For a 2P, the requirements for qualifying come to an annual rate of 40,000 miles. For 1P, 70,000 miles. And for Platinum, 75,000. That's taking the 90 day window and annualizing it.

It would work well for someone flying to OZ, sure. But otherwise, you're going to have to really keep your eye on the prize. Probably only count BIS miles, and EQM0-earning credit cards aren't going to be a factor because the folk new to UA aren't going to have them (and if they did, the miles wouldn't post that early anyway).

This thread is about 2Ps though, and there's no solution that involves United. More relevant what others are doing, and so far, I haven't seen evidence that anyone, anywhere, is courting the 2P flyer.

The evidence is clear. The current economic and airline-specific environment is such that nobody sees the point to marketing loyalty-based programs to under 50k flyers. The fact that they don't even see such flyers stepping up through the ranks is an indication that they'll likely introduce more a la carte offerings to entice the unbetroathed. "Elite for a day" is the future. United's already doing that rather effectively.