Oct 30, 2016, 3:23 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Major differences between Gold and Silver A list of differences is available here: Premier benefits chart
Previous thread(s)
Is Premier Gold Worth it?
- Use *G lounges on international trips
- 2 bags @ 70 lbs (vs 1 @ 50lbs)
- Lower award booking and change fees
- E+ at time of booking for yourself + 1.
- Free Same Day Change (SDC)
- Higher earning rate for RDMs (8 vs 7)
- Higher on upgrade list
- Eligible for Marriott Gold Status via RewardsPlus
Previous thread(s)
Is Premier Gold Worth it?
Is it worth it to stretch for Gold (over Silver)? [2016 Consolidated]
Jul 24, 2016, 9:53 am
#61
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,428
There's a whole thread about that in UA forum with lots of opinions.
In a nutshell, MHO is that extra RDMs aren't worth it, leaving THREE benefits:
Same day change, E+ at booking and lounge access on Int'l travel - but only if you travel internationally.
If you have to spend too much money for PQD, it's not worth it, because you can buy E+ subscription and just go to a restaurant / bar and spend LESS $$$.
Then there's time to do MRs. Back in the day, I used to do blended runs, i.e. find cheap fare to a place I want to go. I still have a list of places I want to go / return to, but will slown down and settle for Lifetime Gold as MM.
YMMV.
In a nutshell, MHO is that extra RDMs aren't worth it, leaving THREE benefits:
Same day change, E+ at booking and lounge access on Int'l travel - but only if you travel internationally.
If you have to spend too much money for PQD, it's not worth it, because you can buy E+ subscription and just go to a restaurant / bar and spend LESS $$$.
Then there's time to do MRs. Back in the day, I used to do blended runs, i.e. find cheap fare to a place I want to go. I still have a list of places I want to go / return to, but will slown down and settle for Lifetime Gold as MM.
YMMV.
Jul 24, 2016, 10:34 am
#62
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,453
$1600 is an awful lot to spend for UA Gold.
The question is whether you'll make use of it in the year following.
IMO the best Gold benefits are E+ at booking and *A lounge access, 1 extra bag, and assorted *G benefits. If you don't fly international, the latter are not relevant.
The question is whether you'll make use of it in the year following.
IMO the best Gold benefits are E+ at booking and *A lounge access, 1 extra bag, and assorted *G benefits. If you don't fly international, the latter are not relevant.
Jul 24, 2016, 9:28 pm
#63
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Platinum, SPG+Marriott Platinum, National Executive Elite
Posts: 33
There's a whole thread about that in UA forum with lots of opinions.
In a nutshell, MHO is that extra RDMs aren't worth it, leaving THREE benefits:
Same day change, E+ at booking and lounge access on Int'l travel - but only if you travel internationally.
If you have to spend too much money for PQD, it's not worth it, because you can buy E+ subscription and just go to a restaurant / bar and spend LESS $$$.
Then there's time to do MRs. Back in the day, I used to do blended runs, i.e. find cheap fare to a place I want to go. I still have a list of places I want to go / return to, but will slown down and settle for Lifetime Gold as MM.
YMMV.
In a nutshell, MHO is that extra RDMs aren't worth it, leaving THREE benefits:
Same day change, E+ at booking and lounge access on Int'l travel - but only if you travel internationally.
If you have to spend too much money for PQD, it's not worth it, because you can buy E+ subscription and just go to a restaurant / bar and spend LESS $$$.
Then there's time to do MRs. Back in the day, I used to do blended runs, i.e. find cheap fare to a place I want to go. I still have a list of places I want to go / return to, but will slown down and settle for Lifetime Gold as MM.
YMMV.
Do you have a link to the UA discussion thread that you mentioned?
Jul 24, 2016, 9:31 pm
#64
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Platinum, SPG+Marriott Platinum, National Executive Elite
Posts: 33
$1600 is an awful lot to spend for UA Gold.
The question is whether you'll make use of it in the year following.
IMO the best Gold benefits are E+ at booking and *A lounge access, 1 extra bag, and assorted *G benefits. If you don't fly international, the latter are not relevant.
The question is whether you'll make use of it in the year following.
IMO the best Gold benefits are E+ at booking and *A lounge access, 1 extra bag, and assorted *G benefits. If you don't fly international, the latter are not relevant.
As I replied to the earlier comment, it makes sense to buy access to E+ and food/beverages ala carte in lieu of $1600 in PQD. I might stick to Silver and try to make a Gold run next year as my work travel may be expected to pick up.
Jul 25, 2016, 8:50 am
#65
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 6km East of EPAYE
Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, AS & DL GM Marriott TE, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,582
Jul 25, 2016, 10:54 am
#66
Moderator: Budget Travel forum & Credit Card Programs, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: YYJ/YVR and back on Van Isle ....... for now
Programs: UA lifetime MM / *A Gold
Posts: 14,428
Jul 25, 2016, 11:54 am
#67
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
The OP should also consider getting the Club Card and spending 25K through EOY. That will waive the PQD up to Platinum. Since we all spend money outside United, then the OP can focus solely on the PQMs - 3000 PQM can be as cheap as $150. (5 cpm) especially out of ORD. (ORD-LGA is down to $71 for same days in September).
Jul 25, 2016, 12:09 pm
#68
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
The OP should also consider getting the Club Card and spending 25K through EOY. That will waive the PQD up to Platinum. Since we all spend money outside United, then the OP can focus solely on the PQMs - 3000 PQM can be as cheap as $150. (5 cpm) especially out of ORD. (ORD-LGA is down to $71 for same days in September).
I guess I could cancel CSP and pay the annual fee on the Chase MP Explorer instead but no double points/miles categories for MPE card other than buying tickets from United.
Hmm, the results are close either way.
Jul 25, 2016, 12:55 pm
#69
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
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Jul 25, 2016, 1:16 pm
#70
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: National EE, Hyatt Discoverist, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 508
You mean DAL-IAH 
Pretty sure UA hasn't flown DAL-HOU in last 20 years.
Very little chance for UA flying it as they leased their 2 DAL gates to WN for an obscene amonut of money for (IIRC) 20 years.
Used to get u/g on DAL-IAH sometimes as well on CR7 (as Plat and 1K).
Too bad, used to walk to DAL
Pretty sure UA hasn't flown DAL-HOU in last 20 years.
Very little chance for UA flying it as they leased their 2 DAL gates to WN for an obscene amonut of money for (IIRC) 20 years.
Used to get u/g on DAL-IAH sometimes as well on CR7 (as Plat and 1K).
Too bad, used to walk to DAL
Jul 25, 2016, 1:39 pm
#71
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Hawai'i Nei
Programs: Au: UA, Marriott, Hilton; GE
Posts: 7,141
Jul 25, 2016, 10:32 pm
#72
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Platinum, SPG+Marriott Platinum, National Executive Elite
Posts: 33
The OP should also consider getting the Club Card and spending 25K through EOY. That will waive the PQD up to Platinum. Since we all spend money outside United, then the OP can focus solely on the PQMs - 3000 PQM can be as cheap as $150. (5 cpm) especially out of ORD. (ORD-LGA is down to $71 for same days in September).
Jul 25, 2016, 10:39 pm
#73
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,850
Jul 25, 2016, 11:12 pm
#74
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Platinum, SPG+Marriott Platinum, National Executive Elite
Posts: 33
Jul 26, 2016, 5:38 am
#75
Join Date: Mar 2005
Programs: fwp blood diamond, dykwia uranium
Posts: 7,251
**acceptable is up to the beholder, i'm a drunk idiot so any lounge that has wifi, a chair, and free whiskey or vodka for breakfast is acceptable for me.
*whiskey or vodka for breakfast = $30usd, 10*30=300, 3000 pqm run costing $299
star gold is 100 percent worth almost any struggle
i will say however that the airline does recognize plats a bit more, and i have found fungible liquid value through my rpu as i don't care where the hell i sit (i'm always able to score exit row aisle)