Originally Posted by
physioprof
I would note that this email now explicitly states what has been reasonably suspected for years--yet rejected as unsupported conjecture by some--that "yield" is an important factor & not just spend. What I'm talking about, of course, is the explicit statement that purchasing premium cabin & fully refundable fares are an expectation.
From 2013:
What it takes to be Global Services
As you plan your fall travel, we wanted to take a moment to thank you for your business. We hope that you have been enjoying the benefits of Global Services. We also recognize that at this time of year one of the questions you may have is how to retain your Global Services status for next year.
As you know, Global Services is a highly exclusive invitation extended to a very limited number of top Premier members in recognition of their business with United. To determine who we invite into Global Services, we evaluate multiple criteria, the most critical of which is your flight activity relative to other members. We typically invite those who have achieved very high levels of revenue and yield with United over recent consecutive years. The exclusivity of Global Services allows us to deliver the best service possible to our best customers.
Although we generally don't determine Global Service status until year-end and we do not make public the precise requirements to achieve this coveted invitation-only status, members who achieve Global Services typically purchase and fly a significant number of flights in first, business or full-fare economy on United, year after year.
We hope this helps you in your future travel planning. Thank you for your dedication to United, and we look forward to seeing you on board soon.
Yes, we have known this for over 10 years: Yield counts. Sure they tweak the formula every year, but they don't take a dump in the secret sauce.