FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Elite status "holds/leave of absence" (adoption, pregnancy, illness, deployment, ...)
Old Mar 22, 2026 | 9:03 am
  #76  
slariz
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Join Date: Apr 2005
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Originally Posted by thaitraveller
Long time United flyer and long time Status ranging from Silver past few years but earlier as Gold and 1k. My 85 yo mother had 8 complex surgeries last year which restricted my normal travel so did not make Silver.
Friends told me to call UA which I did and telephone agent indicated they if I provided a note from my employer or doctor, UA would be willing to extend my status from 2025 (Silver) for 2026 but I would need to requalify. Said they would send a link. Got link,, it referenced letter from employer or doctor.
Got link and sent employer letter.
Then got an email from UA, saying now that was not enough, but needed a doctor note. So, I scheduled an appointment with my doctor which is same as my mother and got note. Doctor requires an appointment to get a letter and so had to pay for that.
Submitted that and now UA says:
- Not an extension of Silver at all but a challenge
- Status not maintained during extenstion
This seems like a bait and switch after going to time and also expense of getting various letters and doctors appointment and doctors note.
Any thoughts on how to approach and is there any typical approach.
Initial person I spoke with offered the deal (I did not suggest) and made it sound like this was an established path of some sort but now crazy complicated with what seems to be AI response from [email protected]
Any advice appreciated.
This seems like way too much hassle for Silver.

Typically, United offers challenges in situations like this, with occasional one time only status extensions, often for maternity leave. I think you should not worry about the status.
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