SWUS TO COME EARLY, 125K bonus SWU out
 

Customers who qualify for 2005 1K status before December 15, 2004, will receive four of six 2005 SWUs early. Customers who have qualified by October 8, 2004, will have their four SWUs deposited into their accounts by October 15, 2004. For customers who qualify between October 8, 2004 and December 15, 2004, their four SWUs will be deposited into their account within two weeks of qualifying for 2005 1K status. The remaining two SWUs will be deposited into accounts on January 1, 2005.

All six of these Systemwide Upgrades will be valid from the day they are deposited into the account through January 2006. Please note that while the E-UpgradeSM summary will show the correct SWU balance, the expiration date for the four SWUs received early will not appear until the expiration date is 13 months away.

Customers who qualify for 2005 1K status after December 15, 2004, will receive their six SWUs on January 1, 2005.

Earn more Systemwide Upgrades in 2005.

In 2005, 1K members will have new opportunities to earn Systemwide Upgrades.

Upon reaching 150,000 Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM) or 150 Elite Qualifying Segments (EQS) in 2005, 1Ks earn an additional two Systemwide Upgrades. Then earn two Systemwide Upgrades for each additional 50,000 EQM or 50 EQS earned during the calendar year. There's no limit to the number of Systemwide Upgrades that can be earned.

Nice to see UA is still being customer-centric. All the 1Ks who worried about early 2005 international travel plans are now covered.

They also just incentivitized all 1Ks who hit 100K to stay with UA rather then gun for dual-status with AA or another Star partner.

Not to look a gift horse, but I wish they pushed back the expiration date till at least February. I was hoping to use my current SWU this Nov. but now may not get to as UA still seems to have pretty high fares from DEN to anywhere in Europe.

This is another one of those "enhancements"... Personally I really don't like the elimination of the 125k SWU threshold. I would've preferred they keep the 125k & 150k plateaus AND added the 200+k plateaus.

What are the terms?
 

Are the terms of the 2005 SWUs the same as the 2004 ones with the same fares able to be upgraded?

Note that the extra SWUs come with 150K/50 EQMs/EQSs and not 150K BIS miles, so this is not as alarming as I initially thought. Looks like more of UA's push to higher fares. I should reach 125K BIS miles and 150K EQMs at about the same time this year, mostly because I was able to score quite a few discount F fares with 50% bonus on our corporate travel site. So the difference would be of little consequence for me this year. However, not sure if I'll be able to do the same next year. :(

Good point. However, this assumes UA maintains its stance in giving away EQM like candy.

Personally, I'd prefer they quit it with the EQM promos and introduce some more redeemable miles promos ala The Great Offer. That got me to hit 1K last march. I'd be more than happy if they did this again.

I can't see UA dropping the 150% EQM bonus for P/F/A/C/D/Z/Y/B fares, so those folks, like Chapel Hill Guy who "fly high" for business, or people like myself who "fly high" for leisure, will have an incentive to keep doing so. UA's EQM bonuses have been pretty measly, as of late (most max out at 15K and are not combinable) so I imagine the push is to get more folks into UGS territory on higher fare bases then giving it to them on EQM offers. :)

The link provided on the 1K website associated with this announcement takes you to the current SWU T's and C's. While not conclusive proof, I am guessing the terms will remain the same?

I am NOT happy!
 

Considering that I just bought a United Business Class ticket to get the 50% EQM and receive the extra 2 systemwides for the 125'000 mile threshold, I am NOT happy! :td: And I will DEFINATLEY not manage to reach 150'000 miles by year-end.

In my opinion this was a bad move... .

You may confusing 2004 thresholds, 125 & 150k, with newly announced 2005 thresholds, 150, 200, 250?

I would also agree. If you look at the last line it seems as if the rules are written to cover the expiration dates based on different issue dates. IIRC this generally wasn't an issue since most SWU's were issued at the same time.

This is a change for 2005. In 2004 you will still receive the extra two SWU at 125,000 miles. But it looks in 2005 they will change it from BIS to EQM/EQS and therefore are eliminating the 125,000 threshold and starting it at 150,000.

No need to get your undies in a bunch...the 125k threshold will still be valid for the 2004 qualification period. It's not like they extended the offer to us in Jan/Feb and are now taking it away. That would be suicidal.

Not all, just the ones who buy expensive tickets (150 EQMs). I assume that's the objective. Those of us who have to buy cheap coach fares will probably just do the minimum necessary to re-qualify.