The Consolidated "Is United 1K Status Worth It? - 2013/14 Edition
#376
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1k, SPG Plat 100
Posts: 619
Not sure how long it's been since you weren't GS, but the big diff is domestic upgrades. IME they don't really happen for 1k anymore. I would also love to be able to use instruments on award tickets.
#378
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,577
As Boo_Radley commented, the GS / 1K gap has significantly grown in the past 1 or 2. 5 years back I would agreed the difference wasn't huge, but today's 1K is closer to the PremExec of 5 years back and the GS of today has improved.
#379
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,299
Yeah just compare PN and R availability on ps and long-haul international.
#380
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Dubai / NYC
Programs: EK-IO, UA-1K2MM, ETIHAD-GOLD, SPG-PLAT LIFETIME, JUMEIRAH SERIUS GOLD
Posts: 5,220
I've made four TATL trips this year, two TPAC. I've been able to use GPUs to Asia (once) but only on two sectors to Europe (ON).
I'm not flexible about dates or routes, so these things just aren't worth anything to me. First class on UA is good for the privacy but their soft product is inferior to most carriers I would consider in business (LH, ANA, VS).
That said, I find United's service so poor that I fear that if one's status dips below 1k, it might be unbearable.
I'm not flexible about dates or routes, so these things just aren't worth anything to me. First class on UA is good for the privacy but their soft product is inferior to most carriers I would consider in business (LH, ANA, VS).
That said, I find United's service so poor that I fear that if one's status dips below 1k, it might be unbearable.
#381
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 23
I'm 1K currently living in Europe and travel to SFO at least once per quarter in discount business (P or Z), which means I can never use GPU's for myself. Instead I've gifted them to 4 friends/family and have 2 still available. I was planning on having 3 RT FRA-SFO flights the last 2 months of this year (which would get me to 101K PQM), but one of them has now been cancelled. Unfortunately this means I'll end up just short of 90K PQM leaving me at Platinum for next year.
In 2015, I'll be based near SFO again and will no longer fly for business purposes except for maybe one flight to NRT (biz P/Z). Instead, I'll likely just be burning miles for personal travel/vacation on a couple biz (hopefully) TATL award flights in the year plus 1 or 2 domestic award flights per quarter.
This is a no brainer that I shouldn't worry and just be happy with Platinum, right? Or am I missing something?
In 2015, I'll be based near SFO again and will no longer fly for business purposes except for maybe one flight to NRT (biz P/Z). Instead, I'll likely just be burning miles for personal travel/vacation on a couple biz (hopefully) TATL award flights in the year plus 1 or 2 domestic award flights per quarter.
This is a no brainer that I shouldn't worry and just be happy with Platinum, right? Or am I missing something?
#382
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,402
I'm 1K currently living in Europe and travel to SFO at least once per quarter in discount business (P or Z), which means I can never use GPU's for myself. Instead I've gifted them to 4 friends/family and have 2 still available. I was planning on having 3 RT FRA-SFO flights the last 2 months of this year (which would get me to 101K PQM), but one of them has now been cancelled. Unfortunately this means I'll end up just short of 90K PQM leaving me at Platinum for next year.
In 2015, I'll be based near SFO again and will no longer fly for business purposes except for maybe one flight to NRT (biz P/Z). Instead, I'll likely just be burning miles for personal travel/vacation on a couple biz (hopefully) TATL award flights in the year plus 1 or 2 domestic award flights per quarter.
This is a no brainer that I shouldn't worry and just be happy with Platinum, right? Or am I missing something?
In 2015, I'll be based near SFO again and will no longer fly for business purposes except for maybe one flight to NRT (biz P/Z). Instead, I'll likely just be burning miles for personal travel/vacation on a couple biz (hopefully) TATL award flights in the year plus 1 or 2 domestic award flights per quarter.
This is a no brainer that I shouldn't worry and just be happy with Platinum, right? Or am I missing something?
#383
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: gggrrrovvveee (ORD)
Programs: UA Pt, Marriott Ti, Hertz PC
Posts: 6,090
The free award changes (including redeposits of miles) is the big one if you're going to be burning miles. I've used this many times as a Plat, and was loathe to make changes as a Gold.
#384
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Bangkok or San Francisco
Programs: United 1k, Marriott Lifetime PE, Former DL Gold, Former SQ Solitaire, HH Gold
Posts: 11,886
Back to the original question:
At the end of 2013 I was close to 1K so I bought an accelerator to get me to 1K. Cost me nearly $3k. I fly SFO/BKK/SFO 3 times a year (at least). On each of those flights I paid over $6k for my ticket (well, my boss did). I normally pay the same for my wife. Instead I paid $1,200 each for coach tickets and she has cleared a GPU upgrade on every single leg (just got the confirmation on the last leg coming up next month). So getting to 1K saved me just over $15k at the cost of $3k.
So, yeah, at least in my case it was well worth it.
At the end of 2013 I was close to 1K so I bought an accelerator to get me to 1K. Cost me nearly $3k. I fly SFO/BKK/SFO 3 times a year (at least). On each of those flights I paid over $6k for my ticket (well, my boss did). I normally pay the same for my wife. Instead I paid $1,200 each for coach tickets and she has cleared a GPU upgrade on every single leg (just got the confirmation on the last leg coming up next month). So getting to 1K saved me just over $15k at the cost of $3k.
So, yeah, at least in my case it was well worth it.
#385
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: CO
Programs: UA OG-1K, Marriott Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,356
We'll see. I have some TATL and EWR-BOM flights that I have GPU parked on but not granted yet. One return is in LH and I have the paper GPU. It looks like I'll not make the GPU this weekend over to FRA and the BOM flights are getting tighter on inventory. At that point I'll be 1/6 on GPUs. I don't consider my GPU 'clearing' if I get the EWR-DEN, but don't get the BOM-EWR leg. Sure, they take it, but pffffft.
I almost never get CPUs, and I fly a lot of RJs so they aren't even there to get. I might stick it out one more year to see if the spend limits thin the herd. The G1 lines boarding are silly long. The 757 on the Monday DEN-ORD run had 5 people clear which left 70 people on the upgrade list. The the buy ups and Day of travel offers, it just doesn't work out to be totally loyal like I need to be to get 1K.
I almost never get CPUs, and I fly a lot of RJs so they aren't even there to get. I might stick it out one more year to see if the spend limits thin the herd. The G1 lines boarding are silly long. The 757 on the Monday DEN-ORD run had 5 people clear which left 70 people on the upgrade list. The the buy ups and Day of travel offers, it just doesn't work out to be totally loyal like I need to be to get 1K.
#386
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,577
#387
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 26
I've been Plat for many many years but never came close to 1K. This year I should end my travel 3,000 miles short of 100,000
Are the extra 1K benefits worth a mileage run? I can probably do EWR-DEN-EWR for under $350. That probably makes sense, no? (I've met the minimum spend)
Are the extra 1K benefits worth a mileage run? I can probably do EWR-DEN-EWR for under $350. That probably makes sense, no? (I've met the minimum spend)
#388
Join Date: Jan 2000
Programs: UA 1k, AA EXPLT, NZ GE, VA PLT Hyatt Diam, Marr Plat, HH Diam
Posts: 3,436
finkie: I would think it's worthwhile. You'll get 6 GPUs and 2 RPUs after crossing 100k, plus additional miles for your flights in 2015.
#389
Join Date: Feb 2014
Programs: UA 1k, US Airways Silver, SPG PLT, Marriot Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 536
I've been Plat for many many years but never came close to 1K. This year I should end my travel 3,000 miles short of 100,000
Are the extra 1K benefits worth a mileage run? I can probably do EWR-DEN-EWR for under $350. That probably makes sense, no? (I've met the minimum spend)
Are the extra 1K benefits worth a mileage run? I can probably do EWR-DEN-EWR for under $350. That probably makes sense, no? (I've met the minimum spend)
A hypothetical example is if you don't plan to fly at all next year - in which case, even $350 is money not very well spent.
#390
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,402
He's in a good situation, which is the possibility of 1K at low cost.
But what benefits would he get? GPUs? May be worth it if intertational travel in W or above. More CPUs? May be worth it if on routes where 1Ks clear and Plats don't. All depends on flying