United Airlines is following Delta Airlines by changing its frequent flyer program. United travelers who fly the most and pay the most will be the ones who will be rewarded.

Those who fly 25,000 miles or more per year on United Airlines, elite members, will be the travelers who will find the new program more rewarding. The travelers who only travel occasionally on budget fares won't be rewarded at the level they are used to.

The change takes effect March 1, 2015. Elite members will receive between seven and 11 miles per dollar they spend on tickets. The budget travelers and occasional travelers who fly less than 25,000 miles per year, will only get five miles per dollar spent.

In 1981, American Airlines created the first major loyalty program and based frequent flyer points on the amount of miles flown, not the amount spent per ticket. 

But now, major airlines like Delta, United and Southwest are altering their programs to cater towards passengers who spend the most, especially business travelers who purchase full-priced tickets.

"These changes are designed to more directly recognize the value of our members when they fly United," Thomas O'Toole, president of the airline's MileagePlus program, said in a statement. 

United hasn't announced a change for redeeming tickets with miles, though a spokesperson said there would be no changes.

To redeem a free round-trip fare on United, at least 25,000 miles is required for trips within the U.S. To get to Europe and back for free, between 60,000 and 130,000 miles are required. Up to 170,000 miles can often be required to fly to the Middle East, India, Pakistan, Australia/New Zealand and back.

Passengers will earn miles on the base fare and surchages of their ticket price.

The final announcement that United made was regarding its upgrades. Customers will soon be allowed to upgrade to seats with more legroom by using the miles they already have in their frequent flyer accounts.