1K for another year (fifth or sixth year as such after moving most of my STAR flights to UA/MP from AC/AE). Didn't expect to go for more than Plat but a $650 fare to SIN tipped me to go for the top again (and collect the GPUs and RPUs to recoup the additional spend). Not likely to go for 1K for 2016 though with all the changes...will at least get Gold, possibly Plat...but certainly not 1K.

Dissatisfaction began after the merger and the sudden drop in CPUs. Then came the sense that GSs were all that mattered to UA and 1K was clumped with the other STARGold tiers. This included the loss of many unpublished 1K benefits, service desk/agents, etc. Not residing in the US, I escaped the Spend requirement for status. However, the final straw was adopting RDM accumulation based on actual fare. I pay for my own flights and don't have a corporate backer (work-related projects must be funded too), W fares are too rich for my budget and don't always ensure sitting in business, not to mention RDMs are important for major trips on other STAR carriers in premium cabins. (That's what the end game really is about.) So while I could easily continue flying UA and making 1K, I began the transition 2-1/2 years ago with the AA status match offer and have enjoyed AA and ExecPlat ever since.) My west coast flying will move from UA to AS and I will take advantage of that airline's status match to MVP75K this year and see how much I fly to keep that status for next year.

Already at 42K PQMs with UA, so Gold is in sight. By the end of the summer will be at 84K EQMs with AA. So a lot of flying on AA and AS not booked yet for the 3rd and 4th quarters can be channeled into the AS account. Though will likely have a bit of domestic Canadian flying this year too. Not sure if I'll put these AC flights into MP or reactivate my AC/AE account.

It will remain to be seen what major changes AA brings to its merged program, so come 2016 can't say what my strategy will be. Only consolation is that I'm coming to the end of my flying days...at least heavy duty flying. End game is MM/lifetime elite status in both OW and STAR. Having come to US airlines rather late in the game (my marbles were with CP and AC for a couple of decades), i've a ways to go at about 700K each in MP and AA.