Originally Posted by UA1K4EVER

There have been very strong reactions following UA's unveiling of how the merged UA/CO FF Program is shaping up to look like. While the strong reactions are understandable or even predictable, we should remember that the FF programs simply had to be reconciled, so that "change" was inevitable. The recent announcement can thus be viewed as the result of the brainstorming session that this "change" required. We got informed on two aspects of the merged program that will follow the transition year (2011): (a) Elite qualification Requirements, and (b) Upgrades. I am currently a UA 1K and would like to provide my take on what the merged program might look like and who the winners and losers are.

1. Elite Qualification after 2011 for Merged FF Program
On Dec 31, 2011, OneP and MP miles will be combined. The total EQM would determine the members’ elite status for 2012-2013, which it appears would retain the current MP nomenclature:
A. 1K if total EQM = 100K or more BUT EQS requirement went UP to 120
B. 1P if total EQM is at least 50K but less than 100K
C. 2P if total EQM is at least 25 K but less than 50K

Implications for current MP elites: Except for those who qualify for 1K by EQS, the transition to the merged program should have minimal effect on most current MP elites.

Implication for current OneP Elites: More miles (25k more) will be required to reach the “top” elite status (1K) in the merged program compared to their current program. It seems that OneP members aiming for the top will need to work harder than they are used to, to maintain 'top' status. Overall effect: Slight short-term set back but this will level playing field going forward (i.e., it makes qualification rules the same across the board, which was an important goal).

2. Upgrades in the Merged Program
1. The current MP nomenclature (UDU, CR1, SWU) has been retained
2. UDU and SWU would remain pretty much as they are under the current MP, except that 1K qualifiers will now have the option to request all their 6 SWUs upon qualification rather than to wait until Jan 1 – a net plus.
3. Requirements for earning CR1s has changed significantly: Any remember who reaches 75 EQM automatically qualifies for 2 CR1s, and then every 25k EQM thereafter the member will qualify for 2 additional CR1s, with no limit the number of CR1s that can be earned [1Ks are guaranteed 4 CR1s or 50% of current max]. Whether or not this a positive or negative is highly personal. For this Intl traveler who still has 5 CR1s in the inventory and is likely to lose them, this change in the CR1 earning requirement is just about right. We should remember that UA does not seem to be too fond of CR1s, as they had already axed them following UDU only to bring them back after 1Ks complained...
4. 1P Elites who reach 75K EQM will have UG priority over regular 1Ps: This essentially creates a new elite class (call it 1P+) between 1P and 1K that (a) receives 2 CR1s and (b) has upgrade priority over 1P. This is where we might find many of OneP’s current PE...

In summary, the merged program did not devalue 1K as much as many have claimed. In fact, most 1Ks should be very pleased because their benefits, other than the dubious value of CR1, have not been affected. I qualify by EQMs and not EQSs so I cannot fully express how detrimental the increased EQS requirement might be. For me nothing changed. Current MP 1Ps might have been demoted with the insertion of the 1P+ status, but the plus side is that they can look forward to making that status rather than 1K, which might be out of reach.

Rather than looking at the inevitable changes and just concluding that they are all bad, it might be worth it for each of us to examine them and see precisely how "good", "bad" or "unchanged" our own situation might be.

For me, I feel that I am now member of a great airline that offers me more options for seamless long distance travel across 5 continents while still enjoying the perks of being a UA1K4EVER!