Last edit by: JDiver
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Update: As of 22 Dec 2014, Trial Preferred is no longer accepting new enrollments. If you're currently enrolled in Trial Preferred, you'll continue to receive Preferred benefits and accrue toward status through the remainder of your Trial period. Your 2015 Preferred status earned through Trial will transfer to AAdvantage once we combine the programs in the second quarter of 2015.
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Try Preferred status on for size <Link>
Are you new to Dividend Miles? Enjoy the benefits of Preferred status now through the Trial Preferred program. Get priority check-in and boarding, unlimited upgrades to First Class and more during your 90-day trial period.
Here's how to get Preferred status
Choose and purchase your level of Preferred status, then fly with US. It's that easy to get all the benefits of Preferred status.
Learn more about Preferred
Upgrade to Preferred
Preferred status / cost Silver – $200 Gold – $400 Platinum – $600
Then, over the next 90 days, fly a minimum number of miles on flights operated by US Airways or American Airlines to keep your Preferred status through February 29, 2016. If your trial began on or before June 30, 2014, you'll maintain your Preferred status through February 28, 2015.
The Trial Preferred program is the quickest way to get to Preferred status. Just enroll online to try Preferred on for size today.
Enroll in Tral Preferred
Terms & Conditions
This program is available only to non-Preferred members. Dividend Miles members must fly a minimum number of miles or segments to keep Preferred status for the remainder of the program year. Bonus miles earned based on class of service do not count toward Preferred status. Members may enroll in the Trial Preferred program only once in any consecutive 12-month period. Members who did not requalify for Preferred status for the current year are not eligible to participate in the Trial Preferred program. Only elite-qualifying miles earned on flights operated by US Airways, US Airways Express, American Airlines and American Eagle can be applied toward the Trial Preferred program. The program participation fee is non-refundable. Federal excise tax of 7.5% will be added to the purchase price. Only bookings made after the member's status has been upgraded reflect his or her new status. Preferred status earned through the Trial Preferred program is only valid in the Dividend Miles program through February 29, 2016 for members who purchased Trial Preferred after June 30, 2014. Members who purchased Trial Preferred on or before June 30, 2014 will retain their earned Preferred status through February 28, 2015. Associated First Class upgrade benefits are based on availability and only available on US Airways and US Airways Express-operated flights.
Wiki updated 7 Dec 2014
Update: As of 22 Dec 2014, Trial Preferred is no longer accepting new enrollments. If you're currently enrolled in Trial Preferred, you'll continue to receive Preferred benefits and accrue toward status through the remainder of your Trial period. Your 2015 Preferred status earned through Trial will transfer to AAdvantage once we combine the programs in the second quarter of 2015.
========================================
Try Preferred status on for size <Link>
Are you new to Dividend Miles? Enjoy the benefits of Preferred status now through the Trial Preferred program. Get priority check-in and boarding, unlimited upgrades to First Class and more during your 90-day trial period.
Here's how to get Preferred status
Choose and purchase your level of Preferred status, then fly with US. It's that easy to get all the benefits of Preferred status.
Learn more about Preferred
Upgrade to Preferred
Preferred status / cost Silver – $200 Gold – $400 Platinum – $600
Then, over the next 90 days, fly a minimum number of miles on flights operated by US Airways or American Airlines to keep your Preferred status through February 29, 2016. If your trial began on or before June 30, 2014, you'll maintain your Preferred status through February 28, 2015.
- Silver: Fly 7,500 miles or 10 segments
- Gold: Fly 15,000 miles or 20 segments
- Platinum: Fly 22,500 miles or 30 segments
- Chairman's: Fly 30,000 miles or 40 segments
The Trial Preferred program is the quickest way to get to Preferred status. Just enroll online to try Preferred on for size today.
Enroll in Tral Preferred
Terms & Conditions
This program is available only to non-Preferred members. Dividend Miles members must fly a minimum number of miles or segments to keep Preferred status for the remainder of the program year. Bonus miles earned based on class of service do not count toward Preferred status. Members may enroll in the Trial Preferred program only once in any consecutive 12-month period. Members who did not requalify for Preferred status for the current year are not eligible to participate in the Trial Preferred program. Only elite-qualifying miles earned on flights operated by US Airways, US Airways Express, American Airlines and American Eagle can be applied toward the Trial Preferred program. The program participation fee is non-refundable. Federal excise tax of 7.5% will be added to the purchase price. Only bookings made after the member's status has been upgraded reflect his or her new status. Preferred status earned through the Trial Preferred program is only valid in the Dividend Miles program through February 29, 2016 for members who purchased Trial Preferred after June 30, 2014. Members who purchased Trial Preferred on or before June 30, 2014 will retain their earned Preferred status through February 28, 2015. Associated First Class upgrade benefits are based on availability and only available on US Airways and US Airways Express-operated flights.
Wiki updated 7 Dec 2014
Trial Preferred Status (merged) [Master Thread]
#556
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 4
Newbie needs confirmation
Major newbie here - looking to do first chance of status with the US Air Trial Preferred from Aug-Oct 2012 and a few MR.
These are my assumptions and would appreciate confirmation:
1. If I qualify to keep status during the trial period (Aug-Oct 2012) then I'll get it through Feb 2014. (Shooting for Plat or CP)
2. As an example, a MR consisting of CLT-PHL-BDL-DCA-CLT would give me 2000 miles (500 mile minimums) toward the qualification requirements, even if the flight miles are 448-195-312-330, respectively?
Thanks in advance!
These are my assumptions and would appreciate confirmation:
1. If I qualify to keep status during the trial period (Aug-Oct 2012) then I'll get it through Feb 2014. (Shooting for Plat or CP)
2. As an example, a MR consisting of CLT-PHL-BDL-DCA-CLT would give me 2000 miles (500 mile minimums) toward the qualification requirements, even if the flight miles are 448-195-312-330, respectively?
Thanks in advance!
#557
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: CLT
Posts: 91
Hoping someone can help out with a question. I've copied below two sentences from the US site re: trial preferred.
"Members may enroll in the Trial Preferred program only once in any consecutive 12 month period. Members who did not re-qualify for Preferred status for the current year are not eligible to participate in the Trial Preferred program."
The first sentence is crystal clear. However, I'm unsure about the second sentence. I'm currently silver, but I do not expect to have enough miles this year to qualify for any status come March 2013. Does the second sentence indicate that I would NOT be able to do a trial anytime between March 1, 2013 and Feb 28, 2014? The first sentence makes it sounds like it's possible to do a trial every year, but the second seems to imply that if you currently have status, you need to go a full year with no status before you can do the trial.
Thanks!
"Members may enroll in the Trial Preferred program only once in any consecutive 12 month period. Members who did not re-qualify for Preferred status for the current year are not eligible to participate in the Trial Preferred program."
The first sentence is crystal clear. However, I'm unsure about the second sentence. I'm currently silver, but I do not expect to have enough miles this year to qualify for any status come March 2013. Does the second sentence indicate that I would NOT be able to do a trial anytime between March 1, 2013 and Feb 28, 2014? The first sentence makes it sounds like it's possible to do a trial every year, but the second seems to imply that if you currently have status, you need to go a full year with no status before you can do the trial.
Thanks!
#558
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BWI
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond, National Emerald Executive, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 15,180
Major newbie here - looking to do first chance of status with the US Air Trial Preferred from Aug-Oct 2012 and a few MR.
These are my assumptions and would appreciate confirmation:
1. If I qualify to keep status during the trial period (Aug-Oct 2012) then I'll get it through Feb 2014. (Shooting for Plat or CP)
These are my assumptions and would appreciate confirmation:
1. If I qualify to keep status during the trial period (Aug-Oct 2012) then I'll get it through Feb 2014. (Shooting for Plat or CP)
2. As an example, a MR consisting of CLT-PHL-BDL-DCA-CLT would give me 2000 miles (500 mile minimums) toward the qualification requirements, even if the flight miles are 448-195-312-330, respectively?
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
Originally Posted by ksl11
Hoping someone can help out with a question. I've copied below two sentences from the US site re: trial preferred.
"Members may enroll in the Trial Preferred program only once in any consecutive 12 month period. Members who did not re-qualify for Preferred status for the current year are not eligible to participate in the Trial Preferred program."
The first sentence is crystal clear. However, I'm unsure about the second sentence. I'm currently silver, but I do not expect to have enough miles this year to qualify for any status come March 2013. Does the second sentence indicate that I would NOT be able to do a trial anytime between March 1, 2013 and Feb 28, 2014? The first sentence makes it sounds like it's possible to do a trial every year, but the second seems to imply that if you currently have status, you need to go a full year with no status before you can do the trial.
Thanks!
"Members may enroll in the Trial Preferred program only once in any consecutive 12 month period. Members who did not re-qualify for Preferred status for the current year are not eligible to participate in the Trial Preferred program."
The first sentence is crystal clear. However, I'm unsure about the second sentence. I'm currently silver, but I do not expect to have enough miles this year to qualify for any status come March 2013. Does the second sentence indicate that I would NOT be able to do a trial anytime between March 1, 2013 and Feb 28, 2014? The first sentence makes it sounds like it's possible to do a trial every year, but the second seems to imply that if you currently have status, you need to go a full year with no status before you can do the trial.
Thanks!
Depending on how short you are, you may want to buy the difference in PQMs to keep status. You'd have to evaluate if the cost is worth it to you though factoring in bag fees, choice seats, etc, over the year.
#559
Join Date: Apr 2004
Programs: US Airways SP, AAdvanage, HHonors Diamond, Starwood Gold, more to come
Posts: 323
Ok first off, I didn't go through all 38 pages.
The link on the first page for the Trial Preferred shows the page, with a clause at the bottom:
Now the questions (which may or may not have already been answered):
1: Is that just an error in the date? If I do the trial say beginning of July, would that mean if I do the 15,000 miles/20seg by the end of September (90 days) I'll only be Gold for 5 full months? Doesn't sound right...
2: If it is indeed an error, and I do the trial starting say October 5, and amass 30k (or 40seg) by Jan 5, does that mean that my status will be valid til the end of Feb 2014, OR would it be valid for the 2014 Membership year as well (since status is "gained" in 2013)?
The T&C are vague and don't specify anything other than a February 2013 date to "keep" the status til.
40 Segments is easy to pull off with my upcoming travel, but I'd rather have it count for all of 2013 (and preferably 14) rather than just until Feb of 2013.
Thanks
The link on the first page for the Trial Preferred shows the page, with a clause at the bottom:
Then, over the next 90 days, fly a minimum amount of miles on flights operated by US Airways to keep your Preferred status through February 28, 2013.
Silver: Fly 7,500 miles or 10 segments
Gold: Fly 15,000 miles or 20 segments
Platinum: Fly 22,500 miles or 30 segments
Chairmans: Fly 30,000 miles or 40 segments
Silver: Fly 7,500 miles or 10 segments
Gold: Fly 15,000 miles or 20 segments
Platinum: Fly 22,500 miles or 30 segments
Chairmans: Fly 30,000 miles or 40 segments
1: Is that just an error in the date? If I do the trial say beginning of July, would that mean if I do the 15,000 miles/20seg by the end of September (90 days) I'll only be Gold for 5 full months? Doesn't sound right...
2: If it is indeed an error, and I do the trial starting say October 5, and amass 30k (or 40seg) by Jan 5, does that mean that my status will be valid til the end of Feb 2014, OR would it be valid for the 2014 Membership year as well (since status is "gained" in 2013)?
The T&C are vague and don't specify anything other than a February 2013 date to "keep" the status til.
40 Segments is easy to pull off with my upcoming travel, but I'd rather have it count for all of 2013 (and preferably 14) rather than just until Feb of 2013.
Thanks
#560
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,447
Ok first off, I didn't go through all 38 pages.
The link on the first page for the Trial Preferred shows the page, with a clause at the bottom:
Now the questions (which may or may not have already been answered):
1: Is that just an error in the date? If I do the trial say beginning of July, would that mean if I do the 15,000 miles/20seg by the end of September (90 days) I'll only be Gold for 5 full months? Doesn't sound right...
2: If it is indeed an error, and I do the trial starting say October 5, and amass 30k (or 40seg) by Jan 5, does that mean that my status will be valid til the end of Feb 2014, OR would it be valid for the 2014 Membership year as well (since status is "gained" in 2013)?
The T&C are vague and don't specify anything other than a February 2013 date to "keep" the status til.
40 Segments is easy to pull off with my upcoming travel, but I'd rather have it count for all of 2013 (and preferably 14) rather than just until Feb of 2013.
Thanks
The link on the first page for the Trial Preferred shows the page, with a clause at the bottom:
Now the questions (which may or may not have already been answered):
1: Is that just an error in the date? If I do the trial say beginning of July, would that mean if I do the 15,000 miles/20seg by the end of September (90 days) I'll only be Gold for 5 full months? Doesn't sound right...
2: If it is indeed an error, and I do the trial starting say October 5, and amass 30k (or 40seg) by Jan 5, does that mean that my status will be valid til the end of Feb 2014, OR would it be valid for the 2014 Membership year as well (since status is "gained" in 2013)?
The T&C are vague and don't specify anything other than a February 2013 date to "keep" the status til.
40 Segments is easy to pull off with my upcoming travel, but I'd rather have it count for all of 2013 (and preferably 14) rather than just until Feb of 2013.
Thanks
#561
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 1
So I just bought a trial silver today....then read that for rollover to 2014, it begins until 4 days from now. I don't travel until the 2nd of July, so is there any way that I can push the start date of my trial date until the 2nd of July, or am I screwed? I'm on route to Premier Gold on United, but fly mostly BOS-DCA so US Airways made sense to me: if I can't get Preferred Gold through 2014, I guess I'll have to stick with Mileage Plus for the *G?
Any suggestions? Anywhere I can appeal to?
Any suggestions? Anywhere I can appeal to?
#562
Join Date: May 2012
Location: BOS
Programs: US CP, DL PM
Posts: 127
Quick question about mileage bonuses (not for PQM, just regular miles) - didn't find this in the thread anywhere obvious.
Say you're on trial preferred at Silver, you fly a trip and get bumped up to Gold/Plat/CP etc which can happen in one long flight. At what point does the % bonus on miles change?
For instance, if you bump up on the first leg of a trip, do subsequent legs get higher % bonus? Do all legs of a trip always get % bonus at the lowest status you were? Or do you get bonus based on what status you are when you book the trip?
Say you're on trial preferred at Silver, you fly a trip and get bumped up to Gold/Plat/CP etc which can happen in one long flight. At what point does the % bonus on miles change?
For instance, if you bump up on the first leg of a trip, do subsequent legs get higher % bonus? Do all legs of a trip always get % bonus at the lowest status you were? Or do you get bonus based on what status you are when you book the trip?
#563
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BWI
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond, National Emerald Executive, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 15,180
Quick question about mileage bonuses (not for PQM, just regular miles) - didn't find this in the thread anywhere obvious.
Say you're on trial preferred at Silver, you fly a trip and get bumped up to Gold/Plat/CP etc which can happen in one long flight. At what point does the % bonus on miles change?
For instance, if you bump up on the first leg of a trip, do subsequent legs get higher % bonus? Do all legs of a trip always get % bonus at the lowest status you were? Or do you get bonus based on what status you are when you book the trip?
Say you're on trial preferred at Silver, you fly a trip and get bumped up to Gold/Plat/CP etc which can happen in one long flight. At what point does the % bonus on miles change?
For instance, if you bump up on the first leg of a trip, do subsequent legs get higher % bonus? Do all legs of a trip always get % bonus at the lowest status you were? Or do you get bonus based on what status you are when you book the trip?
If you cross a threshold midflight, it will post at the lower status.
If you're in a trip with connection and flight A puts you over, and flight B would theoretically be at the new status, it'll depend. If both post before your status updates, it'll be at the lower status. However, if there's a lag between flights, it'll probably post at the correct status.
Of course, any flights after you cross a threshold should count, so you can always call US and argue that. They fixed it for me.
#564
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 25
I have two LAX-BKK-LAX trips lined up. One in September and one in November.
I currently have no status with US but abour 12k PQMs.
If I do the trial for Sept - Nov does that mean I will grab Chairmans status for all of 2013? (the two flights should be about 32k miles total).
I currently have no status with US but abour 12k PQMs.
If I do the trial for Sept - Nov does that mean I will grab Chairmans status for all of 2013? (the two flights should be about 32k miles total).
#565
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: BGM/ PHL
Programs: US (Silver, *A Silver), AA, Starbucks (Gold)
Posts: 2,242
I have two LAX-BKK-LAX trips lined up. One in September and one in November.
I currently have no status with US but abour 12k PQMs.
If I do the trial for Sept - Nov does that mean I will grab Chairmans status for all of 2013? (the two flights should be about 32k miles total).
I currently have no status with US but abour 12k PQMs.
If I do the trial for Sept - Nov does that mean I will grab Chairmans status for all of 2013? (the two flights should be about 32k miles total).
That said, your Royal Thai flights will count towards normal qualification and (assuming you're in a 100% fare class) puts you within easy reach of Gold. A transcon and a short mileage run would put you over 50k...
#566
Join Date: May 2012
Location: BTV
Programs: US Airways Gold, DL Silver, Avis First, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 121
I recently did the short cut status match and I made silver in 6 weeks. Got my packet in the mail a few weeks later, then yesterday I got an email that said I've made Silver, but "don't stop now, 6 more segments and xxx miles I can make Gold" I hadn't really thought about it, but after my next flight I will make Gold and I only paid $200 for the Silver challenge...
#567
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 2
Last Minute Flights
I just got a friend to nominate me to silver preferred, and have a question about the upgrades. My employer makes my flight reservations, and we're often in the situation where we're making them only 1 day in advance. Will I still be eligible for upgrades even though I'm past the 2 days out upgrade timing?
#568
Join Date: Jan 2003
Programs: American Airlines Platinum, National Executive
Posts: 3,790
I just got a friend to nominate me to silver preferred, and have a question about the upgrades. My employer makes my flight reservations, and we're often in the situation where we're making them only 1 day in advance. Will I still be eligible for upgrades even though I'm past the 2 days out upgrade timing?
I usually buy tickets a day or two in advance and usually get upgraded.
If you work for a large corporation like I used to, with a strict travel policy that prohibits any tickets except in coach, beware: one issue I had with last-minute tickets was that I'd buy the ticket (on a coach fare), and then it would get immediately automatically upgraded (and the fare code would thus change), and then the travel agent would reject the ticket since it was not a coach fare when it was paid for, so I'd lose the upgrade. It was totally irritating.
Last edited by ibrandsguest; Jul 20, 2012 at 7:05 pm
#569
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,447
I just got a friend to nominate me to silver preferred, and have a question about the upgrades. My employer makes my flight reservations, and we're often in the situation where we're making them only 1 day in advance. Will I still be eligible for upgrades even though I'm past the 2 days out upgrade timing?
#570
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BWI
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond, National Emerald Executive, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 15,180
Just realized something. I think US did more for me than I originally realized back when they bumped me to Plat earlier.
I got my card out today to call the Plat line so I could change some tickets. While I had it out, I noticed that it said my Plat status I got from doing the challenge earlier this year expired in 2014 instead of 2013. Called in and checked on the computer and it was correct, I'm Plat till 2014.
And no, my PQMs for the year are still at 49k. I shouldn't have trouble qualifying for Plat anyway, but it's nice to know I'm covered either way.
Not sure if it was a mistake or US being generous in fixing my status with them screwing up what they told earlier this year.
Now I'm wondering if I should buy up to CP if I'm short. Unless I hit another work trip, I may only hit 85k.
I got my card out today to call the Plat line so I could change some tickets. While I had it out, I noticed that it said my Plat status I got from doing the challenge earlier this year expired in 2014 instead of 2013. Called in and checked on the computer and it was correct, I'm Plat till 2014.
And no, my PQMs for the year are still at 49k. I shouldn't have trouble qualifying for Plat anyway, but it's nice to know I'm covered either way.
Not sure if it was a mistake or US being generous in fixing my status with them screwing up what they told earlier this year.
Now I'm wondering if I should buy up to CP if I'm short. Unless I hit another work trip, I may only hit 85k.