Email from UA - "It's not too late to reach Premier Silver (or Gold/Plat/1K) status"
#76
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: ABE
Programs: DL DM, IHG Spire, Mariott Platinum (UA SI) Avis First, National Executive
Posts: 764
you can probably upgrade more for $799 with ToD upgrades
#77
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Southern, CA, USA
Programs: UA just 8800 mi short of Silver
Posts: 2,815
Did you buy your status back
I made a small arithmetic error and came up 9000 miles of retaining my coveted Silver status. And, I was totally honored that UA would sell me my status back for a mere $1300 or so. I really can wait to pay so this elevated status will give me a 50/50 chance to get a free E+ seat on the day of my flight, and a 1 in 20 chance of getting an upgrade if I decide to go to ElSalvador or some place like that. They are so brazen, that its really embarassing
#81
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold, UA Nobody, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,372
My wife just got a card in the mail offering for her to buy up from Gold to Platinum by Feb 28th. 12,000 PQM for $2199 (18.3 cpm).
Also there is a bug in the PQS calculation in that it's just showing 1/1000 of the PQMs needed.
Also there is a bug in the PQS calculation in that it's just showing 1/1000 of the PQMs needed.
#82
Join Date: Feb 2014
Programs: UA Platinum, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Gold, Hilton Silver, Avis First
Posts: 4
Insane 1K Offer from United
I've been a 1K for the last couple of years but took some time off in '13 and ended up with 115.5 segments falling just short of 1K status.
Today I got an offer in the mail from United giving me the opportunity to buy my way back up to 1K status. In my mind the difference between Platinum and 1K is pretty minimal (dedicated 1K service line, complimentary upgrades 1 day earlier, 6 global premier upgrades and a few other small things) but I was curious to see what it would take.
When I checked the offer, United wants $1,949 to buy the 5 segments I would need to retain 1K status which seems to me to be an absolutely INSANE amount of money for virtually no benefit (to top that off, I live in Cleveland but that's another issue entirely).
I'm wondering who else got the same offer and if the pricing is consistent or varies based on status, history, etc. It seems to me to be just one more example of UA doing everything possible to take advantage of their best customers.
Today I got an offer in the mail from United giving me the opportunity to buy my way back up to 1K status. In my mind the difference between Platinum and 1K is pretty minimal (dedicated 1K service line, complimentary upgrades 1 day earlier, 6 global premier upgrades and a few other small things) but I was curious to see what it would take.
When I checked the offer, United wants $1,949 to buy the 5 segments I would need to retain 1K status which seems to me to be an absolutely INSANE amount of money for virtually no benefit (to top that off, I live in Cleveland but that's another issue entirely).
I'm wondering who else got the same offer and if the pricing is consistent or varies based on status, history, etc. It seems to me to be just one more example of UA doing everything possible to take advantage of their best customers.
#83
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2009
Programs: UA 1k
Posts: 1,208
I've been a 1K for the last couple of years but took some time off in '13 and ended up with 115.5 segments falling just short of 1K status.
Today I got an offer in the mail from United giving me the opportunity to buy my way back up to 1K status. In my mind the difference between Platinum and 1K is pretty minimal (dedicated 1K service line, complimentary upgrades 1 day earlier, 6 global premier upgrades and a few other small things) but I was curious to see what it would take.
When I checked the offer, United wants $1,949 to buy the 5 segments I would need to retain 1K status which seems to me to be an absolutely INSANE amount of money for virtually no benefit (to top that off, I live in Cleveland but that's another issue entirely).
I'm wondering who else got the same offer and if the pricing is consistent or varies based on status, history, etc. It seems to me to be just one more example of UA doing everything possible to take advantage of their best customers.
Today I got an offer in the mail from United giving me the opportunity to buy my way back up to 1K status. In my mind the difference between Platinum and 1K is pretty minimal (dedicated 1K service line, complimentary upgrades 1 day earlier, 6 global premier upgrades and a few other small things) but I was curious to see what it would take.
When I checked the offer, United wants $1,949 to buy the 5 segments I would need to retain 1K status which seems to me to be an absolutely INSANE amount of money for virtually no benefit (to top that off, I live in Cleveland but that's another issue entirely).
I'm wondering who else got the same offer and if the pricing is consistent or varies based on status, history, etc. It seems to me to be just one more example of UA doing everything possible to take advantage of their best customers.
the GPU's are probably worth more than $1949
#85
Join Date: Feb 2014
Programs: UA Platinum, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Gold, Hilton Silver, Avis First
Posts: 4
the GPU's are probably worth more than $1949
#86
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Anywhere but home
Programs: UA 1K/MM, DL GM/MM, HH Dia, PC Plat, MR Gold, ALL Sil,
Posts: 4,552
#87
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1k, SPG Plat 100
Posts: 619
I wouldn't describe UA making you an offer as "taking advantage" of you. When something is overpriced, I usually just don't buy it. No one's getting hosed here, though.
EDIT: Slightly on topic: the girlfriend was 1200 miles short of EXP last year, and AA made her an offer somewhere in the $1200 range. She got a letter last week saying that they're just going to give it to her instead. Thought that was interesting.
EDIT: Slightly on topic: the girlfriend was 1200 miles short of EXP last year, and AA made her an offer somewhere in the $1200 range. She got a letter last week saying that they're just going to give it to her instead. Thought that was interesting.
Last edited by Boo_Radley; Feb 3, 2014 at 6:52 pm
#88
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist, Virtuoso Travel Agent, Commercial Pilot
Posts: 2,117
My guess is that they have banded prices that are looking entirely at EQM and disregarding how close he is on segments.
#89
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,136
4.5 segments? I'd have done anything to get those segments in 2013 due to the exact thing the OP has run into. UA knows they can gouge you since you have no other options.
#90
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: 66,853
I would agree the offer was pretty unreasonable.