United Airlines announced today that it will offer bonus miles to MileagePlus members who book travel in premium cabins between now and February 28, 2015. Here’s a look at the bonus miles based on status and class of service booked. Click here for terms.

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United is defining “long-haul” flights as “those of at least 3,000 miles and United’s p.s. Premium Service between New York JFK and Los Angeles and between New York JFK and San Francisco.” As far as I can tell, this offer is nearly identical to the one launched by American last month, with the exception that United’s will end on February 28th. Why so short? On March 1, the new revenue-based MileagePlus debuts which will, in theory automatically reward those purchasing the priciest tickets.

What does it all mean? High value customers do matter, and United was at least tacitly concerned that it would lose a few to American with its generous offer, and perhaps to Delta too. Interesting times in the airline miles space.

-MJ, January 9, 2015