CEO Abel's strong confidence and willingness to invest in tech stocks.
- Exploration of New Investment Areas: The new $2.65 billion stake in Delta Air Lines and a minor position in Macy's signal Abel's readiness to enter sectors previously avoided by Buffett, further diversifying the investment portfolio.
- Aggressive Sell-offs: Berkshire exited positions in Amazon, Visa, Mastercard, and others, while slashing its stake in Constellation Brands by 95%, indicating Abel's intent to reshape the investment strategy and reinforce his personal style.
See More
Berkshire Hathaway's Major Portfolio Overhaul Under Greg Abel
- Portfolio Restructuring: Under Greg Abel's leadership, Berkshire Hathaway's equity portfolio underwent significant changes in the first three months, adding Delta Air Lines and Macy's, indicating a renewed focus on the airline and retail sectors.
- Massive Alphabet Stake Increase: Berkshire increased its stake in Google's parent company Alphabet by 224% in Q1, making it the company's seventh-largest holding with a market value of $16.6 billion, and the stock has rallied 38% since, showcasing the success of this decision.
- Reduction in Holdings: Abel dramatically cut the number of companies in the portfolio, selling off major stakes including Amazon and Visa, with Amazon's shares reduced from 10 million to 2.3 million, reflecting a significant strategic shift in investment focus.
- Return to Delta Airlines: Berkshire purchased 39.8 million shares of Delta Air Lines in Q1, currently valued at $2.8 billion, marking the company's first return to airline stocks since 2020, demonstrating confidence in the recovery of the airline industry.
See More
Berkshire Restructures Portfolio, Increases Stakes in Google and Delta
- Portfolio Restructuring: In Q1 2026, Berkshire Hathaway fully exited its position in UnitedHealth Group (UNH), marking the first portfolio shuffle under new CEO Greg Abel, indicating a strategic shift in the company's investment approach.
- Increased Google Holdings: Berkshire established a new $1 billion stake in Alphabet Class C shares (GOOG) and tripled its Class A shares (GOOGL) to approximately $15 billion, reflecting the company's continued confidence in tech stocks, which may drive long-term growth.
- New Investments and Reductions: The firm initiated a $2.6 billion position in Delta Air Lines (DAL) while trimming stakes in several core holdings, including Bank of America and Chevron, showcasing its confidence in the airline sector and caution towards traditional financial stocks.
- Positive Market Reaction: While shares of V, MA, and AMZN slipped marginally after hours, DAL and Macy's (M) saw increases of 3% and 6%, respectively, reflecting a positive market response to Berkshire's new investment strategy, particularly in the airline and retail sectors.
See More
Berkshire Hathaway Reenters Airline Sector with Delta Stake
- Delta Stake Acquisition: Berkshire Hathaway has acquired a stake in Delta Air Lines worth over $2.6 billion, making it the company's 14th largest holding, marking a return to the airline sector after exiting during the pandemic, indicating confidence in the industry's recovery.
- Portfolio Rebalancing: In the first quarter, Berkshire trimmed its stake in Chevron while significantly increasing its investment in Alphabet, now the seventh largest holding, reflecting a strategic shift towards technology stocks.
- Stock Sales: The conglomerate sold several stocks last quarter, including Mastercard and Visa, likely to unwind positions tied to departed investment manager Todd Combs, showcasing a strategic adjustment following management changes.
- Increased Cash Reserves: Buffett acknowledged the current investment environment is not ideal, with Berkshire's cash reserves nearing $400 billion, indicating challenges in finding suitable investment opportunities.
See More
Buffett Retires, Abel Takes Control of Berkshire Hathaway
- Leadership Transition: Warren Buffett retired on December 31, handing over the reins to Greg Abel as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, marking a new era for the company where Abel's leadership style and investment strategies will significantly impact future growth.
- Portfolio Overhaul: Abel completely exited 16 positions, including Amazon and Domino's Pizza, during Q1, demonstrating a bold restructuring of the portfolio, particularly the reduction in Amazon, which reflects a reassessment of value investments.
- Increased Stake in Alphabet: Abel tripled Berkshire's stake in Alphabet to approximately $23 billion by purchasing over 36 million Class A shares and 3.5 million Class C shares, indicating confidence in tech stocks and a focus on future growth potential.
- Cloud Computing Growth: Google Cloud achieved a 63% year-over-year growth rate in Q1, showcasing Abel's investment strategy that not only targets traditional industries but also actively invests in high-growth tech sectors, reflecting a shift in Berkshire's investment direction.
See More
Berkshire Hathaway Restructures Portfolio with $2.65 Billion Delta Investment
- New Investment Moves: Berkshire Hathaway disclosed a $2.65 billion investment in Delta Air Lines, indicating confidence in the airline industry's recovery and laying a foundation for future revenue growth.
- Small Stake Adjustments: The company also acquired a small stake in Macy's, demonstrating ongoing interest in the retail sector despite challenges in the overall retail environment.
- Divestiture of Smaller Stocks: Berkshire sold off holdings in Amazon and UnitedHealth Group, reflecting a significant shift in its investment strategy that could impact the market performance of these companies.
- Management Change Impact: This portfolio reshuffling occurs in the first quarter under new CEO Greg Abel, highlighting the direct influence of leadership changes on investment decisions and potentially leading to further adjustments in future investment directions.
See More
