Why does United send out their membership kits in December?

ThatAdamGuy · Dec 21, 12, 7:22 pm

Today, December 21, I received a nice looking United membership materials kit in the mail. Sadly, it's for Premier Silver; I have 49,790 PQMs and I'm (thankfully!) earning a bunch more PQMs from a United.com purchase on my grandfathered United Select Visa... posting Dec 26. Talk about cutting it close, eh?

But that's not the point. What I don't get is... I'm presuming United processed these kits early in December; why not wait until Jan 1 to process 'em? I would imagine there are more than a handful of us whose tier qualification will change within this last month of the year, no?

chinatraderjmr · Dec 21, 12, 8:28 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThatAdamGuy

Today, December 21, I received a nice looking United membership materials kit in the mail. Sadly, it's for Premier Silver; I have 49,790 PQMs and I'm (thankfully!) earning a bunch more PQMs from a United.com purchase on my grandfathered United Select Visa... posting Dec 26. Talk about cutting it close, eh?

But that's not the point. What I don't get is... I'm presuming United processed these kits early in December; why not wait until Jan 1 to process 'em? I would imagine there are more than a handful of us whose tier qualification will change within this last month of the year, no?

Whatever they do they can't win. I assume they start processing cards early because so many people have complained in the past of not receiving anything until March. There is no downside for us as customers with UA doing it this way. Would you rather get a Silver card now and a Gold Card next month or just a Gold Card next month? This is a big step up from the way UA used to SLOWLY send out cards

LAX · Dec 21, 12, 8:37 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by chinatraderjmr

Whatever they do they can't win. I assume they start processing cards early because so many people have complained in the past of not receiving anything until March. There is no downside for us as customers with UA doing it this way. Would you rather get a Silver card now and a Gold Card next month or just a Gold Card next month? This is a big step up from the way UA used to SLOWLY send out cards

For someone on the verge of qualifying for the next level, I thought it would make sense to hold off sending out the membership kit, especially for those with potential for Gold or above. Since a Silver card is pretty much useless anyway, I wouldn't mind not receiving one until I reach Gold. For Gold or above, I agree I would rather get one with lower status now rather than the appropriate one in March, especially if I need to travel internationally in February!

LAX

Antipode · Dec 21, 12, 8:48 pm

Probably because status expires at the end of January. If they wait until the year ends, then they have to send out all of the cards within a matter of weeks to get them to people in time before their old cards expire.

I figure that's why most other airline/hotel programs wait until the end of February/March for status to expire.

cordelli · Dec 21, 12, 8:50 pm

I would guess their vendor gives them a better price to do it early, and the cost of sending out a few updated cards for people who move up a status level after they send them out is far below the savings. It may also have to do with which year they take the expense in.

They can't win, if they waited until the very last day people would complain it's taking way too long for the cards.

mike1968 · Dec 21, 12, 10:10 pm

Didn't you get the e-mail?? They've changed the qualifying period to be only through Dec 15th. You're SOL and will be Silver for 2013 and like it!!! That's how things work under Chairman Smisek now.

demkr · Dec 21, 12, 10:22 pm

With AA I would always receive my EXP credentials immediately upon requalifying. I wonder if it costs COdbaUA less to send the cards out all at once to everybody

LilAbner · Dec 21, 12, 10:34 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike1968

Didn't you get the e-mail?? They've changed the qualifying period to be only through Dec 15th. You're SOL and will be Silver for 2013 and like it!!! That's how things work under Chairman Smisek now.

Actually, I received a similar e-mail that stated from now on once the first (Silver) level was reached, and cards were mailed out for that particular status, no further cards would be mailed no matter how many more miles one flew. Something about needing the extra plastic for "Ex-Con" broaches, or something like that!

GoAmtrak · Dec 21, 12, 10:38 pm

Did MP change fulfillment vendors? Under PMUA my kits always came promptly after gaining status, or even dropping status. Years back I lost 2P and they sent a new GM kit!

This year, no 1K kit, just a very belated replacement card in late May. I hit 1K again a few weeks ago, but I'll be pleasantly surprised if I get a packet anytime soon.

Mike Jacoubowsky · Dec 21, 12, 11:37 pm

United never sent me a Plat card this year, even after I called in May to ask about it. Just for kicks, I tried going "cardless" the whole year. Never once had an issue, not in UCs, not in Senator Lounges, not in whatever lounge it was in BRU (BMI?). My ticket alone was enough.

Back in the day, when I'd go to the counter for something, I'd always hand them my driver's license, boarding pass and, at the time, *G/1P card. But I don't think it ever mattered. It's not as if they ever swiped my elite card to gain easy access to my record.

Of course, I'm not going to be too happy if, at 74,869 miles, United sends me a Plat card in the mail tomorrow!!! Not after spending $200 on a non-refundable SFO-LAX RT for next weekend.

Which begs the question. If they did send me a Plat card, and I confirmed with them on the phone my Plat status (even though a bit short)... would I still fly SFO-LAX? And if I did, would I have let my family know I didn't have to?

Long story short- I don't see the point to United sending out cards early to members within, say, 10% of the threshold to the next level. The cards most-useful purpose, for United, is to make you believe you're part of something special, something, dare I say, elite. Marketing. It likely serves no useful purpose for sending them to those nearing a threshold level.

ThatAdamGuy · Dec 21, 12, 11:40 pm

Heh, yeah, I hear about the "can't win" and I'm not hugely complaining, just sort of baffled.

It seems to me that they could mail the whole lot of 'em on Jan 2 and I'd *think* that'd be enough time for everyone to get their cards.

Or, if they'd rather be safe than sorry, for members on the cusp of the next level, they could include either a notice online upon login or even in email saying, "Ah, you're so close! We just sent you a [current qualified-for level] card to be sure you're set for the New Year, but if you should make it to [next level], we'd be delighted to send you a new card shortly thereafter... and -- even before you receive your new card -- you'll enjoy the benefits of [new level] within 48 hours of reaching [number of PQMs]. Thanks for flying United!"

WineCountryUA · Dec 21, 12, 11:43 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThatAdamGuy

.... It seems to me that they could mail the whole lot of 'em on Jan 2 and I'd *think* that'd be enough time for everyone to get their cards. ....

there is a finite manufacturing time and need for staggered mailing period, especially when you are talking about a million or more kits.

ThatAdamGuy · Dec 21, 12, 11:46 pm

Really, WineCountryUA? I see where you're coming from, but I can't imagine that manufacturing a million or three of those cards and mailing 'em could really take all that long. But in fairness, it might be a matter of optimizing costs vs. speeds, in which case, then I stick with my second suggestion of at least giving members-on-the-cusp a heads-up in email or in the online account dashboard

WineCountryUA · Dec 22, 12, 12:00 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThatAdamGuy

.. I see where you're coming from, but I can't imagine that manufacturing a million or three of those cards and mailing 'em could really take all that long. ....

who is going to create the capability to process and distribute 1 million cards in one week and leave it mostly idle for the rest of the year? no one, this is mostly likely contracted out but you still have the same issue are the other loyalty programs are trying to do the same at the same time -- the only viable approach is to spread the peak out over a reasonable period of time.

channa · Dec 22, 12, 12:05 am

I think PMUA only sent 1K kits out early to those who qualified for 1K, since you can't go higher than 1K (except GS, but that's a different criteria). That approach made sense.