Mileage Plus members now earn miles flown

For many years, the legacy airlines’ frequent flyer programs have set a minimum mileage-earning level of 500 miles per flight – so you’d have that amount credited to your account no matter how short your flight was. But now, in the latest example of airlines’ continuing to tighten the screws on customers, United Airlines announced that starting July 1, Mileage Plus members will earn the amount of actual miles flown on all flights – ending the 500-mile minimum. It will probably just be a matter of time before other carriers match. Speaking of matching, last month we reported that United was raising its ticket-change fee from $100 to $150 – a move that has now been matched by US Airways. In addition, JetBlue has boosted its change fee from $40 (online) or $50 (on the phone) to $100.