Airlines

United MileagePlus Massively Devalues Miles

The most severe devaluation of miles ever implemented by United’s MileagePlus frequent flyer program may have just taken place. It is not simply the amount by which award prices have gone up; it is also the consistency in which these price increases have been implemented for travel on both United and its partner airlines.

United has reduced mileage values without prior notification. Given that MileagePlus no longer provides award charts, which significantly reduces transparency, it is not unexpected that the program didn’t provide the notification.

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For instance, one-way transatlantic saver rewards for travel on United used to start at 30,000 miles in economy and 60,000 miles in business class. As these rewards now start at 40,000 miles in economy class and 80,000 miles in business class, their fees have jumped by 33%.

In a similar manner, partner rewards have devalued. For instance, 30,000 miles in economy and 70,000 miles in business class used to be the starting points for one-way Saver intercontinental rewards for travel on partner airlines. These fees have increased by 39–47%, as the starting points for these rewards are now 43,900 miles for economy and 97,100 miles for business.

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Recent devaluations of awards between the US and Europe by United Airlines‘ MileagePlus program were among the worst ever. Along with raising partner prizes to up to 47%, the program also raised the number of miles needed for travel by 33%.

Due to this huge shift, it is now much more expensive for MileagePlus members to redeem miles with United.

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Airlines

Air India Rolls Out A350s for Delhi-New York JFK and Newark Routes

In a major development for North American travelers, Air India has announced the deployment of its state-of-the-art Airbus A350-900 aircraft on two key routes: Delhi to New York and Delhi to Newark.

The service on the Delhi-New York route will commence on November 1, 2024, while the Delhi-Newark route will see its inaugural flight on January 2, 2025.

The introduction of the air india a350 will bring significant enhancements to Air India’s offerings, particularly with the launch of its Premium Economy class. air india retrofit This new class will feature 24 wide seats arranged in a 2-4-2 configuration, providing passengers with extra legroom and a more comfortable flying experience.

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“We are encouraged by the positive guest feedback we have received from the domestic deployment of our air india a350 interior to offer our hero product on the Delhi-New York JFK and Delhi-Newark routes. This is a significant leap forward for our U.S. operations that also underscores our commitment to continuous improvement,” said Campbell Wilson, Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director of Air India.

The A350’s Business class will set new standards with 28 private suites, each equipped with full-flat beds, direct aisle access, and personal wardrobes. Economy class will be configured to accommodate 264 passengers in a 3-4-3 layout. Across all cabins, passengers will enjoy the latest Panasonic eX3 in-flight entertainment system, offering over 2,200 hours of content.

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This strategic deployment marks a notable enhancement in Air India’s U.S. operations, with 60% of its flights to the U.S. now featuring new or upgraded cabin interiors. The air india new international routes currently operates 51 weekly flights to five U.S. destinations: New York JFK, Newark, Washington DC, Chicago, and San Francisco.

The revamped cabins, advanced in-flight entertainment systems, and improved service standards represent air india wifi commitment to providing a superior travel experience. “We believe this enhanced offering will solidify Air India’s position as a leading carrier and attract travellers seeking a world-class flying experience between India and the United States,” the airline stated.

Seats on these flights are now available for booking on Air India’s website, mobile app, and through travel agents, ensuring that passengers can easily plan their journeys on these newly upgraded routes.