Originally Posted by
reddirt14
You guys need to face the facts. If you fly 1 million miles on United they don't care. They will probably give you 2 token CR-1s, if they feel like it, but that's it. Oh, I forgot, you will get credit card offers too. But they really don't care what business you gave them, they only care about how much you will be spending this year and next year. Your prior loyalty means nothing to United.
Once you understand that, you will be much happier. Realize that every flight to them doesn't mean anything once you've paid for it. You personally mean nothing to them. Don't expect anything from them. We will all be happy if we accept this.
Loyalty is one reason. However, there is a good business reason for status. The MM status (and beyond) is an incentive for those who HAVE NOT YET achieved that status to shoot for that milestone, instead of spreading their 200+K miles per year between 2 airlines. Right now I am shooting for 3MM, but only because I know what the benefits are (e.g. lifetime 1K) in doing so. Imagine United taking that away, or demoting 1K.....
1MM is a big step (upgrade and meal priority, lifetime 1P that is now being demoted, 2CR1 annually).
2MM is not much (RCC for life, an iPOD).
3MM is another big step (above).
****My suggestion for United: Lifetime miles are used as the tie-breaker for UDU, other upgrade priorities, standbys, meals, etc. This way, EVERYONE will have a reason to keep flying.