United Airlines Revamps Rewards Program to Attract Credit Card Customers
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Feb 21 2026
0mins
Should l Buy UAL?
Source: Yahoo Finance
- Program Overhaul: United Airlines is reforming its rewards program to attract credit card customers, a move that may upset some as non-cardholders will lose certain mileage accrual opportunities.
- Mileage Earning Restrictions: Under the new policy, MileagePlus members without a United credit card will earn fewer miles on United flights, highlighting the airline's focus on credit card relationships.
- Premium Customer Benefits: Cardholders will receive a 10% discount on every United award flight booked, while non-cardholders will no longer earn any miles when booking basic economy, intensifying the airline's appeal to premium customers.
- Industry Trend Reflection: This shift in the airline industry aligns with broader economic trends, showcasing the bifurcation of consumer habits, as United's Chief Commercial Officer emphasizes that loyal customers deserve the best benefits in the industry.
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Analyst Views on UAL
Wall Street analysts forecast UAL stock price to rise
16 Analyst Rating
15 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 95.080
Low
115.00
Averages
139.07
High
156.00
Current: 95.080
Low
115.00
Averages
139.07
High
156.00
About UAL
United Airlines Holdings, Inc. is a holding company. The Company transports people and cargo throughout North America and to destinations in Asia, Europe, Africa, the Pacific, the Middle East and Latin America. The Company, through United Airlines, Inc., and its regional carriers, operates across six continents, with hubs at Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Denver International Airport (DEN), George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), San Francisco International Airport (SFO), Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and A.B. Won Pat International Airport (GUM). Its hub and spoke system allow it to transport passengers between a large number of destinations with frequent services. The Company has contractual relationships with various regional carriers to provide regional aircraft service branded as United Express. It provides freight and mail transportation services (Air Cargo).
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.
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- Industry Trends: With global average jet fuel prices more than doubling compared to the previous month, United and other U.S. airlines like JetBlue are raising baggage fees to offset rising maintenance and labor costs, indicating broader financial pressures within the airline industry.
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- Intensified Market Competition: With United upgrading its Polaris class to include new suites with sliding doors and larger screens, it signals a rapid push to capture high-end customers, likely prompting similar moves from competitors in the industry.
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- Industry-Wide Price Hike: Following United's announcement, JetBlue also raised its checked bag fees by up to $9, indicating a broader trend of price increases across the airline industry due to surging fuel expenses.
- Surge in Fuel Costs: Since the U.S. and Israel's attack on Iran on February 28, jet fuel prices have skyrocketed by 80%, becoming the second-largest expense for airlines after labor, which is forcing carriers to adjust their pricing strategies.
- Customer Discount Policies: Despite the fee increases, United Airlines continues to offer free checked bags for United credit card holders, MileagePlus Premier members, active military personnel, and premium cabin travelers, highlighting its focus on retaining key customer segments.
See More
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See More
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- Oil Price Surge: Crude oil prices soared over 13% as President Trump took a tougher stance on Iran, reaching a 3.5-week high, which not only heightened inflation fears but also pushed bond yields higher, with the 10-year T-note yield rising by 2 basis points to 4.34%.
- Unemployment Claims Drop: Weekly initial unemployment claims unexpectedly fell by 9,000 to 202,000, indicating a stronger labor market than the anticipated increase to 212,000, which could provide support for the stock market amid rising inflation concerns.
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