Originally Posted by
TommyC80
As others have said, this method of getting status seems pretty pointless for a large majority of people.
For someone who would otherwise end the year with 40-45 or 65-70 nights, the quick cheap meeting and bump to next status level can be easily worth it.
Originally Posted by
TommyC80
Besides 25% extra points and the paltry welcome gift there isn't much difference btwn gold and plat.
A $10 food credit or 500 points/stay, plus the extra bonus points, can really add up for those with dozens of stays. And for those without UA status, the bump to free Silver can be valuable, even if used for nothing more than free bags and early boarding on occasion. For Lifetime Status purposes, if you happen to already have the points needed but are low on nights, spending a few hundred bucks to lock in status for many years without worry can be a great value.
It's definitely not great for everyone, but an extremely good deal for some.