Safeway to cancel United Airlines frequent-flyer program

Pleasanton, Calif. Safeway is ending its long-running United Mileage Rewards program, which allowed shoppers to earn miles in United Airlines' frequent-flyer program as a part of an effort to focus more on cutting prices for shoppers, according to the Denver Business Journal.

Safeway for years has offered its Club Card holders signing up for the United Mileage Rewards program 125 miles for every $250 spent on qualifying groceries.

The company recently had shoppers renew their participation in the program, perhaps as a means of cutting the cost of the program before deciding to eliminate the program altogether on Feb. 28.

“In the current economic climate there’s an overwhelming need for lower prices,” said Safeway president Karl Schroeder. “We have decided to refocus the value previously offered through our airline partnership into lower prices on the items all customers need.”