So... is this worth it for 2P UA
 

My family is in STL, so I would love to have the AA status match so I can fly direct from NYC.

Is it worth it if I am not really moving over to AA? In reality I am looking to stay on UA and would only fly AA in certain cases, but I wouldn't be averse to a couple runs on AA for the lowest status.

The question is... is it worth doing if I am not making the big move?

Fly 5 to 10 thousand miles on AA with no status, just so you can fly probably less than that over the next year with first-tier status? Why not just fly those few AA flights with no status? Won't be any more painful, perhaps a lot less.

If you don't plan to fly AA enough to retain Gold after the Challenged status expires, I'd say it's a waste of time and money.

I was under the impression from other FT posts that the 1P status was given up-front and that you then had 90 days to meet the challenge requirements to maintain 1P status. This post implies that you only get the status after completing the challenge. Anyone know which is correct?

That's definitely how it used to be. I guess UA is getting one step closer towards AA, which isn't really surprising.

Look forward to other confirmations of this.

I could probably maintain a low tier, but then I lose the miles on UA so I probably won't.

Mostly, I detest the fact that I am always in the last group on AA, even if I pay $400 for the ticket RT. UA is much better, imho.

Oh well, looks like LGA - ORD - STL for me for the near future. The fact that I would invest 3-5 additional hours for a 45 minute connecting flight that isn't much cheaper than direct on AA proves I have a problem.

You are given status upfront with the stipulation to fly
a certain amount of miles ( depends what status they
grant you ). If you don't fulfill the requirement then
you are kicked out of your status level and of course
supposedly cannot apply again for a match/challenge.
So at first no cards, plastic cards, are issued. They arrive
after you met the requirement.

Can you confirm that recently, or are you just stating the way it was before?

that was the way it was in september. 07
I didnt realise they didnt include J class bonus in the calc so missed the 12500 base bums on seats needed so im back to basic blue:mad:

thank goodness I also got a BMI gold in there so ill be putting all my miles into them now.

I am doing it at this moment!

What number did you call to check? Is there an email address as well? Thanks...

The email address people used last year was;

[email protected]

I called this number:
Mileage Plus customer service
Account questions: 1-800-421-4655
7a.m. - 12a.m. CT, 7 days a week

When to ask for a status match.

Currently Platinum Medallion on Delta (highest advertised level). Fly mostly to Europe and some domestic travel. Home is CMH. I have usually been able to find Delta or Skyteam flights. May travel to China or India. Is it worth it to ask for a status match, if so, on which airline?

Thanks for your input. Feel free to post or PM.

I think that depends on which airline has the best fares or meets your schedule best. No airline is going to give you a match and somehow you miraculously get a free upgrade, so I would first look at which carrier is best and then evaluate this.

Couldn't agree more. The choice of airline should drive this. What good is status on an airline you don't want to fly? If the airline that fits your travel needs best won't comp you, suffer through a few months of non-status. It'll be worth it in the long run.

Anyone know if Miles & More status match AA Platinum?

whew - glad i status matched to UA from AA last year. Made the switch from AA - no hassles at all. And then due to a family situation, barely held on to 1P this year - at 61.5 segments. Have not had a single problem.

Good luck

How do you get half a segment? Take off New Year's Eve, land the next year? In every case I'm aware of, flights are credited to their departure date.

You can get a half segment through a COS bonus (i.e. 1.5xEQS for C class).

Edited to add: I just received an e-mail from UA - I've been matched to 1P status. Just to confirm EXLEFTSEAT's experience, it's effective immediately, with the 15k UA earn w/in 90 days to maintain it.

NW contact info
 

can someone please repost the contact info to get comped for Northwest?

Thanks

I emailed [email protected]. They responded asking for a copy of my credentials, so I scanned my AA Plat card and emailed back. I was given Premier Executive (1P) with the requirement of 12,500 base miles in 90 days
to retain for 2008 and 50k by end of year for 2009 (the normal amount). So
in essence the challenge miles count for 2008 and 2009. The whole process only too 5 days, from 1/3 to 1/8.

I am not aware of a special contact info for a NW comp. I would, if you have not yet done so, sign up for WP on NWA.com and then shoot an e-mail wo the WP people. Or with your WP# in hand call the NW service center in the U.S. I am based out of Japan, don't have that number handy. Good luck.

After emailing [email protected] I received the following reply (in part).
"If your status match is approved, we will upgrade you to either Premier or Premier Executive status for 90 days. To remain a Premier member, you will need to fly 7,500 paid flight miles or 10 segments on qualifying flights within 90 days of when you were granted Premier status. To remain a Premier Executive member, you will need to fly 15,000 paid flight miles or 18 flight segments on qualifying flights within 90 days of when you were granted Premier Executive status. Qualifying flights are on United, Ted or United Express.....................Once you meet the threshold for your status match, we will send you the appropriate membership kit "

Two problems with this. Firstly, even though I would have the temporary status, I wouldn't have the actual car and lounge access on my first international trip with *A. What's the point? And secondly, I would be flying *A partners and not UA. So for the purposes of the status match, the other partners don't count!! :-( Any suggestions or experience in figuring out ways around these restrictions?

Have you checked out the first post in this thread?

M&M usually does not status match. Probably easier to get it thru BD's programme.

Ya.. I'm gonna try that too. I guess above OP was worried that the fax number might have changed given the info originally given in the first post is over 4 years old!

As far as lounge access is concerned you certainly have your mileage plus
account number which could be pulled up on the host's computer in the
lounge displaying your status. As far as asking for a match on any carrier but with the intention of flying only partner airlines I think you will find that most programs, BMI may be an exception, require you at least initially to accumulate miles on the issuing airline. What's UA's incentive to grant you status at a greatly reduced entrypoint when all you want to do is fly LH or any other *A partner? Let's be fair. I don't think there is any way around these restrictions ( if you want to call it "restrictions". I call it prudent business ). After you fly the required miles on UA metal you are free to go with any carrier of your choice. My reason to switch to UA was strictly their E+, no ulterior motives. I am happy.

Quick question. Why the discrepancy between what UA is telling people for the status match? It seems like they tell some people 15k in 90 days, and they tell other people 12.5k in 90 days. FWIW, they told me I'd need 15k in 90 days, but I'd much prefer the 12.5k in 90 days otherwise I MAY have to take a mileage run at the end of the 90 days to be sure to make it. :(

Ah, the eternal search for logic and consistency in airline rules and their application. ;)

Me too! lol. I think the discrepancy is due to the fact that the policy changed from last year to this year. Last year it was 12.5k in 90days and this year they upped it to 15k in 90days. Don't ask me why though.:confused:

Anothe rUA data point
 

My initial e-mail was on 1/10.
The response below was received on 1/12
I shouldn't have a problem with the requirement thank to my upcoming LAX-AKL trip.

Will UA print something out for me showing my status to use at other *Alliance lounges?

From OMA UA always has a slew of weekend cheepo fares to a lot of different destinations and most of the deals are pretty good so I keep saying I need to do a status challenge but then I look at my level of activity and realize that I would have to work hard to requalify. BUT, if I ever go to work for First Data or Gallup I know I would be on UA so I keep that in the back of my head. I stick with NW because I have always had good experiences with them and even to MSP I have good success with UGs.

Once an airline does a status match do you have to qualify for the status for the next year or can you apply for the match again?

A match or challenge will only be offered once in a
lifetime, or at least that's what the concensus is.
So, if you are granted status either thru an outright
match or thru a challenge, it is good only for the
current program year. Status in the next program
year needs to be earned the good old fashioned
way.

My initial fax was on 1/8. Never received a response.
Emailed on 1/16. My partner was matched to 1P (from DL PM) on the same day. Hint: use email [email protected] for UA status matches and attach a PDF of all documentation.
The response below was received on 1/16:

Thank you for your e-mail.

Congratulations! You have been awarded Premier Executive status in the Mileage Plus program! This will make your travel with us comfortable, simple and more rewarding than ever.

Your status will be effective for 90 days. To keep the status through February 2009, just earn 15,000 base flight miles or 18 base flight segments on United, Ted or United Express within 90 days of being granted Premier Executive status. Once you meet that threshold, a Premier Executive kit will be generated and mailed. Until you have a card, be sure to add your Mileage Plus number to your reservation in order to fully benefit from your elite status.

To maintain the status throughout all of 2009, you must earn 50,000 Elite Qualifying Miles (EQM) or 60 Elite Qualifying Segments (EQS) between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008. EQM and EQS are earned on United, United Express, Ted and the Star Alliance members. For a current list of Star Alliance member airlines, please visit www.united.com/staralliance or www.staralliance.com.

For details about the Mileage Plus elite program, visit www.united.com/elite. I hope you will travel with us often and experience the exceptional service and style reserved for our elite members around the world.

Thank you for choosing United, and enjoy your Premier Executive membership.

He shouldn't have a problem with the requirement, thanks to our upcoming SFO-AKL trip.

ditto what EXLEFTSEAT wrote, but also know that it may vary by airline. WOTS is that UA will only allow you to status match (outright or even via challenge) once in a lifetime.

UA Match to AA
 

Nearly the same information as everyone else has posted, but with a question. I think I'm going to be able to qualify as 1P late in the year and also requalify my AA EXP status, so I contacted UA and they did indeed "match" my status to 1P. As others have stated, it came with the 15k miles/18 segments caveat.

In the body of the response, it was mentioned that my status was effective "January 9". I realize I may be asking for speculation, but I flew 7 segments from 1/10 to 1/18 and I'm curious if those will count against my 18. I would assume so given the start date of the match, but I was wondering if anyone else had run into this and would be able to verify?

Thanks!

I can answer my own question (hope that's allowed), in case it comes up for anyone else. Received an e-mail response from MP Customer Relations this morning indicating as part of backdating the status match, they will indeed count flown segments as well as credit elite bonus RDMs from the start date.

Thanks for the info. I was actually worried about this since I flew lax-jfk on 1/13 and received an email a few days later saying that i had my status matched as of the 12th. I guess it has to do with when you sent in your request and when they processed it (I faxed mine)...