Opinion ID: 3167688
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: United’s Program Modifications

Text: After its 2010 merger with Continental, United announced that MileagePlus would be the single rewards program for the merged airlines and that certain amendments to the upcoming 2012 program were anticipated. In September 2011 United provided additional information about the adjustments to the new 2012 program, which included a number of changes to the program’s premier status levels. In some cases, these changes meant that members who qualified for 2012 premier status would receive fewer benefits in 2012 under the 2012 Premier Program than the benefits that were available to premier members in 2011 under the 2011 program. In 2012 and 2013, the plaintiffs (whose cases were eventually consolidated) filed this diversity action against United in the Northern District of Illinois, alleging that United breached a contract by changing the benefits of premier membership for the 2012 program year. The district court granted summary judgment for United because the undisputed evidence showed that the MileagePlus Program Rules authorized United to modify the benefits associated with the program’s premier status levels at any time. The plaintiffs appeal. 6 Nos. 15‐1836 & 15‐1845