McDonald’s customers are expressing frustration following the announcement of adjustments to the chain’s loyalty program. The popular fast-food brand is set to raise the points requirement for obtaining complimentary items through MyMcDonald’s Rewards.
Currently, patrons need 5,500 points to redeem offerings like a Big Mac, Double Fillet of Fish, Double Sausage and Egg McMuffin, and Nine Chicken Nuggets. However, effective March 17, the points needed will increase to 6,500 for these items, with customers earning 100 points for every £1 spent at McDonald’s.
The current 1,500 points needed for items such as a Medium Coffee or Small Fries will also see an increase to 2,000 points. Additionally, the points threshold for items like a regular McFlurry or an Apple Pie will rise from 2,500 points to 3,500, while a Double Cheeseburger or a McChicken sandwich will require 5,000 points, up from 4,000 points.
In response to these changes, one customer expressed dissatisfaction on social media, while another inquired about the implementation date to plan their point redemptions accordingly.
A spokesperson for McDonald’s attributed the alterations to the loyalty scheme to escalating food and supply costs. They emphasized that while the points requirement has been raised across all tiers, new redemption options, including Chicken Selects, Cheese sides, and a new Sausage Sandwich, have been introduced to provide customers with more choices.
The adjustments come following the launch of McDonald’s new menu, featuring innovative items like the Surf N’ Turf burger, a unique offering in the UK, comprising two beef patties, a crispy white fish fillet patty, cheese, onions, pickles, mustard, and ketchup. Additionally, the new menu includes the Chicken Cheeseburger, Espresso Milkshake, and Chilli Cheese Bites to cater to diverse customer preferences.