United is changing a frequent flyer policy

United says it will no longer award a minimum of 500 frequent-flier miles on each flight starting with its July 1 flights no matter when they were ticketed.

Now travelers will only get credit for the actual distance flown.

The loss of this little perk will matter little to most of us but will sting many frequent and business customers who used to be able to rack up big miles this way.

It follows a move by US Airways, a United code-sharing partner, which did the same thing back in February.

Oh, and did I mention US Airways and United also happen to be in merger talks?
(By Paul S. Makishima, Globe staff)