Originally Posted by
exerda
The EQS change for 1Ks is terrible. I've only done 1K once on segments (and that was with 10-12 DEQS), and it was not pleasant. Seriously, we're not talking MRers here, but hard-core business travelers and the occasional leisure traveler who sticks with UA despite living in a non-hub city.
This year, I'll finish with over 100,000 EQM but around 56 EQS. I wouldn't even make 1P on EQS, and I'm tired of being on planes.
Someone who made 100+ EQS is probably booking more trips and probably yielding more CPM to UA than someone making it by EQM.
I'm 1P based on segments. I had thought about trying to eke out 1K this year, but glad I didn't bother if the following year I'd have even less chance of making 1K with the new requirements.
And indeed my segments weren't MRs but lots of business travel, often full fare Y, typically on 3-leg one ways with heavy RJ time (think Devil's Chariot & ERJ more so than CR7 or E70). In fact most of the shorter haul flights happened to be quite expensive. A few leisure trips rounded out the count.
Whether it's good/bad or fair/unfair to raise the bar, I guess is a matter of conjecture. But the fact is it's a change and worth at least comparing to another airline to see what would work best for me.
I guess the CR-1s were never likely to be much of a factor for me, but I'd sure be miffed if I were a 1K now seeing the quantity drop like this. Worst of all, I doubt at the end of the day things will be better for me in 2011/2012 as a 2P, 1P,whatever they end up doing with/calling it. I've sure come to love E+ and UDUs, for example - would hate to lose those.
With several award trips on AA coming up over the next year or so, perhaps aiming for status on AA is worth considering more than maintaining on UA.