What happened
- One-way economy from Newark (EWR) to London (LHR): 40,000 points + ~$265.60 (up from ~$5.60).
- One-way economy from San Francisco (SFO) to Hong Kong (HKG): 55,000 points + ~$205.60 (up from ~$5.60). These surcharges are likely to also apply to United Polaris business class awards, though those are currently limited mostly to United MileagePlus members. The change comes shortly after the two airlines launched reciprocal points redemptions in late 2025. This move may signal United's broader strategy to exert more control over partner programs and improve MileagePlus profitability by making partner redemptions less attractive compared to flying United directly
JetBlue TrueBlue has started applying carrier-imposed surcharges to award tickets redeemed on United Airlines, marking a significant change in their Blue Sky partnership value. While domestic United flights generally remain unaffected, international redemptions now incur substantial fees. Examples of the new costs include: