letsbeadventurers

I have a flight coming up to London out of Newark in the next few weeks. I have everything I need for Silver status but the PQS. I can purchase one PQS for $190 to get me to silver for the flight out. Is it worth paying to get to silver before my flight. I was hoping to gain priority baggage and free economy plus.

findark

How much is it to buy E+ outright? That will earn PQD, too. Priority baggage is not worth paying anything for IMO - your bag doesn't even always come out first.

letsbeadventurers

It's about $145-160 depending on the seat.

aacharya

Seems that it's not worth spending $190 to get a $160 seat unless you also are relying on the free luggage. Then it's $190 to get $185 of value - as well as the 2 RDM bonus per PQD.

Maybe call the MPSC and ask for a bump to Silver in advance?

Kacee

I would just buy E+. If you rely on Silver, you run the risk there are no good E+ seats left at T-24. Then the flight will push you over for the return.

aacharya

Or just fly really quickly to Chicago for $157. This is less than the seat, but to kacee's point, might not be the best seat.

http://goo.gl/flights/zsU1

windhund

I'd personally just buy E+, since that way you get to choose your seat before the window when Silvers get E+.

However, if it's not a lot of hassle and you're willing to take the gamble and see what E+ seats are left, then it's not too much more money to get the extra segment (and you get some extra PQD/RDM from that as well). If it's inconvenient to take the extra flight, then IMO it's not worth it.

nsummy

I disagree with the people who say the buy the E+. Keep in mind your mileage earning will jump from 5x to 7x. When checking in you can use the premier line which has usually saved me time. If problems arise you get to use the premier line at the customer service desk (has saved me significant time), and if calling in you reach the premier desk.

As others have said though you run the risk of there not being any E+ seats. I guess it really depends on how much it will hurt your experience sitting in normal coach. You could also start looking at the seat map of the flight daily to get a good idea of how much E+ availability there is. I can't comment on Europe but I've flown to and From Brazil a few times as a Silver and never had any problems get an Economy plus seat at checkin

PVDProf

You should already get one 50lb bag on that route, and the priority tag is only for golds and up. It's a close call, but I'd lean toward just buying E+ for the outbound.

Coskigirl

I've always gotten a priority tag as a silver.

phltraveler

According to the MP Premier page, Silver is supposed to get priority bag handling. Not sure if that was a recent change or if it's been that way for a while (and maybe people are getting confused because *A Silver doesn't get priority baggage on UA but *A Gold does).

Which is good for me - at the rate I'm flying this year, the only status I have come next year will be MP Silver (assuming the Marriott Platinum/United Silver promo lasts into 2017)...

Coskigirl

I've been Silver for a couple years, always had it.

krazykanuck

Same. It only rarely ever helps my bag come out faster though.

jmanirish

Definitely not worth it. You're much better off just spending the $160 now and getting the exact E+ seat you want, (vs paying $190 for silver and getting what's left at T-24).

PVDProf

Oh, this is a new (since 2005) feature! I was drawing on outdated experience. Just have a vivid memory several years ago of a Gold colleague getting his bags out first and waiting awkwardly for mine, without the shiny orange flag, because I was a lowly silver.