Dec 9, 2014, 1:42 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Related thread, [Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQD's/PQMs in 2014 for Elite Status in 2015
As this is the first year of PQDs, there is no history / precedent / data on if being over the PQD threshold by xx% will make up for being short one of the other status requirements such as PQMs. This is unknown territory and any thoughts or comments are speculation.
Additionally FF programs are evolving and what might been true on status forgiveness in the past will be dangerous to presume that it will apply again.
Has UA granted status outside of the nominal program -- Yes
-- There have been reports of "one time exceptions for exceptional reasons"
-- UA will grant status to some individuals as part of special programs or contractual agreements.
-- UA has granted status occasionally for some just short of the requirements - see the wiki of [Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQD's/PQMs in 2014 for Elite Status in 2015 for some links.
But note the use of "exceptional", "special", "occasional" -- in general the outcome has been "you get what you earn." Expect to get what you earned and you will likely not be disappointed -- but a few, for reasons we will never know, might get surprised.
As this is the first year of PQDs, there is no history / precedent / data on if being over the PQD threshold by xx% will make up for being short one of the other status requirements such as PQMs. This is unknown territory and any thoughts or comments are speculation.
Additionally FF programs are evolving and what might been true on status forgiveness in the past will be dangerous to presume that it will apply again.
Has UA granted status outside of the nominal program -- Yes
-- There have been reports of "one time exceptions for exceptional reasons"
-- UA will grant status to some individuals as part of special programs or contractual agreements.
-- UA has granted status occasionally for some just short of the requirements - see the wiki of [Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQD's/PQMs in 2014 for Elite Status in 2015 for some links.
But note the use of "exceptional", "special", "occasional" -- in general the outcome has been "you get what you earn." Expect to get what you earned and you will likely not be disappointed -- but a few, for reasons we will never know, might get surprised.
Will UA grant higher status if short PQMs but over PQDs?
Dec 19, 2014, 6:44 pm
#61
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,048
so why on earth did you not book the next higher fare class and make the $10k. Sounds like a really cheap mistake which could cost you dearly. I'd go and upgrade that ticket now to P/A via your reservation (these count for PQD) and make sure you hit $10k.
Dec 19, 2014, 7:17 pm
#62
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: AA(EXP)UA(1K/1MM) Marriott(PP,LifeTime Plat) Hertz(5*)
Posts: 449
Will UA grant higher status if short PQMs but over PQDs?
Here is my two worthless cents.
If united starts making exceptions and granting status to people who fly less and or spend less then the required amount they will find themselves in a huge class action lawsuit territory. Obviously there are a few that will happen but you think that every TD&H who spends more then the requirement should get the status? Why? Do united rules state that if you spend over a certain amount they will ignore the AIS portion.
Maybe they need to ignore the entire theory of flying miles and put everybody on a curve like GS basically.
Here is a sample starting at the top % pqd
1-2% GS
8-9% 1k
20% Plat
25% Gold
30% silver
15% sorry not enough spend so your a nobody with great TOD buy up offers.
Then they can track your spend comparatively to others easily and even base your upgrade and standby chances on your actual spend amount not your status.
If united starts making exceptions and granting status to people who fly less and or spend less then the required amount they will find themselves in a huge class action lawsuit territory. Obviously there are a few that will happen but you think that every TD&H who spends more then the requirement should get the status? Why? Do united rules state that if you spend over a certain amount they will ignore the AIS portion.
Maybe they need to ignore the entire theory of flying miles and put everybody on a curve like GS basically.
Here is a sample starting at the top % pqd
1-2% GS
8-9% 1k
20% Plat
25% Gold
30% silver
15% sorry not enough spend so your a nobody with great TOD buy up offers.
Then they can track your spend comparatively to others easily and even base your upgrade and standby chances on your actual spend amount not your status.
Dec 19, 2014, 7:24 pm
#63
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Redwood City, CA USA (SFO/SJC)
Programs: 1K 2010, 1P in 2011, Plat for 2012,13,14,15 & 2016. Gold in 17 & 18, Plat since
Posts: 8,826
I have a similar question to the initial in the thread re: platinum status, but closer on the PQM and what I would consider way over on the PQD.
I am currently a UA Platinum, achieved via a successful status match challenge earlier this year. I fly a combination of paid FC for business and paid coach for personal and for the year, primarily domestic. I am at 73,100 PQM, $24,600 PQD and 42 PQS through mid-December with no further travel planned for 2014.
My question is, is there any chance United looks at this profile and will award Platinum status for next year based on the high spend (3.3x requirement), despite being short 1,900 PQM?
Thank you. Unfortunately no chance of a mileagerun so chance is all I have left.
I am currently a UA Platinum, achieved via a successful status match challenge earlier this year. I fly a combination of paid FC for business and paid coach for personal and for the year, primarily domestic. I am at 73,100 PQM, $24,600 PQD and 42 PQS through mid-December with no further travel planned for 2014.
My question is, is there any chance United looks at this profile and will award Platinum status for next year based on the high spend (3.3x requirement), despite being short 1,900 PQM?
Thank you. Unfortunately no chance of a mileagerun so chance is all I have left.
Hello,
Sorry if this is a dumb question or already answered.
I'm a silver.
I have the PQD for Gold, and 200 bucks away from having it for Platinum. Has there ever been instances where United offers higher status in recognition of higher PQDs when you don't have the PQM?
Isn't the PQD really whats important?
Or are these thresholds bare minimums? Do golds and platinums usually spend much more than the minimum?
Sorry if this is a dumb question or already answered.
I'm a silver.
I have the PQD for Gold, and 200 bucks away from having it for Platinum. Has there ever been instances where United offers higher status in recognition of higher PQDs when you don't have the PQM?
Isn't the PQD really whats important?
Or are these thresholds bare minimums? Do golds and platinums usually spend much more than the minimum?
Here is my two worthless cents.
If united starts making exceptions and granting status to people who fly less and or spend less then the required amount they will find themselves in a huge class action lawsuit territory. Obviously there are a few that will happen but you think that every TD&H who spends more then the requirement should get the status? Why? Do united rules state that if you spend over a certain amount they will ignore the AIS portion.
Maybe they need to ignore the entire theory of flying miles and put everybody on a curve like GS basically.
Here is a sample starting at the top % pqd
1-2% GS
8-9% 1k
20% Plat
25% Gold
30% silver
15% sorry not enough spend so your a nobody with great TOD buy up offers.
Then they can track your spend comparatively to others easily and even base your upgrade and standby chances on your actual spend amount not your status.
If united starts making exceptions and granting status to people who fly less and or spend less then the required amount they will find themselves in a huge class action lawsuit territory. Obviously there are a few that will happen but you think that every TD&H who spends more then the requirement should get the status? Why? Do united rules state that if you spend over a certain amount they will ignore the AIS portion.
Maybe they need to ignore the entire theory of flying miles and put everybody on a curve like GS basically.
Here is a sample starting at the top % pqd
1-2% GS
8-9% 1k
20% Plat
25% Gold
30% silver
15% sorry not enough spend so your a nobody with great TOD buy up offers.
Then they can track your spend comparatively to others easily and even base your upgrade and standby chances on your actual spend amount not your status.
Last edited by Mike Jacoubowsky; Dec 19, 2014 at 7:33 pm Reason: merge
Dec 19, 2014, 7:59 pm
#64
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 12,597
They could do it then because they had the excess capacity to hand out upgrades like candy and it was good for maintaining loyalty, which they desperately needed. I haven't seen a lot of empty seats in any class on UA in the past few years, so a) they don't really need to bump people up a class, because they're filling the planes and don't seem to need to encourage loyalty, and b) the higher tiers of MP are of limited value on a lot of routes anyway. I've been seeing 40+ people waitlisted for CPUs between LAX and IAD, and with the credit card deal to get group 2, it seems like it's the largest of the 5 groups a lot of the time. I'm a silver with almost enough PQD for plat, but given that 1Ks are complaining about not getting CPUS, it would likely just move me from 35 on the waitlist up to 11 or something.
Dec 19, 2014, 8:17 pm
#65
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Redwood City, CA USA (SFO/SJC)
Programs: 1K 2010, 1P in 2011, Plat for 2012,13,14,15 & 2016. Gold in 17 & 18, Plat since
Posts: 8,826
They used to do it in the early 2000's when planes were flying around half empty. I was comped up to Premier Exec a couple years in a row when I was at least a couple RT transcons away. You had to request upgrades and pay with miles, and the different levels let you put in the request earlier, but they'd also hand out free upgrades at the gate when they had capacity, often after boarding but before the door closed.
They could do it then because they had the excess capacity to hand out upgrades like candy and it was good for maintaining loyalty, which they desperately needed. I haven't seen a lot of empty seats in any class on UA in the past few years, so a) they don't really need to bump people up a class, because they're filling the planes and don't seem to need to encourage loyalty, and b) the higher tiers of MP are of limited value on a lot of routes anyway. I've been seeing 40+ people waitlisted for CPUs between LAX and IAD, and with the credit card deal to get group 2, it seems like it's the largest of the 5 groups a lot of the time. I'm a silver with almost enough PQD for plat, but given that 1Ks are complaining about not getting CPUS, it would likely just move me from 35 on the waitlist up to 11 or something.
They could do it then because they had the excess capacity to hand out upgrades like candy and it was good for maintaining loyalty, which they desperately needed. I haven't seen a lot of empty seats in any class on UA in the past few years, so a) they don't really need to bump people up a class, because they're filling the planes and don't seem to need to encourage loyalty, and b) the higher tiers of MP are of limited value on a lot of routes anyway. I've been seeing 40+ people waitlisted for CPUs between LAX and IAD, and with the credit card deal to get group 2, it seems like it's the largest of the 5 groups a lot of the time. I'm a silver with almost enough PQD for plat, but given that 1Ks are complaining about not getting CPUS, it would likely just move me from 35 on the waitlist up to 11 or something.
Very different business then.
Dec 19, 2014, 10:24 pm
#66
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Syd
Programs: UA 1k 1MM, VA G
Posts: 886
I do remember one summer many years ago... was my first year of being 1k
I started the year as a noboddy as I only just got into a job required traveling and I got a TEQM offer that was valid on F/C/Y/B and then work sent me on what would normally be 100k EQM in C/Y fares which pushed me to a status of 300k EQM for the year
I got a whole bunch of random rewards that year like gifting gold to my sister and some extra RPU's and stuff
I dont remember how many RPU's and GPU's I got that year... but it was a lot and it was dam nice
I started the year as a noboddy as I only just got into a job required traveling and I got a TEQM offer that was valid on F/C/Y/B and then work sent me on what would normally be 100k EQM in C/Y fares which pushed me to a status of 300k EQM for the year
I got a whole bunch of random rewards that year like gifting gold to my sister and some extra RPU's and stuff
I dont remember how many RPU's and GPU's I got that year... but it was a lot and it was dam nice
Dec 20, 2014, 7:01 am
#67
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SJC, SFO, YYC
Programs: AA-EXP, AA-0.41MM, UA-Gold, Ex UA-1K (2006 thru 2015), PMUA-0.95MM, COUA-1.5MM-lite, AF-Silver
Posts: 13,437
I do remember one summer many years ago... was my first year of being 1k
I started the year as a noboddy as I only just got into a job required traveling and I got a TEQM offer that was valid on F/C/Y/B and then work sent me on what would normally be 100k EQM in C/Y fares which pushed me to a status of 300k EQM for the year
I got a whole bunch of random rewards that year like gifting gold to my sister and some extra RPU's and stuff
I dont remember how many RPU's and GPU's I got that year... but it was a lot and it was dam nice
I started the year as a noboddy as I only just got into a job required traveling and I got a TEQM offer that was valid on F/C/Y/B and then work sent me on what would normally be 100k EQM in C/Y fares which pushed me to a status of 300k EQM for the year
I got a whole bunch of random rewards that year like gifting gold to my sister and some extra RPU's and stuff
I dont remember how many RPU's and GPU's I got that year... but it was a lot and it was dam nice
Those days will come back; commericial aviation is cyclical.
Dec 20, 2014, 8:09 am
#68
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: SRQ
Programs: UA Plat-Million Miler (1.6MM), IHG-Plat Amb; Amex Plat-P, Marriott-Gold;Hertz Gold; Hilton-Gold
Posts: 762
Do we actually know what the Spend and Mile Requirements for GS ? As I understand, it varies based on your home location, with a higher spend for ORD, IAD, SFO and NYC. I have been 1K for years, have no spend requirement to maintain status (i.e. live outside of the USA), spend about $25K per year and have never been invited to GS. So if anyone knows the secret to getting a GS upgrade (i.e. buy up, sugar coated letter, box of dates to J.Smiesk) by all means do share !!!!
Dec 20, 2014, 8:23 am
#69
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 494
Do we actually know what the Spend and Mile Requirements for GS ? As I understand, it varies based on your home location, with a higher spend for ORD, IAD, SFO and NYC. I have been 1K for years, have no spend requirement to maintain status (i.e. live outside of the USA), spend about $25K per year and have never been invited to GS. So if anyone knows the secret to getting a GS upgrade (i.e. buy up, sugar coated letter, box of dates to J.Smiesk) by all means do share !!!!
Dec 20, 2014, 8:27 am
#70
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,169
Special citation for bestial allusion.
RNE, congratulating you.
Dec 20, 2014, 8:27 am
#71
Moderator: Hawaii-based airlines & Hawai'i forums
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ka ʻĀpala Nui, Nuioka
Programs: NEXUS/Global Entry, Delta, United, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, and Hertz
Posts: 18,038
Topic Drift Alert
There is an existing thread to discuss Global Services qualification; please use it for any additional discussion.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...-q-2014-a.html
Thank you,
FlyinHawaiian, Co-Moderator
United MileagePlus Forum
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...-q-2014-a.html
Thank you,
FlyinHawaiian, Co-Moderator
United MileagePlus Forum
Dec 20, 2014, 11:00 am
#72
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: HaMerkaz/Exit 145
Programs: UA, LY, BA, AA
Posts: 13,167
Does Premier Accelerator count? If so, may be worth booking a refundable ticket, buying miles, and canceling the ticket. Or sending UA a check for $47
Or changing your MP address to outside the US for the next month or so
I have a similar question to the initial in the thread re: platinum status, but closer on the PQM and what I would consider way over on the PQD.
I am currently a UA Platinum, achieved via a successful status match challenge earlier this year. I fly a combination of paid FC for business and paid coach for personal and for the year, primarily domestic. I am at 73,100 PQM, $24,600 PQD and 42 PQS through mid-December with no further travel planned for 2014.
My question is, is there any chance United looks at this profile and will award Platinum status for next year based on the high spend (3.3x requirement), despite being short 1,900 PQM?
Thank you. Unfortunately no chance of a mileagerun so chance is all I have left.
I am currently a UA Platinum, achieved via a successful status match challenge earlier this year. I fly a combination of paid FC for business and paid coach for personal and for the year, primarily domestic. I am at 73,100 PQM, $24,600 PQD and 42 PQS through mid-December with no further travel planned for 2014.
My question is, is there any chance United looks at this profile and will award Platinum status for next year based on the high spend (3.3x requirement), despite being short 1,900 PQM?
Thank you. Unfortunately no chance of a mileagerun so chance is all I have left.
Dec 20, 2014, 11:05 am
#73
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: 66,854
at 30-40-50 cpm and typically 5K PQM min, it can get pricey at this time of the year for that solution
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 20, 2014 at 11:59 am Reason: repaired BBcode
Dec 20, 2014, 11:13 am
#74
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
I edited out the part of the wiki that is plainly false. Do we know what will happen? No. But the idea that what has happened in the past simply "doesn't matter" is unadulterated make-believe. Of course it matters. Of course it provides clues as to what will happen.
Dec 20, 2014, 11:13 am
#75
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K 2.3M Lifetime, Mariott Plat for life
Posts: 49
Advice Needed: Missed 1K Due to Job Loss
For the first time in my 29 year career, I lost my job last Nov and didn't fly again until Apr when I took a temp job commuting between SFO - LAX. Needless to say, my accrued mileage was well below the 1K threshold. In Oct, I accepted a new position that requires frequent travel and I expect to earn 1K again in 2015.
For 2014, I'll end at about 85K PQM so no 1K for me. For background, I have 2.3 million lifetime miles and this is my 21st year in a row as a 1K. That's right, I've never missed a single year qualifying for 1K since my move to San Fran in '93. Also, I have spent >$20k on tickets this year including one round trip in business class from SFO to the ME (it was a $7k ticket).
So here's where I need advice: Who should I contact to ask for the upgrade from Plat to 1K for 2015? Also, is anyone aware of UA making this type of exception? I know the old UA would have done it but I'm not sure in today's environment.
TIA, Dave
For 2014, I'll end at about 85K PQM so no 1K for me. For background, I have 2.3 million lifetime miles and this is my 21st year in a row as a 1K. That's right, I've never missed a single year qualifying for 1K since my move to San Fran in '93. Also, I have spent >$20k on tickets this year including one round trip in business class from SFO to the ME (it was a $7k ticket).
So here's where I need advice: Who should I contact to ask for the upgrade from Plat to 1K for 2015? Also, is anyone aware of UA making this type of exception? I know the old UA would have done it but I'm not sure in today's environment.
TIA, Dave