Originally Posted by
malcolmkettering
[previously posted in the "ask anything" wiki but didn't get a single response ... flame away!]
Coming up on retirement and excited to travel again [img alt=""]images/smilies/smile.gif[/img]
Am currently LT PLT on AA but am thinking in retirement, UA is a better option because of vast number of non-stop flights from SFO vs. always having to hit an AA hub to go anywhere from SFO. Also, AS reductions at SFO make things even worse there. Here's my preliminary plan, maybe I missed something?:- 2026: Apply for Status Match/Challenge by 6/30/26.
- 2026: Fulfill status match requirements by late summer 2026 (currently Earn 10 PQF on flights operated by United or United Express and earn 3,400 PQP). Book and fly as required and be granted Premier Gold through to early 2028.
- 2026: Apply for and receive the new version of the United Club Card before 12/31/26.
- 2027: Receive 1,500 Card Bonus PQP 6-8 weeks after 02/01/27.
- 2027: Earn >10,500 PQP on flights during 2027 to maintain Premier Gold. For example, SFO-HND in Polaris J (today) earns 4,984 PQP each way, or 9,968 round trip. Add SFO-KOA in First which (today) earns 745 each way, or 1,490. I'm not counting PQP for credit card spend because for this model I am just presuming only these 4 flights in the whole year to hit the minimum number of flights. Obviously in reality we would be flying more. Earn Premier Gold through to early 2029. Focusing on PQP instead of number of segments.
1,500+9,968+1,490 = 12,958 PQP.
- 2028: Repeat steps 4 and 5 each year assuming requirements remain the same.
Does this sound like a workable plan or am I missing something? I am not sure about step 4; the language isn't so clear that I would receive the bonus PQP in my first year of having the card. But, the language does seem to suggest that as long as I have the card on 12/31 of one year, I would get the PQP bonus after 02/01 of the next year. Any feedback would be appreciated!
If you are only flying first class, then status is kinda irrelevant (unless plat or higher because of pluspoints)