United MileagePlus Devaluation: Negative Upgrade & Stopover Changes

United MileagePlus has today announced three negative changes, which will be implemented in the coming months. The good news is that the updates don’t involve the core parts of the program. However, I think many MileagePlus members will still be unhappy about these developments. Let’s cover the three changes, in no particular order…

May 23, 2025 - 04:25

United MileagePlus Devaluation: Negative Upgrade & Stopover Changes

United MileagePlus has today announced three negative changes, which will be implemented in the coming months. The good news is that the updates don’t involve the core parts of the program. However, I think many MileagePlus members will still be unhappy about these developments. Let’s cover the three changes, in no particular order…

United MileagePlus cuts Excursionist Perk

For tickets issued as of August 21, 2025, United will no longer offer the Excursionist Perk on award tickets. For context, this perk has been around for years, and allows members to add a one-way award or stopover to a multi-city award ticket.

This only impacts new bookings and any changes made to existing bookings. I know this is a perk that many MileagePlus members enjoyed in order to maximize their miles, so this isn’t great.

United MileagePlus ends YBM instant upgrades

As of August 21, 2025, United will no longer offer instant upgrades at the time of ticketing on Y, B, or M fares, for Premier members in eligible markets. Under the current system, the idea is that if you book a full fare ticket and there’s upgrade space available at the time of booking in an eligible market, your upgrade will automatically be confirmed.

After this benefit is cut, Premier members will still enjoy complimentary Premier upgrades when available at the upgrade window, but instant upgrades will no longer be available, unless members redeem MileagePlus miles or PlusPoints.

United is eliminating instant upgrades on full fare tickets

United MileagePlus eliminates upgrade award charts

As of November 24, 2025, United will no longer display the MileagePlus upgrade award chart on its website. While not explicitly stated, one assumes that this means the airline will start dynamically pricing upgrade awards, just as it dynamically prices award tickets.

Once this change is implemented, here’s the process for determining upgrade pricing:

Search for a flight
Select “Advanced search”
Select “Upgrades, certificates and promotion codes”
In the “Upgrade type” box, select “MileagePlus® Upgrade Awards”
Select “Find fights”
Miles required will display in the “Upgrade” columns

United will stop displaying mileage upgrade costs

Bottom line

The United MileagePlus program is making a few negative changes in the second half of 2025. As of August 21, we’ll see the Excursionist Perk and Premier instant upgrades on full fare tickets cut. Then as of November 24, we’ll see the airline adopt dynamic pricing for upgrades.

These are all negative changes, no matter how you slice it. However, I think for most members, they’re probably not significant enough to adjust behavior too much.

What do you make of these MileagePlus changes?