Elite Status Qualification
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Seattle, WA USA
Programs: Marriott Gold, United Silver
Posts: 263
Elite Status Qualification
So I am working on my elite status for this year and I am wondering if I'm going to qualify in time. My flights are usually very short so I am going to get the status based on segments not on miles. I am wondering if I am 2 flights short of my elite by 12/31/09 if they will roll the credits over into the next calendar year or if I am hosed. The website says "calendar year" which leads me to believe I am hosed if I don't get the segments I need by the end of this year. Is that correct?
#2
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Delayed at EWR
Programs: UA 1K, SPG Gold, Hilton Gold, Priority Pass
Posts: 353
That's my understanding, although they've been known to make offers to "buy" your Elite status. And by that I mean, I had like 12,000 miles about 5 years ago and they offered me Silver for $300.
#3
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 72
Yeah, I believe no-go unless you do some kind of other offer.
Even if you take a trip to be somewhere over New Year's, I always see that the return flight on or after the 1st even on a RT booking will post on next year's total.
Even if you take a trip to be somewhere over New Year's, I always see that the return flight on or after the 1st even on a RT booking will post on next year's total.
#4
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Cleveland, OH
Programs: UA Priemier Gold
Posts: 61,324
Not sure of your exact details but if you are really only 2 segments off, then buying a Y or B-fare for one of your remianing RTs at 2 EQPs per segment might get you over the top.
You probably know that already ....but just in case
You probably know that already ....but just in case
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Seattle, WA USA
Programs: Marriott Gold, United Silver
Posts: 263
yeah that is what I figured I would do if worse comes to worse. Work is paying for most of the flights though so I don't have much say in the fare class. I guess I'll just do what I can to make it work :-)
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
You can always pay for the difference after the fare is booked. A recent thread indicated CO will not charge change fees to upgrade to B or Y.
#7
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Houston
Programs: CO - Gold, Marriott- Gold, HH- Gold, Hyatt Diamond, miscellaneous nothing on many
Posts: 124
Even if work is paying for it, you may be able to tell your travel agent exactly what flight and fare class to book. We have to go through a specific travel agent with my work. The policy is that we have to book the cheapest ticket, or get approval from my manager if it is higher. If it was higher, I just paid the difference on my expense report (paid the company the difference). However, when the ticket was only about $50 more for a higher fare class, they booked it for me without getting the approval.
Being very friendly with the agent of course helps, as well as explaining what I am trying to accomplish (i.e. travel so much for the company, and it's nice to get free upgrades for a little more comfort but I need the elite status to have that chance, etc.)
Being very friendly with the agent of course helps, as well as explaining what I am trying to accomplish (i.e. travel so much for the company, and it's nice to get free upgrades for a little more comfort but I need the elite status to have that chance, etc.)
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,416
That's because individual flights are credited to the year in which they departed. Flights on January 1st are credited to the new year.
#9
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Programs: CO OnePass Platinum AS MVP HHonors Diamond SPG Gold
Posts: 2,417
If you really expect to be just a couple of segments short it's probably better to decide on a plan now instead of waiting until end of year. Fares are pretty reasonable between Labor Day and Thanksgiving so the time to do a segment or mileage run is now when it's cheap and planes and airports aren't packed full of inexperienced holiday travelers.