A newbie asked re: double eqms on a dif thread, and it started me thinking....

The consensus seems to be that UA won't do the Double EQM this year because they don't 'need' us any more - ie, their loads are so high, they're outta bankruptcy, don't let the door hit you on the way out thing, fill in the blank...

So - just curious...and yes, I realize we won't know if they do/don't until 10/25. But will you give UA extra revenue - ie, book flights to try & get to the next level (and no the next level is not always 1K regardless of the complaining on this forum - I know FTers who just want to get to 1P) if they run the d-eqm or will you just fly normally?

Speaking only for myself I'm really off on mileage this year so I'll need to do a lot of flying anyway Q4 (regardless of the promo) to pull off 1K. Obviously the promo would help. But I'm starting to think about it - can I pull it off legit? Do I need the extra help? Should I even bother trying? As MM I'm 1P for life (and yes I realize no SWU,CR1, but still other bennies, and can trade etc).

If I knew UA was going to do the d-eqm I'd probably go for it (even if I thought I'd do it legit - I'm a big believer in back-up after getting screwed by UA years ago following major surgery towards end of year a few years back). And before you say yeah that's you, I was at a party last night w/ a 1K UGS who still signed up for the d-eqm program last year too as a back-up.

Anyway, what occurred to me is that if UA doesn't do d-eqm & I wouldn't re-qualify legit that, since I'm MM, I could save a few thousand $$ in Q4 by not booking trips I would only do to get 1K. And for the record, I'm not talking these $132 fares that others luckily got. I'm talking some hefty overseas fares all bunched up in Q4.

So - my current thought process is - for me - if UA does the d-eqm I'll do the MRs/fly wherever I need to to get 1K by EOY (95% on my dime, btw - not a big corporation). If they don't, I'll look at my real travel for EOY & figure out if I can pull off 1K legit. And if I can't & UA doesn't, then I probably won't book the extra trips & keep it to the 1-2 that are already on the books for my clients.

Instead I'll save the few thousand $$ for shopping, new laptop, whatever, instead of wasting it on airfare if I can't gain the status. What's interesting is that for me in the past it was a no-brainer. But now I'm wondering - and perhaps wondering w/ my $$/taking them elsewhere...

We'll see. Anyway - just curious. What will you do? Heck, this could even be some free market research for UA.

So - also having said that - if this does NOT apply to you (ie, you don't give a crap re: d-eqm or you've already qualified via miles - cool, btw) or you're going to do the old you're all scum cuz you didn't 1K the hard way thing (which I never agreed w/ even when I did qualify the hard way) which also doesn't apply to this thread -or if you're just going to do a thumbs up or thumbs down as a reply (as some FTers are known to do), don't reply.

But - if you are thinking about what you would do (ie, book extra or not) regarding the d-eqm, would be interesting to hear your responses.

Cheers.