The Need For a New *A Status
Sep 10, 2013 | 3:59 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Guatemala
Programs: CM PP DL GM
Posts: 406
The Need For a New *A Status
I am a 1K with UA and have *G Status is very nice for traveling international with the lounge entry , but now a days there just too many *G members because getting to 50K miles in a year is much easier than before when this level was invented.
Some * Carriers are restricting the entry into their top level lounges even for *G , I think is time for * Alliance to make a new top tier for travelers that fly over 100K miles because this would give new perks for people to fly mother inside the alliance , not to look for another alliance when the reach the *G status
Some * Carriers are restricting the entry into their top level lounges even for *G , I think is time for * Alliance to make a new top tier for travelers that fly over 100K miles because this would give new perks for people to fly mother inside the alliance , not to look for another alliance when the reach the *G status
Sep 10, 2013 | 4:11 pm
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL AC*E50
Posts: 23,584
What does my mother have to do with this?
If anything, its not too many Star Golds - its too many United elites.
I also dont understand how its easier to fly 50k nowadays than it was 10 years ago, has the unit measurement of a mile changed?
If anything, its harder to earn 50k in a year, because of restrictions on earning on low fares.
I have an idea, we raise Star Gold to 1 mile more than you fly, would you be so vocal then?
ps. not all Star Gold is 50k
If anything, its not too many Star Golds - its too many United elites.
I also dont understand how its easier to fly 50k nowadays than it was 10 years ago, has the unit measurement of a mile changed?
If anything, its harder to earn 50k in a year, because of restrictions on earning on low fares.
I have an idea, we raise Star Gold to 1 mile more than you fly, would you be so vocal then?
ps. not all Star Gold is 50k
Sep 10, 2013 | 5:18 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Guatemala
Programs: CM PP DL GM
Posts: 406
What does my mother have to do with this?
If anything, its not too many Star Golds - its too many United elites.
I also dont understand how its easier to fly 50k nowadays than it was 10 years ago, has the unit measurement of a mile changed?
If anything, its harder to earn 50k in a year, because of restrictions on earning on low fares.
I have an idea, we raise Star Gold to 1 mile more than you fly, would you be so vocal then?
ps. not all Star Gold is 50k
If anything, its not too many Star Golds - its too many United elites.
I also dont understand how its easier to fly 50k nowadays than it was 10 years ago, has the unit measurement of a mile changed?
If anything, its harder to earn 50k in a year, because of restrictions on earning on low fares.
I have an idea, we raise Star Gold to 1 mile more than you fly, would you be so vocal then?
ps. not all Star Gold is 50k
The problem is that the lounge system in some airports get to crowed at some point during the day , so regarding the *G status I have it now for life because I am 1MM and give Gold Status with MP for life so for now I am set.
I think that higher elites in the alliance should get a new status
Sep 10, 2013 | 5:33 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Guatemala
Programs: CM PP DL GM
Posts: 406
Now the problem is that 5 years ago there where few to tier elites in Central America now CM has many Gold and Plat before there where many silver and gold. Even the 1K are few but there more and more every year
Sep 10, 2013 | 5:37 pm
#6
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Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
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Posts: 50,253
The reason that carriers are restricting access to their lounges is that UA doesn't want to pay the hefty tab for its *G.
The solution isn't another tier of *Status, but rather UA thinning its herd of so-called elites. The shift to spend-based status is a beginning, but the fact is that UA Gold needs to have a much higher $ threshold if UA can be expected to pick up the tab for intl. lounge use.
The solution isn't another tier of *Status, but rather UA thinning its herd of so-called elites. The shift to spend-based status is a beginning, but the fact is that UA Gold needs to have a much higher $ threshold if UA can be expected to pick up the tab for intl. lounge use.
Sep 10, 2013 | 5:52 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Guatemala
Programs: CM PP DL GM
Posts: 406
The reason that carriers are restricting access to their lounges is that UA doesn't want to pay the hefty tab for its *G.
The solution isn't another tier of *Status, but rather UA thinning its herd of so-called elites. The shift to spend-based status is a beginning, but the fact is that UA Gold needs to have a much higher $ threshold if UA can be expected to pick up the tab for intl. lounge use.
The solution isn't another tier of *Status, but rather UA thinning its herd of so-called elites. The shift to spend-based status is a beginning, but the fact is that UA Gold needs to have a much higher $ threshold if UA can be expected to pick up the tab for intl. lounge use.
Sep 10, 2013 | 6:46 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K2MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,318
Who says? UA has reneged on benefits before and they can / likely will again. Nothing says they have to grandfather anything.
Sep 10, 2013 | 7:29 pm
#10
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: The place where it gets so hot in the summer some planes can't take off.
Programs: Marriott LT Titanium, WoH Globalist, National EE, United Platinum
Posts: 1,487
The Need For a New *A Status
I say get rid of the mileage requirement and make it segment based so those of us that spend a ton on UA Dom fares ($750 OMA-MSP) finally get some recognition.... You can get 100k miles on 10 round trips flying overseas 
Sep 11, 2013 | 7:10 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: ORD, HKG
Programs: UA*G, AA Emerald, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt globalist
Posts: 10,551
I am a 1K with UA and have *G Status is very nice for traveling international with the lounge entry , but now a days there just too many *G members because getting to 50K miles in a year is much easier than before when this level was invented.
Some * Carriers are restricting the entry into their top level lounges even for *G , I think is time for * Alliance to make a new top tier for travelers that fly over 100K miles because this would give new perks for people to fly mother inside the alliance , not to look for another alliance when the reach the *G status
Some * Carriers are restricting the entry into their top level lounges even for *G , I think is time for * Alliance to make a new top tier for travelers that fly over 100K miles because this would give new perks for people to fly mother inside the alliance , not to look for another alliance when the reach the *G status
I think that also the good thing that 2MM is coming soon and that would clear me as Platinum for Life which should get me *G for some time.
Now the problem is that 5 years ago there where few to tier elites in Central America now CM has many Gold and Plat before there where many silver and gold. Even the 1K are few but there more and more every year
Now the problem is that 5 years ago there where few to tier elites in Central America now CM has many Gold and Plat before there where many silver and gold. Even the 1K are few but there more and more every year
Those that flown enough to qualify to be 1K/Platinum/Gold may not spend enough for their status.
Last edited by ORDnHKG; Sep 11, 2013 at 7:22 pm
Sep 13, 2013 | 1:53 am
#12
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Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
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Agree but the solution is multifold:
(1) *A lounges like SQ need to honor commitments to other members.
(2) A new tier created so 1K or at least GS are admitted to international F *A lounges
(3) rehab for major *A lounges like LHR (as is happening at LAX) which are an embarrassment.
Personally I don't find UA RCCs to be crowded anywhere but that's likely because they are so mediocre, many people just choose to hang out in restaurants.
(1) *A lounges like SQ need to honor commitments to other members.
(2) A new tier created so 1K or at least GS are admitted to international F *A lounges
(3) rehab for major *A lounges like LHR (as is happening at LAX) which are an embarrassment.
Personally I don't find UA RCCs to be crowded anywhere but that's likely because they are so mediocre, many people just choose to hang out in restaurants.
Sep 15, 2013 | 1:15 pm
#13
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The most effective way to thinning elite herds would be to apply status/spend/benefits to the entity that actually pays for the ticket, not the flyer.
That would get rid of all the OPM'ers, and make elite truly for those who actually pay for it
but the OP wouldnt like that
That would get rid of all the OPM'ers, and make elite truly for those who actually pay for it
but the OP wouldnt like that
Sep 15, 2013 | 2:21 pm
#14
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: USA
Programs: AA EXP, UA GLD, Bonvoy Titan, HH GLD, WoH Expl
Posts: 2,686
If you truly want a higher elite level within an alliace, you can always switch to OW, which recognizes OW Emerald members and gives them access to International First Class Lounges. BA even offers lifetime Gold (~ lifetime OW Emerald) now for those having flown 35,000 Tier Points.
Currently *G passengers do not have access to international F lounges unless you are flying international F. This is nice for those flying international F because most of the time, international F lounges are not very crowded. One exception is Thai F lounge in BKK where quite a few international flights leave within a few hours time period around midnight.
Currently *G passengers do not have access to international F lounges unless you are flying international F. This is nice for those flying international F because most of the time, international F lounges are not very crowded. One exception is Thai F lounge in BKK where quite a few international flights leave within a few hours time period around midnight.
Sep 16, 2013 | 2:03 am
#15
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Join Date: Dec 2002
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The OW perk for F lounges is a nice one for top level flyers. DL also offers free DL club membership to 125k flyers.
I would not mind so much if UA had decent domestic lounges. But they are so mediocre that it would be nice to have access to F, if only for international flights. However with so many 1Ks I'd agree that the F lounges at SFO, ORD, IAH, IAD etc would get rather jammed. The better solution is for UA to overhaul their clubs to international standards, rather then continuing the race to the bottom with AA, DL, etc.
I would not mind so much if UA had decent domestic lounges. But they are so mediocre that it would be nice to have access to F, if only for international flights. However with so many 1Ks I'd agree that the F lounges at SFO, ORD, IAH, IAD etc would get rather jammed. The better solution is for UA to overhaul their clubs to international standards, rather then continuing the race to the bottom with AA, DL, etc.