cblaisd

I remember discovering FlyerTalk in June of 2000. By Labor Day weekend, I attained Premier Silver (and even did a mileage run or two in those summer months, back when intra-California segment running was easy and cheap), and Gold by year's end.

Since then, I have variously been 1K, Gold, Platinum, and Silver.

Until today.

The PQD requirement just did me in, when on flights like COS-DEN-XXX the COS-DEN netted a whopping $19 PQD.

I understand why UA went to PQD minimums, but I will miss some of the fantastic people I got to know at every level of UA. And I was overwhelmingly well-treated almost always (and UA staffers more than once went the second and third mile in difficult or unusual situations).

Now will pretty much be burning off accumulated miles, but missing things like same day free SDC, no/cheap award ticket fees, etc. I did get the Explorer Card for the baggage allowance and at least highly theoretical possibly of an upgrade on award tix -- so I will occasionally see all of you from the Group Two line where I will be one of the kazillion people there.

sbm12

Mazel tov.

laxmillenial

Are you close to 1Million Mile status at least?

cblaisd

Sadly, no: 800,363 lifetime miles.

zebranz

Now you can choose the best airline for your trips...

cblaisd

True. But there were quite a few years there when, hands down, UA was the best airline for virtually all of my trips, and the extra mile efforts I received over those years from so many staff kept me wanting to fly UA.

PV_Premier

Thread title is a bit deceiving, you still have AS MVP

I went from 1K to silver to nothing from 2014 to 2015 to 2016

Don't miss it a bit

today I lost my DL status too. I am still flying mostly SkyTeam this year for personal/logistical reasons and DL's attractive UP fares. but, alas, celebrate your new-found freedom and try some new carriers. even in Y, many of AS partners are pretty decent for international travel.

cblaisd

Thank goodness! And I'm really enjoying the AS experience for the most part.

(assumed UA would be understood since this is in the UA forum)

Hartmann

I dropped down to Gold from 1K and I am a little sad about it, but I am just going to spend my money where it matters. When I want to be in a front cabin, I'll pay for it.

I will miss getting right through when calling though.

1KChinito

You should celebrate, your UA handcuff has been unlocked. You are a free man now.

MatthewLAX

^

SFnFlaGuy

I've been there before and it actually feels great to be able to fly whoever I want.

Guess you don't have the Presidential Plus card? It waived the PQD requirement for me...and I might end up having Gold this year due to a couple of "P" fares to SJU that I'm taking....much easier than the old time when it's BIS and took too much work...imagine 16,692 for one SFO-EWR-SJU round trip...that's a deal. :-)


These days though, most status doesn't really matter....I do appreciate that United has some very reasonable P fares out there as compared with Delta which is almost 2x or 3x the cost. Rather than deal with CPU or UG Waitlist...I'll just buy the premium cabin fare if it's reasonable enough...

FLYDCA

Many benefits can be purchased as needed per flight. Status is overrated these days.

SFO-SSA

This year I also would not have made elite status for the first time since 1998 due to being just short of the Silver PDQ (despite having flown over 75,000 miles). Thankfully I made it to Million Miler in October, so I'm Gold for life now and never have to chase status again. If I were you I'd hang in there. You're not far from a million miles. Personally I love having lifetime Gold with the E+, occasional upgrades and other perks.

1KChinito

Enjoy it while it lasts. It can be easily diluted and deemed worthless.