I got Silver Preferred status through Feb 2002 via the Silver Challenge back in July, and intend to qualify via segments to retain my status for 2002. Here's the thing: I need one more trip, and I am not sure whether it matters if I complete it by December 14th or not. It says on the US website that welcome packets are sent in February if you qualify after December 14th. Of course, I already received my welcome packet back in July, but I assume I will be getting another packet after I qualify for 2002 (is it identical to the first one I got?) So, my question is: does it matter whether I qualify by December 14th or not? It would be more convenient for me to make a flight on the weekend of the 14th, which would mean I wouldn't get the last necessary segments until December 17th, but I could force the trip earlier if there is a good reason to.

I don't think it really matters, but you guys know a lot more than I do, so I figured I'd ask. I assume I will be getting two more SWUs, which I want to use at the end of March, but if they send them to me in February that should be fine.

It seems like the only people who might care whether they qualify by December 14th are new Preferred members or people who need those SWUs before February. Is there anything I am missing?

If you are requalifying for the same elite status, you just need to fly your needed miles by 12/31.

The 12/14 deadline applies to people who are obtaining elite status for the first time or are moving up in status level(s). For those folks, if they achieve their new status by 12/14, they will receive a new elite packet this year and another in March of next year. If they attain their new elite status between 12/15 and 12/31, they will only receive one elite packet next spring. Note that for this purpose, the miles must post by 12/14 (not just flown by that date).

Be aware that the elite packets historically don't come out until the first 10 days or so of March. If you are planning on using SWU's at the end March, you might want to have a chat with the Silver desk to affirm your ability to get an upgrade reservation even though you may not yet have the SWU's in hand. Also, be aware that US has only offered SWU's for the last two years and that there is no guarantee that they will be provided with the elite packets next year.

Sorry for being a little slow... I'm going to qualify for Silver on US for the first time on Dec. 20 (I'm Plat on AA). I assume this means that my status, as soon as the miles post, will be immediately upgraded to Silver and reflected as such in the system (So I could make a print-out of my on-line stmt for pre-boarding and other benefits) but that I won't receive my new card until March. Is this correct? I would really like to receive my new card prior to March 02 if possible. I just find that it tends to work better than a printout for things like using the business / first check-in lines and pre-boarding.



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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Redhead:
Sorry for being a little slow... I'm going to qualify for Silver on US for the first time on Dec. 20 (I'm Plat on AA). I assume this means that my status, as soon as the miles post, will be immediately upgraded to Silver and reflected as such in the system .</font>


Yup. Once the miles post, the system will up your status. Your boarding passes will show your status so I don't think you'll need to print off anything. Of course you won't get any of your free upgrades until 2/2002 BUT if you have a transcon between now and then, remember you can 'buy' upgrade certs from the DM Service Center.

Redhead--if you can qualify for Silver by getting the necessary miles posted to your account byt he 14th, you'll get a kit this year AND one next spring. That would give you two additional systemwide upgrades. Might be worth an extra earlier trip if you can pull it off. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by BillMorrow:
[B]
Note that for this purpose, the miles must post by 12/14 (not just flown by that date).
[B]</font>

So if I will be flying the segment that qualifies me on a red-eye landing the morning of the 14th, is there something I can do to make sure that the miles post by the end of the day? Can I go to the service desk or CTO when I land, or call the DM service line?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by jcrb:
Can I go to the service desk or CTO when I land, or call the DM service line?
</font>I really think the asnwer is a NO. Sorry. It usually takes about 2-3 days for the flight to be credited.

What I was told this week when I called in to check (for reaching reduced Chairmans level) was that if I did not have miles posted by the 13th, to call and have them do it manually 'since it takes 24 hours to go through'. I would worry about a redeye landing on morning of 14th. [My last flight is on the 10th, I am not worried.]

You'll reach status, but a welcome packet could get missed.

For those of you worried about the 'system not showing' newly reached levels, don't worry, it will be there. However in some cases, if you book a trip before reaching the new level, agents would need to re-enter your DM number to make the higher status show up. Its easy to do - if it doesn't show up correctly, have them do it. This is especially worthwhile if you're on a waitlist for an upgrade.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by hscottm:
[B]What I was told this week when I called in to check (for reaching reduced Chairmans level) was that if I did not have miles posted by the 13th, to call and have them do it manually 'since it takes 24 hours to go through'. I would worry about a redeye landing on morning of 14th. [My last flight is on the 10th, I am not worried.]
[B]</font>

hmmmm, if it takes 24 hours to go through manually, I suppose I could call while in flight on the 13th. I don't even need all the flight miles to qualify either... I can see it now...

"...well I can see that we have just passed over the Missippi, can you get me credit for the 1600 miles now? and give me the other 600 when we land tomorrow????"

hope springs eternal

I want to revisit this for a moment. I am considering taking two flights 12/28 return 12/30. Is there no way this might count for next year?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by catwood:
I want to revisit this for a moment. I am considering taking two flights 12/28 return 12/30. Is there no way this might count for next year?</font>

It counts -- it's just that you'll only get a single welcome packet in Feb of '03. You'll have missed the '02 packet that you would have got had you qualified by 12/14.

The main "problem" with that is that you don't get the extra SWUs -- but the computer still knows who you are and what your status is.

Just to clarify, I have gold status, I just want the flights at the end of the year to count towards 2002 status.

I highly doubt it. It is always posted with your departure date as the date of record.