Upcoming US Airways Program Changes Are Mostly Downgrades

US Airways last week announced several changes to Dividend Miles, all of which take effect next year.

New Upgrade Prices, Co-Pays

The most potentially troubling of the changes affects the price of mileage upgrades.

Starting February 15, 2012, non-elite Dividend Miles members will be assessed cash co-payments in additional to miles when upgrading on US Airways flights. The new co-payments range from $25 to $150 each way, depending on the flight distance and the route. (US Airways already charges a $300 co-payment in addition to 30,000 miles for upgrades on Europe and South America flights, and 40,000 miles for upgrades on Middle East flights.)

Somewhat offsetting the increased out-of-pocket costs, the number of miles required for the affected upgrades has been decreased.

For example, whereas upgrades are now priced at 15,000 miles each way within the continental U.S. and Canada, the new prices will reflect the flight length, as follows:

• Flights under 500 miles: 5,000 miles plus $25
• Flights between 500 and 999 miles: 6,000 miles plus $50
• Flights between 1,000 and 1,499 miles: 7,500 miles plus $75
• Flights between 1,500 and 1,999 miles: 9,000 miles plus $100
• Flights over 2,000 miles: 10,000 miles plus $150

Even with the added co-pay, upgrades on the shorter flights will be a better deal, although the new cash-plus-miles pricing for the longer flights makes them less attractive.

For general members, the new prices are a mixed bag, negative overall, but not egregiously so. For elites, who will pay fewer miles and be exempt from the cash co-pays, the changes are a positive.

Quick Ticketing

Also effective from February 15 next year, US Airways' so-called "quick ticketing fee" of $75 will apply for award tickets booked within 21 days of travel, versus 14 days currently.

In this day and age, with online bookings and e-tickets, the very notion of a rush fee for tickets is laughable. It's a gouge, pure and simple. And the new policy is designed to gouge more customers, for more money.

Elite Checked Bag Fee

The final change only applies to Dividend Miles Silver elites: Instead of the two bags covered previously, they will only be allowed to check one bag fee-free on flights booked on or after December 15, 2011, for travel from February 15, 2012.

A minor downgrade for US Airways' entry-level elites, but a downgrade nevertheless.

Reader Reality Check

Will these program changes affect your use of US Airways' Dividend Miles program?

Other Posts of Interest

• American Offers Double Elite-Qualifying Miles Through January 2012
• Earn Triple Base Points for JetBlue Flights
• Double Elite-Qualifying Miles From Frontier
• US Air Brings Back the Buy-Miles Bonus, with a New Restriction
• United Matches American's Elite Bonus for Chicago Flights
• Delta Puts Elite Perks Up for Sale
• Where Do My Miles Go If American Goes Bankrupt?
• Earn More American AAdvantage Miles for Holiday Shopping
• Earn More Delta Miles for Holiday Shopping
• Which Airline Programs Are the Most (and Least) Generous?
• Earn More Shopping Miles From United
• Fly to Tokyo in Business Class for 50,000 AAdvantage Miles

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Comments

[WD]

I've been an elite member with America West/US Air for over 20 years running. Their policies offer little to no respect for allegiance. I will conclude my allegiance to their product and services this year and once I've managed to burn my remaining pathetic +200K miles.

[Nebular_Novice]

This is the second time I have tried to post this. I wonder if it will be saved this time.

I find the tone of the piece more negative than the actual changes.

Silver preferred are probably most negatively affected. The issue is how often they want to upgrade with miles (a big plus with fewer miles needed and no cash required) vs the times they need a second checked bag. Probably net minus for a majority, but not all bad.

Gold and above are clearly better off. They need fewer miles for upgrades and get quick ticketing fees waived (something Tim didn't mention).

Non-preferred are worse off primarily with the extension of the quick ticketing period, but I wouldn't think that would happen to them often, and I also don't think they use miles to upgrade domestically that often. (If they had that many miles, they would be preferred.)

[Bob J]

The post by MORT is excellent: "... use my accumulated miles for international travel, and to choose Southwest for domestic travel."

I think this is a great solution.

[Darren]

I used to fly from Europe on US Airways. I am silver status, and used to then fly back with 2 bags. 1 of those bags was full of purchases I made in the US. So US Airways are screwing the US economy also.

I am stuck with over 100,000 dividend miles that are near useless too.

[KJD]

US air are the most strategically confused airline on the planet -not sure if they want to be a mainline airline or a discount carrier,At the moment they are doing poor job in both dimensions.How they remain in the Star Alliance beggars belief

[MORT]

I AM NOT A US AIRWAYS ELITE MEMBER.

I AM NOT A US AIRWAYS PASSENGER.

I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO USE MY MILES FOR AWARD TRAVEL IN SO MANY YEARS OF TRYING, I FORGOT HOW MANY

I ONCE RECEIVED (BECAUSE I WAS BUMPED)A FREE TICKET. I COULD NEVER USE IT BECAUSE SEATS WERE NEVER AVAILABLE.

HO HUM.

[JWG]

At what point does the average, leisure elite status member say "enough" and drop out of the game? The more the airlines tack on these fees (even though I'm exempt on my current airline of choice), the more I am tempted to use my accumulated miles for international travel, and to choose Southwest for domestic travel.

[LL]

Yes...As a Silver member, to many fee's. I will be looking into other airlines now. USAir was different than the other airlines. Now they are no better, and will no longer be my first choice for travel. I'm sure my Fed Govt Boss's will be happy, I can now join them on their Delta/Southwest flights. I always met them at our destination, because I chose USAir. Sorry to hear this, quite disappointing for us Silver members.