Got the miles--don't have the PQD for 1k
Jul 18, 2014, 11:01 am
#16
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Join Date: Apr 2013
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The end of BKK service affected the calculation for us though. We usually fly to or through BKK ... and of course our GPUs don't work on TG or OZ or NH from NRT or ICN. So either we need to sit in Y for the ~6 hour flight, buy up to C, or use miles. (So we have begun to have a use for our miles.)
This is why I now focus spend on my Chase SP and AMEX MR Gold.
Jul 18, 2014, 11:01 am
#17
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: LAX
Programs: UA, Bonvoy, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,582
I may be in a somewhat similar boat (will have the miles but may be a bit short on PQD). If I am within $1,000 or so, then to me it is worth a "dollar run" to ensure that I have GPUs for my 4-6 annual trips to Asia. $5,000? No dice!
Playing devil's advocate for a moment, though, there are ways to rationalize it. Making a vast generalization, you are likely to spend about $700-1,000 per segment, give or take, on a W fare to Asia, which you can then upgrade with one of your six GPUs, assuming the upgrade clears. Alternatively, you will spend about $4,000 per segment in paid J. Ultimately, we all know that upgrades are probably not really "worth" the fare difference, but this is one way to look at it. YMMV, of course. Depends on your financial situation and what it's worth to you.
Playing devil's advocate for a moment, though, there are ways to rationalize it. Making a vast generalization, you are likely to spend about $700-1,000 per segment, give or take, on a W fare to Asia, which you can then upgrade with one of your six GPUs, assuming the upgrade clears. Alternatively, you will spend about $4,000 per segment in paid J. Ultimately, we all know that upgrades are probably not really "worth" the fare difference, but this is one way to look at it. YMMV, of course. Depends on your financial situation and what it's worth to you.
Jul 18, 2014, 11:02 am
#18
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Location: EWR
Programs: UA Silver, MRP Platinum, Marriott Vacation Club Chairman, SPG Platinum, Cunard Platinum,
Posts: 967
For us it's worth it. My wife and I always fly together, so everything is multiplied by 2. And everything comes out of my pocket ... even though about half our travel is business-related, I own the company. We travel to Asia at least twice a year. We will never fly in Y again on a TPAC. 2 GPUs to Asia save us somewhere between $3000 and $5000. Multiplied by 4 that alone represents a savings of $12,000 - $20,000. And if we only go to Asia twice, we will use the extra GPUs for a trip to Australia, Europe or S. America, so that will represent additional savings.
That said, we will continue to look at the routes and FF program of AA/US Air, but as of now, United makes more sense for us.
The end of BKK service affected the calculation for us though. We usually fly to or through BKK ... and of course our GPUs don't work on TG or OZ or NH from NRT or ICN. So either we need to sit in Y for the ~6 hour flight, buy up to C, or use miles. (So we have begun to have a use for our miles.)
That said, we will continue to look at the routes and FF program of AA/US Air, but as of now, United makes more sense for us.
The end of BKK service affected the calculation for us though. We usually fly to or through BKK ... and of course our GPUs don't work on TG or OZ or NH from NRT or ICN. So either we need to sit in Y for the ~6 hour flight, buy up to C, or use miles. (So we have begun to have a use for our miles.)
Another reason I may forego this quest. I give away 4 GPUs to my traveling companions each year
Last edited by icydog; Jul 18, 2014 at 11:18 am
Jul 18, 2014, 11:42 am
#19
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: CHS
Programs: UA ex-1k, now Gold bumped up from Silver
Posts: 155
If you are booking miles tickets from ICN/NRT/HKG to BKK, suggest you look at booking through Aeroplan or ANA (for *A) or BA (for CX or JL). Those are all considerably cheaper options now than UA's ridiculously pricey *A intra-Asia awards.
This is why I now focus spend on my Chase SP and AMEX MR Gold.
This is why I now focus spend on my Chase SP and AMEX MR Gold.
Jul 18, 2014, 11:56 am
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Bay Area, CA
Programs: UA Plat 2MM; AS MVP Gold 75K
Posts: 35,068
While there were very few people making 1K for < $10K, I know a lot of people who are just so confused by the complexity of the program now, they've given up on it -- people who have solid spend.
With all the service quality and reliability issues since the merger, a lot of people were just barely hanging on and reluctantly sticking with UA, that there may have been more ancillary damage from PQD than benefit. Same with the 2015 mileage structure.
DL can get away with some of this stuff, I don't think UA can.
Jul 18, 2014, 12:05 pm
#22
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Arlington, VA
Programs: HH Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 252
I'm going to be just the opposite this year and will probably fall to Platinum. Already hit the $10K PQD's. I'm debating for the first time ever if a mileage run or two makes sense this year...but will probably not do it.
We need a program to trade PQD for PQM and vice versa!!!
We need a program to trade PQD for PQM and vice versa!!!
Jul 18, 2014, 12:06 pm
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
The OP has flown 100K in 6 months. Nothing stops the OP from flying another 100K @5 cpm and meeting spend in that fashion.
In fact, the extra GPUs, 200K RDMs (a lot less after March 2015), another 10% towards MM, might all be worth it.
In fact, the extra GPUs, 200K RDMs (a lot less after March 2015), another 10% towards MM, might all be worth it.
Jul 18, 2014, 12:31 pm
#24
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,933
YTD Premier qualifying miles:
65,488
YTD Premier qualifying segments:
51
YTD Premier qualifying dollars:
$2,031
4 flight segment minimum:
4 of 4
Lifetime flight miles:
2,768,885
My future plans for UA --- They win - I'm done!!!
Lifetime UC & Platinum to see the grandkids in DEN a few times a year is all I'm doing after I use up ---
Mileage balance: 990,587
65,488
YTD Premier qualifying segments:
51
YTD Premier qualifying dollars:
$2,031
4 flight segment minimum:
4 of 4
Lifetime flight miles:
2,768,885
My future plans for UA --- They win - I'm done!!!
Lifetime UC & Platinum to see the grandkids in DEN a few times a year is all I'm doing after I use up ---
Mileage balance: 990,587
Jul 18, 2014, 12:37 pm
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
YTD Premier qualifying miles:
65,488
YTD Premier qualifying segments:
51
YTD Premier qualifying dollars:
$2,031
4 flight segment minimum:
4 of 4
Lifetime flight miles:
2,768,885
My future plans for UA --- They win - I'm done!!!
Lifetime UC & Platinum to see the grandkids in DEN a few times a year is all I'm doing after I use up ---
Mileage balance: 990,587
65,488
YTD Premier qualifying segments:
51
YTD Premier qualifying dollars:
$2,031
4 flight segment minimum:
4 of 4
Lifetime flight miles:
2,768,885
My future plans for UA --- They win - I'm done!!!
Lifetime UC & Platinum to see the grandkids in DEN a few times a year is all I'm doing after I use up ---
Mileage balance: 990,587
Jul 18, 2014, 12:41 pm
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: ORD/MDW
Programs: BA/AA/AS/B6/WN/ UA/HH/MR and more like 'em but most felicitously & importantly MUCCI
Posts: 19,719
I hope your first statement is true and concur with your second.
Jul 18, 2014, 1:00 pm
#28
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: PHX
Posts: 50
Am I the only one in this predicament. I'll have the PQMs but I'm short about $5000 in the race for $10,000 PQDs. Is it worth it to take an expensive trip to become 1K again? I love the Global Upgrades but $5000 is a lot of money! If I don't get the PQDs I'll be platinum next year because I have the Chase Mileage Plus Presidential MasterCard
Every time one takes a flight with a CPM that is less then $10,000/(the miles your going to fly for the year on United) you will have to fly some of them at a greater rate or not make 1K. (not exactly right, but point still holds) Like it or not unless things change that is the way it is.
Your question is what are 6 GPUs, +2 RDUs and a higher priority for CPU and IROPs worth to you? $5,000?
If you are buying the tickets and you still have future travel and it is worth it to you then you might buy a couple of tickets in first.
Jul 18, 2014, 1:54 pm
#29
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,169
Exactly. Take a nice vacation and fly in style; that has value in and of itself. ^
Jul 18, 2014, 2:01 pm
#30
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: CMH, sometimes AVP, formerly down the Shore
Programs: UA 1K/3MM, AA EXP/3MM, DL MM, former fan of TWA
Posts: 1,854
This is exactly where I am this year... looking at my current status, I am at 214K miles and $8900 spend so far this year. And I have several transpacs coming up. I'll hit 3MM early next year, so I am just hoping that the lifetime benefits of that don't go away with everything else.