Combined with the announcement that UA made today I do not think there are really too many surprises here.
We've got a 4 tier program - 25/50/75/100K EQMs or 30/60/90/120 EQPs on both sides. CR1s are added to the 75K level while SWUs stay at 100K or above. GS sticks around and will remain a nebulous enigma.
The shortened program is interesting but not a huge deal for me. For folks who are used to doing the every other year multiple B fares to Asia in Jan/Feb to get their status it could be an issue.
The only thing that makes no sense at all are the fare classes excluded from the new SWUs. Unless the fares are going to be reorganized (again) the K and G fares should not be listed there. I would expect that STNL would be excluded and W or higher will be valid. CO E fares are equivalent to W fare but with connections so it makes sense to include those as well. But excluding K & G is a very strange move IMO. I hope that's just a typo.
Here's what UA has to say, showing that it is pretty much symmetrical in terms of the changes:
http://www.united.com/page/article/1,,53656,00.html
In the coming year, you will begin to experience updates to your travel benefits and rewards as we integrate the United® Mileage Plus® and Continental® OnePass® programs. And while the two award-winning programs will continue to operate separately in 2011, we will be working hard to align benefits and provide you with a single world-class frequent flyer program by January 1, 2012.
Below you will find details about updates to the 2011 elite program and beyond.
2011 updates to note
EQM and EQS earned in both Mileage Plus and OnePass count toward 2012 status
* Mileage Plus and OnePass elite status miles (EQM) and elite status segments (EQS) earned in 2011 will be combined at the end of the year and count toward your 2012 status in the new program.
* On December 31, 2011, the EQM and EQS will be combined for 2012 elite status. For example: if you have 45,000 EQM with Mileage Plus and 10,000 EQM with OnePass, your balance on December 31 will be 55,000 EQM.
Elite members can earn unlimited Regional Upgrades
* These versatile upgrades can be used on all domestic routes, including transcontinental p.s.® and Hawaii flights. Regional Upgrades are valid for travel within the continental U.S., Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America.
* You will receive two Regional Upgrades as soon as you reach 75,000 EQM or 90 EQS.
* You will earn two more Regional Upgrades at every 25,000 EQM/30 EQS after that in the same calendar year, with no limit to how many you can earn throughout the year.
* This replaces today’s system, where only 1K members can earn up to eight per year.
Updates to 1K® qualification
* The number of EQS needed in 2011 to qualify for 2012 1K status is now 120.
* The number of EQM needed to qualify remains at 100,000.
Receive Systemwide Upgrades at 100,000 EQM /120 EQS
* Systemwide Upgrades are the only complimentary upgrade that offer you the comfort of premium travel to any United or United Express® destination worldwide.
* You will receive six Systemwide Upgrades as soon as you reach 100,000 EQM or 120 EQS.
* You will earn two more Systemwide Upgrades at every 50,000 EQM/60 EQS after that in the same calendar year, with no limit to how many you can earn throughout the year.
2012 updates to note
By mid-2012, Premier Executive members who earn 75,000 EQM or 90 EQS will have upgrade priority
* Premier Executive members who earned at least 75,000 EQM or 90 EQS in 2011 will be upgraded ahead of other Premier Executive members.
* 1K members will continue to be upgraded ahead of lower elite levels.