United Airlines just announced three major updates to its MileagePlus program that will hit members later this year. While none are a total game-changer on their own, together they represent a clear devaluation—especially if you use United miles for multi-city itineraries or paid‐fare upgrades.

We break down each change, share the rollout dates, and offer simple tips to lock in the old rules before they vanish. For full details, see United’s official notice.

A United Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner flying against a clear blue sky.

The Three Key Changes

  1. Excursionist Perk is disappearing
  2. Instant upgrades on top-tier economy fares end
  3. MileagePlus upgrade award chart goes away

1. Excursionist Perk Ends on August 21, 2025

The popular Excursionist Perk gave you one free one-way flight within a multi-city award ticket—so long as that segment started and ended in the same region but differed from your origin. It was an easy way to add a free intra-Europe hop or an extra Asian stop between long-haul segments.

Under the old rules:

  • You book a U.S. → Europe → Europe → U.S. award.
  • United charges for the two long-haul segments and waives the intra-Europe leg.
  • The free flight matches the cabin you’ve already booked (e.g., business).

From August 21, 2025, award searches and bookings made with MileagePlus miles will no longer include a free segment. You’ll pay full miles or cash, even if you map out the same multi-city pattern.

Tip: Book any long-haul award with an Excursionist segment by August 20 to lock in this benefit.

2. Instant Upgrades on Premium Economy Fares Discontinued

Also effective August 21, MileagePlus will remove the option to request instant upgrades at ticketing on the three highest paid economy fare classes. You’ll still be eligible for complimentary Premier upgrades based on availability, status and fare class—but no more last-minute mile or instrument upgrades the moment you buy your ticket.

Affected fare classes include:

Fare Class Type
Y Full-fare Economy
B Flexible Economy
M Standard Economy

If you rely on instrument upgrades to clear into Polaris on day-of-departure, make sure you’ve booked before the cutoff or factor in a possible award or paid upgrade later.

3. Upgrade Award Chart Goes Dynamic on November 24, 2025

United will retire its fixed-price upgrade chart on November 24, 2025, moving to fully dynamic pricing. Far from eliminating award upgrades, this simply means:

  • No more looking up a fixed miles-per-segment chart.
  • Upgrade prices will fluctuate by demand, cabin, aircraft and route.
  • You’ll see new mileage rates at booking and in your reservation upgrade options.

If you prefer the certainty of a charted rate (e.g., 20,000 miles for a short upgrade), book and confirm upgrades before the deadline—or prepare for a variable rate that could rise during peak periods.

Rollout Timeline

Change Effective Date What You Lose
Excursionist Perk August 21, 2025 Free intra-region segment
Instant Economy Fare Upgrades August 21, 2025 Day-of paid-fare upgrades
Upgrade Award Chart November 24, 2025 Fixed miles pricing table

What This Means for MileagePlus Members

  • Multi-city award travelers: book before August 21 to claim any required Excursionist segments.
  • Premier members seeking instant upgrades: lock in your instrument upgrades on or before August 20.
  • Anyone who uses miles to upgrade: plan ahead for variable pricing if you’ll upgrade after November 24.

United’s moves follow a broader trend of loyalty-program devaluations—but with clear cut-off dates, you have a narrow window to secure the old rules. Mark your calendar, run any last-minute award searches, and consider AwardFares alerts to notify you of saver seats before they disappear.

For full details, visit United’s official update here.

Get Ahead of the Devaluation with AwardFares

Need to lock in a free Excursionist segment or snag that last Polaris upgrade at a known rate? AwardFares can help you:

  • 🔍 Scout multi-city itineraries to capture your Excursionist Perk before August 20
  • 📆 Compare award calendars for United and Star Alliance partners in one view
  • 🔔 Create alerts for premium-economy upgrade space and low-mileage saver awards
  • 💺 Preview seat maps and pick the best cabin to protect your upgrade chances

Head to AwardFares and book under the old MileagePlus rules before they’re gone.

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