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Huge news has landed in Canada as Neo and United Airlines have teamed up to launch the all-new United MileagePlus Neo World Elite Mastercard.
While much of the fine print remains a mystery, the biggest benefit might be just holding the card itself — let’s take a look at the details.
The United MileagePlus Neo World Elite Mastercard
United Airlines is launching a co-branded credit card with Neo here in Canada this spring. Card perks will include priority boarding and a free checked bag. There will also be elevated earn rates when booking with Star Alliance carriers.
Furthermore, be sure to sign up for the waitlist to be the first to learn more. If that’s not a good incentive, join the waitlist to earn an extra 5,000 bonus miles on top of the welcome offer. The first 3,000 people to join the waitlist will receive an extra 5,000 miles upon activating the card and making a first purchase.
Needless to say, we’re a little light on details at the moment. I expect to learn more about the everyday earning rate, annual fee, and welcome bonus in the coming weeks.
The fine print says the waitlist bonus (and presumably the welcome bonus) is available only to new customers. That means anyone who’s held a different Neo product or even a Neo bank account would not be eligible for this bonus, and we have seen Neo deny bonuses in the past on the Neo Cathay Pacific World Elite Mastercard under its terms & conditions.
Hold a United Credit Card and Unlock Exclusive Saver Award Space
On the point about the biggest benefit of the United MileagePlus Neo World Elite Mastercard being holding the card itself, United has made a slew of changes to the United MileagePlus frequent flyer program, all related to holding a co-branded credit card (and Neo is the only option in Canada).
Beginning April 2, United will offer a 10% discount when redeeming miles on United metal to United co-branded credit card holders. If you hold both a credit card and Premier elite status, you will receive a 15% discount when paying with United miles.
Credit card holders will also have access to expanded saver availability in United Polaris business class. In fact, this is already happening and PMB writer Sash was able to book Ottawa-Chicago-Los Angeles for 30,000 United miles one-way in business class (award space not available to Aeroplan).
Keep in mind that the 10-15% discount applies in addition to the expanded saver availability, but the discount will only be live as of April 2. To demonstrate how big a deal this is, imagine a one-way flight from New York to Milan in United Polaris business class:
- No credit card: no saver space
- Credit card holder: saver space for 72,000 miles (10% off the regular price of 80,000)
- Credit card holder + Premier elite member: Saver space for 68,000 miles (15% off the regular price of 80,000)
Earn More Miles by Holding a United Credit Card
On the earning side, MileagePlus cardholders will earn up to twice as many miles per dollar spent on United flights. Basic economy will not earn any miles at all unless you hold a credit card and/or you’re a Premier elite member.
In short, co-branded credit card holders will earn slightly more miles than they did before, regardless of Premier elite status. Not having a co-branded credit card means earning at least 25% fewer miles than you do today, even if you are a Premier member.
If you credit all your United tickets to Aeroplan (as I do), these changes will not affect you.
For full details about the upcoming United MileagePlus changes, you can check out United’s official news release.
Takeaway
United Airlines is teaming up with Neo to launch the United MileagePlus Neo World Elite Mastercard in Canada. The card will launch this spring and include perks such as a free checked bag and priority boarding. Be sure to join the waitlist to earn 5,000 bonus miles.
While details like the earn rate and welcome bonus are unknown, the biggest reason to hold the card might be the expanded access to United Polaris business class saver availability. Starting April 2, cardholders will also see a 10% discount on United metal when redeeming miles and 15% if combined with Premier elite status.
1 comment
If Neo aligns the United card to resemble the Cathay one, you can be sure I won’t be applying. MileagePlus is not a good programme anymore, status earning and redemptions have been quite devalued in the last years. On top of that Neo Financial is just a horror show, mostly negative reviews of that provider.
United had to partner with Neo in order to introduce their MP changes last week given that many Canadians are still looking to United instead of Aeroplan. It will no doubt attract those clinging onto status or points folks who really want to travel United Polaris.