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Surprising fact: more than 1 in 10 complex award itineraries relied on a free intra-region segment that will soon vanish for new reservations.
We break down the news so members can act before the deadlines. United Airlines will remove several long-standing benefits in 2025, altering how award pricing and upgrades behave.
The biggest immediate shift affects multi-city award value. What once could add a free intra-region leg will now price normally in miles or cash. That change, combined with the end of instant booking upgrades and a move to dynamic upgrade pricing later in the year, creates a clear devaluation for many travelers.
We’ll show where to find last-chance opportunities under the current rules and how to adapt award strategy. Our goal is to help you preserve advantage, evaluate award value quickly, and plan for a program that becomes more demand-driven.
Key Takeaways
- Major program updates are scheduled in 2025; act before key dates to lock value.
- Multi-city award routes that once included a free intra-region leg will now cost miles or cash.
- Instant upgrades on select economy fares and fixed upgrade charts will transition away.
- Travelers and members must reassess award and upgrade strategies to maintain advantage.
- We provide practical steps to spot last-chance redemptions and minimize losses.
United’s MileagePlus Changes: Excursionist Perk Ends August 21, What’s Next
With two firm cutoff dates on the horizon, savvy members can still secure favorable award and upgrade outcomes.
At-a-glance timeline
August 21, 2025: the free intra-region award leg and instant upgrades on select fares stop. Book and ticket eligible itineraries by the deadline to lock current rules.
November 24, 2025: the Upgrade Award Chart retires and pricing becomes dynamic, shifting with demand, route, aircraft, and cabin.
Who is most impacted
Members who build multi-city award trips that relied on a zero-mile intra-region segment face the biggest shift.
Premier members and elites who used instant upgrades on full-fare economy will also see material effects on upgrade availability and priorities.
What to do now
- Prioritize booking and ticketing any awards that need the free leg before the cutoff.
- Confirm instant upgrades while the fixed chart remains active and document time booking confirmations.
- Take advantage of predictable pricing now if you plan major redemptions; prepare to be flexible after November.
Excursionist Perk explained, what’s ending, and how to book before the deadline
If you like multi-city awards, there’s a narrow window to preserve an embedded zero-mile flight. We’ll explain the mechanics, routing rules, and quick steps to lock value before ticketing closes.
How the benefit worked
The excursionist perk let a traveler include a free one-way intra-region segment inside a three-leg award. The zero-mile treatment applied when the itinerary began and ended in the same region and used the free leg in a different region.
Routing rules and regions
The core rules were strict: start and finish in the same region; the free segment must be in a different region; and that segment must start and end inside one region. United’s region map covers 17 groupings like Europe, Japan, Oceania, and mainland U.S./Canada.
Example and last‑chance strategy
Example: New York → Amsterdam; Paris → Athens; Istanbul → Los Angeles could price the Paris–Athens segment at 0 miles when booked correctly.
Tip: search saver space, match cabin classes across segments, and ensure all tickets issue under one record locator before the deadline.
- Double-check routing order and screenshots of pricing.
- Try alternate hubs if space is tight and consider topping up miles to secure awards.
Upgrades and award chart shifts: instant upgrades end and pricing goes dynamic
Prepare for a shift from fixed upgrade costs to demand-driven pricing later this year. The two-step change impacts instant upgrades at booking and the legacy upgrade award chart.
Instant upgrades on Y/B/M fares discontinued for Premier elites starting August 21
Effective August 21, instant upgrades at ticketing for full-fare economy Y/B/M fare classes will stop. That means automatic clears at the time of ticketing are no longer guaranteed.
Members may still receive Complimentary Premier upgrades based on status, available space, and fare class. Alternatively, use PlusPoints or miles to secure an upgrade when space opens.
Upgrade Award Chart retires November 24: demand-based, route and cabin-driven pricing
On November 24, the fixed upgrade award chart will retire. Pricing will become dynamic and reflect demand, route, aircraft, and cabin quality.
Expect mileage rates to swing by date and popularity. High-demand transcons and premium international routes will likely show the largest variances.
How to check upgrade costs at booking and post-booking under MileagePlus
During time booking, select Advanced search → “Upgrades, certificates and promotion codes” → choose “MileagePlus Upgrade Awards” to view the miles needed in real time.
For existing tickets, open your reservation, pick Upgrade cabin, then choose “Miles” to see current offers. Inventory moves fast; decide quickly when a fare or space looks attractive.
Tip: compare the miles needed for an upgrade versus a standalone award before committing. Sometimes paying up for a higher fare class improves upgrade priority enough to be worth it.
- Instant upgrades at booking for Y/B/M vanish; plan around the loss of automatic clears.
- Rely more on waitlists and Complimentary Premier processes; status and fare class still matter.
- Check upgrade pricing during booking and revisit your reservation to monitor offers.
| What | Effective | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Instant upgrades for Y/B/M | August 21, 2025 | Book early, use PlusPoints or miles, monitor waitlist |
| Upgrade Award Chart retires | November 24, 2025 | Check dynamic pricing, compare against full awards |
| Viewing upgrade costs | Now | Advanced search → MileagePlus Upgrade Awards; Reservation → Upgrade cabin → Miles |
Conclusion
Now is the time to finalize any excursionist perk award that depends on a free one-way intra-region segment. Ticket qualifying itineraries by August 20–21, 2025, to preserve the current pricing and zero-mile treatment.
Instant upgrades on full-fare economy stop the same day, so plan upgrades and monitor waitlists closely. After November 24, dynamic upgrade pricing will change how many miles are required.
We recommend comparing a full award versus an upgrade, keeping alternate dates or nearby airports in mind, and topping up points only when the math gives you an advantage. Track account updates and set reminders so members and travelers can act fast.
Bottom line: act before the deadline, then optimize within the new program realities using real-time tools and data-driven choice.