No more bonus miles for flying United between STL and ORD

Are you a frequent flier on the United shuttle between Lambert St. Louis and Chicago O’Hare? If so, your frequent flier miles will soon be going down.

The Associated Press is reporting that United Airlines is reducing frequent-flier miles for flights under 500 miles as part of efforts to cut costs.

Beginning in July, United will award frequent-flier miles based on actual miles flown for those short flights, doing away with the minimum credit of 500 miles. Once the change is made, a passenger flying between St. Louis and Chicago, for example, would get about 260 miles one way instead of the current 500.

US Airways already has done away with the minimum. Analysts expect other carriers to follow as they continue cutting perks to cope with growing costs.

United spokeswoman Robin Urbanski says the Chicago-based carrier is looking at every part of its business to ensure it is fiscally responsible in a challenging economic environment.