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CNBC • Leslie Josephs

United revamps MileagePlus to favour co‑brand cardholders — up to 40% cuts for non‑cardholders

United Airlines is reshaping MileagePlus to favour co‑branded cardholders and elites, boosting accruals for cardholders while cutting mileage earning for non‑cardholders by up to 40%. It also raises award prices and tightens basic‑economy earning, accelerating a push toward a more card‑centric revenue model.

2026-02-19T04:54:30.884895-08:00

Airways Magazine

United and JetBlue enable reciprocal revenue bookings and loyalty redemptions on each other's sites

2026-02-10T13:15:45.787681-08:00

FlightGlobal

Virgin Australia names Andrew Cleary as Chief Customer Officer and CEO Velocity; senior strategy leaders to depart

2026-02-12T19:49:09.414425-08:00

Breitflyte

WestJet expands loyalty partnership with Virgin Atlantic to include LHR codeshares to UAE, Maldives and South Africa

2026-02-17T08:44:42.689050-08:00

News Timeline

CNBC

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United revamps MileagePlus to favour co‑brand cardholders — up to 40% cuts for non‑cardholders United Airlines is reshaping MileagePlus to favour co‑branded cardholders and elites, boosting accruals for cardholders while cutting mileage earning for non‑cardholders by up to 40%. It also raises award prices and tightens basic‑economy earning, accelerating a push toward a more card‑centric revenue model.

2026-02-19T04:54:30.884895-08:00

United revamps MileagePlus to favour co‑brand cardholders — up to 40% cuts for non‑cardholders

CNBC

United revamps MileagePlus to favor co‑brand cardholders; TravelBank changes hit AmEx credits United is overhauling MileagePlus to prioritize co‑brand credit‑card holders, trimming rewards and earning for members who don't carry the airline card. Concurrent changes to United TravelBank may cause some TravelBank purchases to stop qualifying for American Express airline‑fee statement credits, reducing value for certain premium‑card users.

2026-02-19T04:50:57.322459-08:00

United revamps MileagePlus to favor co‑brand cardholders; TravelBank changes hit AmEx credits

Breitflyte

WestJet expands loyalty partnership with Virgin Atlantic to include LHR codeshares to UAE, Maldives and South Africa WestJet has expanded its loyalty partnership with Virgin Atlantic so WestJet Rewards members can now earn and redeem points on Virgin Atlantic codeshare flights via London Heathrow to the UAE, the Maldives and South Africa, extending long‑haul redemption options and transatlantic connectivity.

2026-02-17T08:44:42.689050-08:00

WestJet expands loyalty partnership with Virgin Atlantic to include LHR codeshares to UAE, Maldives and South Africa

FlightGlobal

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Virgin Australia names Andrew Cleary as Chief Customer Officer and CEO Velocity; senior strategy leaders to depart Virgin Australia has reorganised its senior leadership, naming Andrew Cleary chief customer officer and CEO Velocity from 23 Mar 2026, consolidating customer, loyalty and retail functions. Velocity CEO Nick Rohrlach and strategy chief Alistair Hartley will depart on 30 April; reports say CEO Jayne Hrdlicka will step down.

2026-02-12T19:49:09.414425-08:00

Virgin Australia names Andrew Cleary as Chief Customer Officer and CEO Velocity; senior strategy leaders to depart

Airways Magazine

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United and JetBlue enable reciprocal revenue bookings and loyalty redemptions on each other's sites Starting this week United Airlines and JetBlue activated reciprocal revenue bookings on each other's websites and apps and expanded Blue Sky loyalty earning and redemption, allowing customers to purchase partner-operated flights with cash or points. The move stitches JetBlue's leisure network onto United's broader domestic and international footprint.

2026-02-10T13:15:45.787681-08:00

United and JetBlue enable reciprocal revenue bookings and loyalty redemptions on each other's sites

CNBC

American shifts AAdvantage co‑brand cards from Barclays to Citi; account conversions set for April 24, 2026 Citi will become the sole issuer of American Airlines AAdvantage co‑brand credit cards, with Barclays AAdvantage accounts automatically converted to Citi/AAdvantage cards on April 24, 2026. Citi is also surveying a refreshed $150 small‑business AAdvantage card that would award Loyalty Points to authorized users and add a flight‑streak bonus.

2026-02-01T09:17:31.608184-08:00

American shifts AAdvantage co‑brand cards from Barclays to Citi; account conversions set for April 24, 2026

Reuters

Trump proposal to cap credit-card interest rates could threaten airlines’ co-branded loyalty programmes President Donald Trump's proposal to cap credit-card interest rates could sharply reduce revenue from co-branded airline cards and threaten the economics of frequent‑flyer loyalty programmes, industry advisers warn. Those card partnerships generate significant profits that fund airline benefits, bonuses and broader loyalty operations.

2026-01-28T14:05:27.802040-08:00

Trump proposal to cap credit-card interest rates could threaten airlines’ co-branded loyalty programmes

emirates.com

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Emirates Skywards partners with Jet2 to redeem miles on 75+ UK leisure routes Emirates Skywards has partnered with UK leisure carrier Jet2.com, enabling members to redeem Miles for flights across more than 75 short‑haul leisure destinations. The move targets the UK—home to roughly 4 million Skywards members—and expands Emirates’ retail reach and feeder options without adding aircraft.

2026-01-22T01:38:33.539801-08:00

Emirates Skywards partners with Jet2 to redeem miles on 75+ UK leisure routes

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Frequent-flyer programs News

United revamps MileagePlus to favour co‑brand cardholders — up to 40% cuts for non‑cardholders

United and JetBlue enable reciprocal revenue bookings and loyalty redemptions on each other's sites

Virgin Australia names Andrew Cleary as Chief Customer Officer and CEO Velocity; senior strategy leaders to depart

WestJet expands loyalty partnership with Virgin Atlantic to include LHR codeshares to UAE, Maldives and South Africa

News Timeline