United Airlines have announced they will cut their minimum mile credit guarantee. From July Mileage Plus members who once earn the minimum 500 miles for short flights will now only earn the miles flown.

United’s decision to drop their minimum 500 point per flight flown comes in the wake of US Airways dropping their minimum mile perk.

Under the minimum mile per flight rule, a 177 mile flight between Chicago and Detroit currently earns 500 miles, but when July comes, this same flight will only earn 177 miles. This change will see frequent flyers that fly predominately short haul flights loose out.

This is truly a greedy move on the part of United Airlines and US Airways, as passengers already pay a premium per mile to fly short haul flights, and many frequent flyers including myself consider, minimum mile per flight, a reasonable compensation for this premium.

With other airlines expected to follow suite, anything short of frequent flyers dropping United Airlines and US Airways on mass, will see the end of the minimum mile/point guarantee across the industry both the US and around the world.

I have started the following forum post in the Business Travel Guru forums if you would like to discuss this issue further, alternatively you can leave a comment below

United Airliens Drops the Minimum mile per flight rule