Is Premier Gold Worth it?
Oct 15, 2012, 12:15 pm
#46
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: IAH
Programs: UA,AA,WN, Marriott & Hilton Gold
Posts: 169
On my way to Gold at the end of the month, and I think that the value of the free SDC is something that's being overlooked. I would have saved a lot of money over the last few months if I were not paying $75 every time a schedule change came up unexpectedly. Even if you don't have frequent schedule changes its nice to have the flexibility without having to pay. This actually would have saved me a call last night during IRROPs as well (though the Premier line agent took care of the change sans fee).
Oct 15, 2012, 12:25 pm
#47
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 799
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPad; CPU OS 5_0 like Mac OS X) AppleWebKit/534.46 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.1 Mobile/9A334 Safari/7534.48.3)
@wcalvert: enjoy seeing your family with the gold status as a free benefit!
The advantage of UAL's changes is that 1Ks get more bang for their $$. Apparently United has figured out too many flyers have some sort of status and earn too many miles. In the long run everybody will be happier if we can actually use the miles in our accounts.
I will be grilled for posting this.
@wcalvert: enjoy seeing your family with the gold status as a free benefit!
The advantage of UAL's changes is that 1Ks get more bang for their $$. Apparently United has figured out too many flyers have some sort of status and earn too many miles. In the long run everybody will be happier if we can actually use the miles in our accounts.
I will be grilled for posting this.
Oct 15, 2012, 12:48 pm
#48
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: OAK
Programs: UA-Plat AS-MVPG
Posts: 198
Both times this year it was on Hawaii flights where UA was rebooking through lax and I jumped on the next direct.
Oct 15, 2012, 12:52 pm
#49
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: IAD
Programs: UA GS, 1MM; Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 561
Gold saves me more than $350/year in same day changes compared to Silver.
Oct 15, 2012, 1:07 pm
#50
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
Even as Silver what I would do is hop in line and call the number on the back of my MP card. The phone agent would rebook me and I would jump out of line, walk up to the automated kiosk and grab a new ticket.
Both times this year it was on Hawaii flights where UA was rebooking through lax and I jumped on the next direct.
Both times this year it was on Hawaii flights where UA was rebooking through lax and I jumped on the next direct.
Not to mention you should have less time wasted waiting on the phone, as your status bumps others.
Then again, one does feel bad when you go on standby, and bypass the list when BPs print out, much to my (and the agent's) surprise. But it was a really good feeling.
Oct 15, 2012, 1:48 pm
#51
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,643
Also:
*3 free bags (useful when traveling with others not on your same PNR -- happens occasionally for me)
*slightly better upgrade access, i have been the last one upgraded on some flights mid-tier cities to hubs (ie, BDL-ORD)
*slightly better premier treatment (IME relative to sliver pre 3/3, certainly YMMV)
*free E+ at booking (huge for me as most of my flights are tcons)
*star alliance gold status (very useful when traveling internationally or domestically via IAD with LH lounge)
Oct 15, 2012, 2:06 pm
#52
Join Date: Feb 2012
Programs: United-1k, Marriott-Lifetime Plat
Posts: 111
Wait a second.. Let me get this straight.
If I want to change my flight same day I can at no charge being gold?
If I want to change my flight same day I can at no charge being gold?
Oct 15, 2012, 2:27 pm
#53
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,305
Gold vs Silver is 25% in RDM bonus.
So even if you fly just 25,000 next year - that is 6250 miles - a value of $135 in itself. If you plan to fly >50,000 miles next year - that is $250 in RDM value alone given up on top of all the other perks.
So even if you fly just 25,000 next year - that is 6250 miles - a value of $135 in itself. If you plan to fly >50,000 miles next year - that is $250 in RDM value alone given up on top of all the other perks.
Oct 15, 2012, 2:28 pm
#54
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 12 stops from ORD
Programs: UA, AA, DL
Posts: 992
Yes, provided the same fare class is available on the flight that you’re attempting to change to.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...questions.html
Oct 15, 2012, 2:56 pm
#55
Join Date: Feb 2012
Programs: United-1k, Marriott-Lifetime Plat
Posts: 111
Yes, provided the same fare class is available on the flight that you’re attempting to change to.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...questions.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...questions.html
Oct 15, 2012, 3:03 pm
#56
Join Date: May 2004
Location: US
Programs: UA Lifetime Gold, IHG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 973
Gold is definitely worth it. Best thing they have is no change fees for standby or same day travel, along with Star Gold lounges and lower fees in everything. I just crossed Gold, but not going for Plat and it requires too many mileage runs. Plus all these benefits are good only if you travel a lot next year.
Oct 15, 2012, 4:02 pm
#57
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: 14,429
Tried to do from SAN in February, but never got any flights with required fare class.
Yesterday I was able to move up my ORD-DFW flight by several hours, because it looked like rain all day and didn't feel like sightseeing in that kind of weather.
Gold is definitely worth it. Best thing they have is no change fees for standby or same day travel, along with Star Gold lounges and lower fees in everything. I just crossed Gold, but not going for Plat and it requires too many mileage runs. Plus all these benefits are good only if you travel a lot next year.
And I already mentioned SDC.EmailKid
Oct 15, 2012, 7:55 pm
#58
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,643
Yes, provided the same fare class is available on the flight that you’re attempting to change to.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...questions.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...questions.html
Oct 15, 2012, 9:10 pm
#59
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: IAD
Programs: UA GS, 1MM; Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite
Posts: 561
I have been booking my business travel into V or W to maximize my flexibility on SDC. For the BWI-ORD or DCA-ORD flights there is almost always flexibility at that fare.
Advanced search for fare class is my friend for that move.
Advanced search for fare class is my friend for that move.
Oct 15, 2012, 9:43 pm
#60
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1MM, Marriott LTP, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Explorist, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,003
I agree Gold is definitely worth it due to all of benefits other folks cited. My only complaint is the upgrade chance is almost 0 these days (same as Silver). I flew two domestic round trips out of SFO last week and on every flight I was somewhere like 30 out of 60 people on the wait list. Depressing (as a former GS).