Nov 13, 2014, 12:47 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Hi everyone,
Today MileagePlus updated the Premier qualification requirements for 2016.
Effective January 1, 2015, we are adjusting the PQD requirement for Premier status qualification for all Premier levels:
This change affects 2016 Premier status qualification which is based on 2015 flight activity. You can find more information about the updated requirements and PQD waivers by visiting this link.
We will communicate this information to members shortly.
-UA Insider
Today MileagePlus updated the Premier qualification requirements for 2016.
Effective January 1, 2015, we are adjusting the PQD requirement for Premier status qualification for all Premier levels:
- Silver: $3,000
- Gold: $6,000
- Platinum: $9,000
- 1K: $12,000
We will communicate this information to members shortly.
-UA Insider
Subject: Updated MileagePlus Premier requirements for 2016 status
"Our best customers come first"
"Customers who do more business with us should enjoy our best benefits.
Last year, we introduced Premier® qualifying dollars (PQD) so customers who spend more with us can enjoy more access to benefits like Premier upgrades, Economy Plus® seating and Premier Access®. On January 1, 2015, we will adjust our PQD requirement for 2016 Premier status."
Then the new chart with $3K, $6K, $9K, $12K
"The PQD requirement only applies to members who live in the U.S. and can be waived for members who hold a United® MileagePlus® Presidential PlusSM Card, or members who spend $25,000 or more in Net Purchases in 2015 on MileagePlus co-branded credit cards issued by Chase Bank, N.A.. The PQD waiver does not apply for Premier 1K® status."
From inquiry on why
.... over the years members have told us that they want to be recognized for how much they pay to fly those miles. This change also reflects a trend that has been emerging in loyalty programs across many industries and among our competitors. ...
MileagePlus® Service Center
MileagePlus® Service Center
2015 MileagePlus Change-PQD increased to $3k / $6k / $9k / $12k
Nov 13, 2014, 11:47 am
#61
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Anywhere but home
Programs: UA 1K/MM, DL GM/MM, AA Gold, HH Dia, PC Plat, ALL Sil, MR Gold
Posts: 4,550
Just as I and most (but not all) anticipated: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ua-follow.html. This probably won't impact me but the continued copying of Delta's mileage program, and lack of innovation, is really pitiful.
Nov 13, 2014, 11:48 am
#62
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: ORD
Programs: ua 1k, hh diamond, spg PLT, marriott PLT
Posts: 617
Hi everyone,
Today MileagePlus updated the Premier qualification requirements for 2016.
Effective January 1, 2015, we are adjusting the PQD requirement for Premier status qualification for all Premier levels:
This change affects 2016 Premier status qualification which is based on 2015 flight activity. You can find more information about the updated requirements and PQD waivers by visiting this link.
We will communicate this information to members shortly.
-UA Insider
Today MileagePlus updated the Premier qualification requirements for 2016.
Effective January 1, 2015, we are adjusting the PQD requirement for Premier status qualification for all Premier levels:
- Silver: $3,000
- Gold: $6,000
- Platinum: $9,000
- 1K: $12,000
We will communicate this information to members shortly.
-UA Insider
Nov 13, 2014, 11:49 am
#63
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,004
Nov 13, 2014, 11:53 am
#64
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: EWR
Programs: UA Gold, UA MM, Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,329
I'm ok with it too but only because I far exceed the 10k threshold. That being said, I'm not at all convinced that thinning the ranks will provide any appreciable value as long as they keep selling cheap upgrades out from under me.
Nov 13, 2014, 11:53 am
#65
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: CLE
Programs: UA Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,659
Well, tho my plans had been to reach only Plt in 2015, I was wondering how I would feel about giving up 1K. I had even begun strategies for reaching 1K next year. I am totally leisure, on my own dime traveler. I've got the magical Presidential Card, so I don't have to worry about spend for Plt. I think it will Plt for 2016 and then just Gold beyond that. (I'm less than 10k short of 1MM right now. I'm just praying they don't change that for next year and beyond.)
Nov 13, 2014, 12:00 pm
#66
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Life Plat, various others of little note
Posts: 2,763
Nov 13, 2014, 12:02 pm
#67
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: B6 Mosaic, Bonvoy LT Titanium (x SPG LT), IHG Spire, UA Silver
Posts: 5,844
Nov 13, 2014, 12:03 pm
#68
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,629
Nov 13, 2014, 12:06 pm
#69
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: NYC / TYO / Up in the Air
Programs: UA 1k (12 year fallen GS) 1.7MM, AA 2.1MM, EK, BA, SQ, CX, Marriot LT, Accor P
Posts: 6,290
Nov 13, 2014, 12:06 pm
#70
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Life Plat, various others of little note
Posts: 2,763
So far their strategy of courting the big spenders (mostly through corporate contracts I'd guess . . . hard to understand how anybody would spend their own money on premium class on UA compared to competitors) and then shaking the nickels out of the kettles seems to be working more or less.
It's their prerogative to change their program, but the way they've done it is terrible. They know full well that this is a material change to the program and that we books travel months in advance, and don't care.
Maybe "low rollers" like me, who fly a lot but not on expensive tickets, will become orphans. It looks like AA wants us at the moment, but that could of course change.
It's their prerogative to change their program, but the way they've done it is terrible. They know full well that this is a material change to the program and that we books travel months in advance, and don't care.
Maybe "low rollers" like me, who fly a lot but not on expensive tickets, will become orphans. It looks like AA wants us at the moment, but that could of course change.
Last edited by Boghopper; Nov 13, 2014 at 12:21 pm
Nov 13, 2014, 12:07 pm
#71
Join Date: Feb 2014
Programs: UA 1k, US Airways Silver, SPG PLT, Marriot Gold, Hertz PC
Posts: 536
I don't envy the social media team at UA, haha
Nov 13, 2014, 12:10 pm
#72
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: CHS
Programs: UA ex-1k, now Gold bumped up from Silver
Posts: 155
More and more my wife and I have been booking F for a variety of reasons ... we're getting older, we are fortunate to be able to afford it, we can't count on RPUs or CPUs, etc. We still can rely on GPUs given our flexibility in our longest haul flights to Asia/Australia. The PQD change doesn't directly affect us.
Of course one of the great perks of a FF program is sitting in F (actually bedding down in F or BF) but not paying for it. If we get to the point that the GPUs are too difficult to redeem, and we're already paying for F everywhere else, we certainly will give up United and will instead fly the world's best airlines. I'm certainly not going to pay BF prices on United to fly to Asia, when I could fly Singapore or Cathay or Emirates for about the same price ...
Of course one of the great perks of a FF program is sitting in F (actually bedding down in F or BF) but not paying for it. If we get to the point that the GPUs are too difficult to redeem, and we're already paying for F everywhere else, we certainly will give up United and will instead fly the world's best airlines. I'm certainly not going to pay BF prices on United to fly to Asia, when I could fly Singapore or Cathay or Emirates for about the same price ...
Nov 13, 2014, 12:12 pm
#74
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,629
for me, the most ironic thing about PQD is that it has driven a substantial fraction of my business to AS, where i am paying higher average fares than i would pay on the same routes at UA.
however, because AS isn't repeatedly and endlessly drawing my attention to what i am spending and how it relates to my elite status, i don't focus on what i'm spending. i buy tickets, i fly them, and i earn status in a very predictable and repeatable fashion. i get my status, get upgraded regularly, and AS makes money.
of course, my status on DL is subject to the same PQD issues as UA, but at least i see the value proposition in significant recent hard and soft product improvements, repeatably good service, and F fares that have a reasonable price/value ratio.
however, because AS isn't repeatedly and endlessly drawing my attention to what i am spending and how it relates to my elite status, i don't focus on what i'm spending. i buy tickets, i fly them, and i earn status in a very predictable and repeatable fashion. i get my status, get upgraded regularly, and AS makes money.
of course, my status on DL is subject to the same PQD issues as UA, but at least i see the value proposition in significant recent hard and soft product improvements, repeatably good service, and F fares that have a reasonable price/value ratio.
Nov 13, 2014, 12:20 pm
#75
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: DC/SF/Herault
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; AA 2MM
Posts: 174
It would be interesting to find out how the 2014 PQD levels affected the number of people qualifying at each level. I guess we won't know that until the end of the year, but my initial guess is that UA saw a lot of current 1Ks spending more in 2014 than they might otherwise have spent to maintain their status, and now want to test how much more they can squeeze out of those people.
It will also be interesting to hear how the new targets affected behavior in 2014 and how it might affect 2015 behavior. I had no problem hitting $10K this year to keep my 1K status, but I will not hit $12K. In fact, I booked some upcoming flights at the end of the year on another airline because there was no incentive for me to fly UA after hitting the PQM and PQD targets.
To be candid, I don't really get enough out of my 1K status to justify the increased spending, and am unlikely to worry about it for 2105.
It will also be interesting to hear how the new targets affected behavior in 2014 and how it might affect 2015 behavior. I had no problem hitting $10K this year to keep my 1K status, but I will not hit $12K. In fact, I booked some upcoming flights at the end of the year on another airline because there was no incentive for me to fly UA after hitting the PQM and PQD targets.
To be candid, I don't really get enough out of my 1K status to justify the increased spending, and am unlikely to worry about it for 2105.