cece4

Looking for some advice.

• I am already PLAT through 2020.
• I rarely use $$ with United. Usually, use points on most flights.
• I have used my credit card FPQMs ONLY to get to Platinum yearly for the past 10 years.
• I always used the previous years' points in January of the new year to get the next year's status (ie: In Jan 2019 I used my 2018 points to get my 2020 status)

Prior to 2017 - I almost always had more than the 75K points needed to get to PLAT so consequently every year had many "extra" FPQM expire. I finally figured this out in 2016 and was more careful in my spending on the card after that.


The way I had it figured, before these changes, I expected to have PLAT status through 2023 and would have to start putting higher spend on the card or start paying for some flights starting in 2024 to stay PLAT (should I still want/be able to do so)
This is what my FPQM account currently looks like:

95,000 earned 2016 expire 3/31/2020
62,000 earned 2017 expire 3/31/2021
72,000 earned 2018 expire 3/31/2022
49,000 earned 2019 expire 3/31/2023 (expect this to be about 60K by end of 2019)
20,376 earned Pre-2012 No expiration

Current grand total 298,376 FPQM- "expected" to be about 320K by end of 2019

OK so I THINK I understand that after Jan 1, I can convert this 300K-ish FPQM to the new FPQP at a rate of 5 to 1 - so once converted, I will have roughly 60K total.
Can I then promptly turn around and use 15K FPQP to get PLAT status for 2021?
And can I continue to do this each year for the next 3 years until all 60K is used? (without having paid segments each of these years)

If so, I don't think I have lost anything...but I am quite sure that someone is about to burst my bubble.

8MiHi

Assuming you are not going to make the 36 PQF requirements:
Before 3/31/20 you should apply 15K FPQPs to be Platinum through 2021. 4K FPQPs will disappear.
By 3/31/21 you should apply all 12,400 FPQPs to be at least Gold through 2022. Add 2,600 PQPs and you are Platinum instead.
By 3/31/22 you should apply 14,400 FPQPs to be at least Gold through 2023. Add 600 PQPs to move up.
By 3/31/23 you should apply 9,800 FPQPs to be almost Gold through 2024. Add 200 PQPs for Gold and 5,200 PQPs for Platinum. If you get to 60K then you will have 12,000 FPQPs for 2024 status.

None of this works towards 1K, but it does use all but a few of your FPQMs just before they expire.
I made no assumption about using your non-expiring 4075 FPQPs. I would look to using them for 2025 status.
At your charge rate you may generate 10,000 PQPs that do count towards 1K. I am assuming you are not going on 54 PQFs and you are not going to generate 14,000 PQPs with United to make 1K

I personally am putting extra spend on the card for these last 2 months of 2019 to get a few extra FPQPs for 2023.

cece4

OMG...I was hoping for but didn't expect such a detailed reply to my long and wordy post! Thank you so much.
What about the 4 mileage segments - am I going to have to meet those each year as well?

8MiHi

Yes, you will need 4 United (and/or UX) segments. Mileage is not relevant.
The only place where Mileage matters is for Million Miler status.
Its all about PQPs and to a lesser degree PQFs.

Just use your FPQPs in the first three months of the years that they expire (preferably in January), being careful not to use more than the expiring points and being careful to use them before the expiration date, and you will get status with modest flying (4 segments at least) and use your FPQMs efficiently.

cece4

Just use your FPQPs in the first three months of the years that they expire (preferably in January), being careful not to use more than the expiring points and being careful to use them before the expiration date, and you will get status with modest flying (4 segments at least) and use your FPQMs efficiently.[/QUOTE]

Perfect, just one more thing - for my 2021 status (which will be converted in Jan 2020) - do you know if I will need the 4 segments for this first one?
If so that will be a challenge as I will need to get all 4 paid segments before March 2020. Thoughts?
thank you again!

8MiHi

2021 does need the 4 segments on UA/UX metal. The waiver is done for 21...
You have all of 2020 to meet this requirement.

ffI

We really do not know as of today if Flex PQP can be used beyond Plat - We will have to see
You have 19k PQP expiring in 2020 March,
You have 12k PQP expiring in 2021 March,
You have 14k PQP expiring in 2022 March,
You have 10k PQP expiring in 2023 March,
You have 10k PQP every year from the card ongoing spend perhaps

My suggestion would be to apply 19k PQP to your account on 2020 -Feb 1; (anyway the balance 4 will expire - so might as well use them)
Fly 4 segments in Jan if you can - cheap r/t for 200$ x 2 - do not go basic economy as they do not count for PQF
If your statement states you are at 19.5 PQP by then, then spend 6x24k = 150k $ on your card in 2020 and apply that to get to 1k

In 2021 - if this works to get to 1k or not determines your plan
e..g., apply 12k flex PQP; fly 4 segments - add 10k spend PQP or just do nothing or apply 23k PQP (if it allows the whole lot to be used) and fly for 1PQP
It all remains to be seen how the old Flex PQMs will be treated going forward - once they become PQM -> PQP, do they only count to Plat or can you add it to 1k?

From 2023 going forward- use last flex 10k - spend 10k, fly 4k = 1k
From 2024 - Spend PQP 10k = Gold only after 4 segments - fly as needed to Platinum or 1k

ctownflyer

Yes, we do.
FPQP can be applied for up to Plat only. UA is perfectly clear on this.
PQP (without applying FPQP) can be used for 1K.

ffI

1
What United says and United actually does with their IT is likely quite different.
e.g., DL MQM in the early days of Amex Reserve in around 2010, those who gifted their MQM first found that they were automatically also added to their accounts !!
Those who added to their own could not gift again, but the gifters had extra
There are many bugs in execution

2
Let us say you have 14k Flex PQP and 10k spend PQP on Jan 15th by spending all your 240k in 1 month
so in feb you are Gold based on new spend = 10k PQP - does it mean that if you wait to apply flex PQP in March after the regular PQP for the year now you can not go beyond Plat and so can only apply 5k?
Or does it mean that you can use your Old Flex PQP to Platinum = 15k - fly 4 segmnents - min 500k - then you apply 10k new spend = 2k = you are now 1k?
We love to plan and speculate but really all of us have no idea
We do make contingencies - mine are for 1k if possible

e.g., if I had 10k Flex expiring each year I would rather hit 20k on it alternate years and go to 1k in 2020 and 2022 rather than stop at Plat each year

As for me, I am anxiously awaiting cece4 trying out 19k on Jan 2nd and then spending 150k to hit 1k. PLEASE let us know if you make it.
I would also advise doing 4 segments early if you have no status now, (but since he is platinum in 2020 at least) there is no real hurry

cece4

I have all of 2020 to meet this requirement??
As I will be applying my 75K before March 2020 - don't I need to have the 4 segments at that time?

ctownflyer

You're overthinking all of this, it's quite straightforward.
Just like UA doesn't allow you to combine PQMs with FPQMs for 1K today they won't allow it with FPQPs in 2020.

Even if the system glitches for some reason, UA will just claw it back as they have done many times.

The end.

ffI

You are anyway Platinum til end of 2020 (2021 Jan in fact)
So to get status for 2021, you need to apply the flex before they expire in 2020 (FOR 2021 status) but you still have to fly 4 segments in 2020 to get the status for 2021
so do not apply the flex PQM, convert to Flex PQP and then apply (as PQP is for 2021 and not 2020)

8MiHi

There appear to be several steps you need to take next year:

1. Change your FPQMs to FPQPs after year end
2. Transfer 15,000 FPQPs toward 2021 status (not toward 2020 status). They should automatically choose the 15K FPQPs that expire 3/31/20.
3. Fly 4 paid segments on UA/UX sometime during calendar 2020

Do these things and you will be Platinum in 2021.

8MiHi

One other note- If you continue to spend at your current rate on this card, your PQPs that you are short for '22, '23 and '24 will easily be met. You're only requirement will be to pay for and fly the 4 UA/UX segments. After your FPQPs expire in '23 you will have some non expiring FPQPs left. Which you can use for '25. If you generate 10K PQPs by spend in '24 and meet the 4 segment requirement, you can get close to Platinum again.
Of course since status is now a function of spend and inflation rarely stops, 2025 will be a likely target for UA to change the requirements again.
So just be glad you can maintain Platinum for the foreseeable future.

elitefreak

OK, call me confused.

It would be a godsend if one of you smart FT'ers could build a guide for PP folks to know what to do and when (if A, then B, etc). Anyone game?