UA's 500 mile minimum how does it work? (Bonuses, partners, non-elites, ...){Archive}
#46
Join Date: Mar 2012
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AC now offers 125 mile minimum on its 'Rouge' branded flights and other lower fare classes, and I think that minimum may only apply to elite tiers of MP.
#47
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#48
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[Unduly personalized text edited by Moderator.]
Last edited by Ocn Vw 1K; Apr 2, 2014 at 4:39 pm Reason: Per FT Rules.
#49
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Moderator note.
May I suggest that we just focus on the facts and exceptions of minimum mileage earning, rather than getting into personal discussions about other members. I've made some edits to recent posts to do that. Thanks, Ocn Vw 1K, Moderator.
#50




Join Date: Jul 2012
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How does 150% fare classes earn?
Eg. will SFO - LAX in F earn me 337 * 1.5 = 505 PQM or 500 * 1.5 = 750 PQM?
Eg. will SFO - LAX in F earn me 337 * 1.5 = 505 PQM or 500 * 1.5 = 750 PQM?
#51
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#52




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For partners with 500 mile minimums, is that the real minimum?
Quick question for a newbie flying LX: I'll be flying LX from JNB - PRG on fare class L. Will I earn 0 or 500 PQM? I'm a bit confused on the guidance provided on the UA website: http://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/mark...spx?ItemId=297
The table does not list "L" as the fare class for earning PQM, but the footnote states that "Premier members earn a minimum of 500 Premier qualifying miles on all eligible purchased fare classes." So is "L" class not an "eligible" purchased fare class or not?
Also, UA rep told me I won't even get any RDM on this trip (which is not what is posted on UAL website where I should get 50%).
So does anyone have any first-hand experience whether I will get any PQM and RDM on LX flight on L fare class??
The table does not list "L" as the fare class for earning PQM, but the footnote states that "Premier members earn a minimum of 500 Premier qualifying miles on all eligible purchased fare classes." So is "L" class not an "eligible" purchased fare class or not?
Also, UA rep told me I won't even get any RDM on this trip (which is not what is posted on UAL website where I should get 50%).
So does anyone have any first-hand experience whether I will get any PQM and RDM on LX flight on L fare class??
#53
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Quick question for a newbie flying LX: I'll be flying LX from JNB - PRG on fare class L. Will I earn 0 or 500 PQM? I'm a bit confused on the guidance provided on the UA website: http://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/mark...spx?ItemId=297
So does anyone have any first-hand experience whether I will get any PQM and RDM on LX flight on L fare class??
So does anyone have any first-hand experience whether I will get any PQM and RDM on LX flight on L fare class??
If you bought on LX stock, you will not get any miles, since L is not an earning fare class.
http://www.united.com/CMS/en-US/mark...spx?ItemId=297
#54




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On the same page, it says that the L fare does not earn any PQM (as it is not part of the Q, U, W, M, V, G, H, S, T, E economy bucket). But on the footnote, it says "4. Premier members earn a minimum of 500 Premier qualifying miles on all eligible purchased fare classes." So does it mean that L is not an "eligible" fare class?
#55
Join Date: Mar 2012
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On the same page, it says that the L fare does not earn any PQM (as it is not part of the Q, U, W, M, V, G, H, S, T, E economy bucket). But on the footnote, it says "4. Premier members earn a minimum of 500 Premier qualifying miles on all eligible purchased fare classes." So does it mean that L is not an "eligible" fare class?
#56


Join Date: Sep 2015
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So I've tried contacting MP about it (intially via the website, later by email):
(I don't particularly care about missing only 205PQM right now, but I have time to burn - I'm also likely to be close to UA Gold this year, so those 205PQM might end up making a difference in a few months.)
In my first message I told them my flight, fare class, distance, and quoted and linked the 500PQM minimum on the Swiss partner earnings page. I just got a canned response saying I should look at the partner earnings pages to determine how many miles I should earn.
Since they clearly hadn't bothered to read my message, I replied, this time only quoting the 500 PQM minimum (for ALL eligible fare classes), asking why I'd received only 295 PQM. A different person then responded, stating that K-class earns 50%, and that 0.5*590=295. (Again, completely ignoring the 500PQM minimum.)
How should I proceed? I'm thinking of screenshotting/highlighting the 500PQM minimum rule, and asking them to clarify which fare classes that applies to?
(I don't particularly care about missing only 205PQM right now, but I have time to burn - I'm also likely to be close to UA Gold this year, so those 205PQM might end up making a difference in a few months.)
In my first message I told them my flight, fare class, distance, and quoted and linked the 500PQM minimum on the Swiss partner earnings page. I just got a canned response saying I should look at the partner earnings pages to determine how many miles I should earn.
Since they clearly hadn't bothered to read my message, I replied, this time only quoting the 500 PQM minimum (for ALL eligible fare classes), asking why I'd received only 295 PQM. A different person then responded, stating that K-class earns 50%, and that 0.5*590=295. (Again, completely ignoring the 500PQM minimum.)
How should I proceed? I'm thinking of screenshotting/highlighting the 500PQM minimum rule, and asking them to clarify which fare classes that applies to?
I'm currently slightly confused by the percentages and 500PQM minimums:
On a 50% PQM earning fare on Swiss/LX, should the minimum earning still be 500PQM (as opposed to 250PQM)?
The United Swiss Partner page states "Premier members earn a minimum of 500 Premier qualifying miles on all eligible purchased fare classes" which suggests that it should be 500PQM, regardless of percentage - however I've actually been awarded less in practice:
I was awarded only 295PQM on a 590 mile K-Class (50% earning) flight, even though I'm a Premier Silver. I did get the expected 500PQM on a 46-mile SAS flight (a connecting flight on the same booking, it was credited 1-2 days before the Swiss flight was credited).
(I'm aware that 125PQM/250PQM minmums exist for other airlines - but they appear to be explicitly mentioned on the partner pages from what I've seen. E.g. the United Air Canada partner page states 500PQM minimum, except on S,T,L,A,K, i.e. the 25% fare classes. The Swiss page however doesn't mention different minimums for their 50% classes.)
On a 50% PQM earning fare on Swiss/LX, should the minimum earning still be 500PQM (as opposed to 250PQM)?
The United Swiss Partner page states "Premier members earn a minimum of 500 Premier qualifying miles on all eligible purchased fare classes" which suggests that it should be 500PQM, regardless of percentage - however I've actually been awarded less in practice:
I was awarded only 295PQM on a 590 mile K-Class (50% earning) flight, even though I'm a Premier Silver. I did get the expected 500PQM on a 46-mile SAS flight (a connecting flight on the same booking, it was credited 1-2 days before the Swiss flight was credited).
(I'm aware that 125PQM/250PQM minmums exist for other airlines - but they appear to be explicitly mentioned on the partner pages from what I've seen. E.g. the United Air Canada partner page states 500PQM minimum, except on S,T,L,A,K, i.e. the 25% fare classes. The Swiss page however doesn't mention different minimums for their 50% classes.)
#57
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.....
Since they clearly hadn't bothered to read my message, I replied, this time only quoting the 500 PQM minimum (for ALL eligible fare classes), asking why I'd received only 295 PQM. A different person then responded, stating that K-class earns 50%, and that 0.5*590=295. (Again, completely ignoring the 500PQM minimum.)
How should I proceed? I'm thinking of screenshotting/highlighting the 500PQM minimum rule, and asking them to clarify which fare classes that applies to?
Since they clearly hadn't bothered to read my message, I replied, this time only quoting the 500 PQM minimum (for ALL eligible fare classes), asking why I'd received only 295 PQM. A different person then responded, stating that K-class earns 50%, and that 0.5*590=295. (Again, completely ignoring the 500PQM minimum.)
How should I proceed? I'm thinking of screenshotting/highlighting the 500PQM minimum rule, and asking them to clarify which fare classes that applies to?
While you may not like it or think the wording ambiguous, this is consistent with long standing practice.
#58

Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 318
The 500 mile min applies to the base miles and when a fare earns 50% of base miles, then the min for that fare is 250. What you are see has been the practice for apply 500 min well back into the pmUA days.
While you may not like it or think the wording ambiguous, this is consistent with long standing practice.
While you may not like it or think the wording ambiguous, this is consistent with long standing practice.
#59


Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: 1 thousand
Posts: 2,124
I am sure that you are correct in the actual outcome but I disagree with the wording being ambiguous. It states: "Premier members earn a minimum of 500 Premier qualifying miles on all eligible purchased fare classes." That is very clear in saying that all eligible fare classes get a minimum 500 PQM. It does not say a minimum 500 base miles. Thus, fare classes K and L should be getting 500 PQM not 250. This is a case where the web site isn't aligned with actual outcome.
#60
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I am sure that you are correct in the actual outcome but I disagree with the wording being ambiguous. It states: "Premier members earn a minimum of 500 Premier qualifying miles on all eligible purchased fare classes." That is very clear in saying that all eligible fare classes get a minimum 500 PQM. It does not say a minimum 500 base miles. Thus, fare classes K and L should be getting 500 PQM not 250. This is a case where the web site isn't aligned with actual outcome.

