stimpy

True, then again Amex Centurion card holders also get complimentary DL Platinum status, with the tier gift included each year. Think of the heck that would be unleashed if United gave 1K status to all Centurion members! Flyertalk would hit some new posting records.

RobertLHR

I agree with DCguy20036 about the positive side of the changes, but I am not anything like as optimistic about the likely step-up in my UA miles from the EQM adjustment, mainly because I almost always fly on an Economy fare.
I have flown mainly on UA for the last ten years, and I am now at 720,000 lifetime miles with UA. I was looking at another 5 plus years to make Million Miler with UA, but I also had 1,185,000 lifetime miles on CO, most of which were earned in the 1980's. Suddenly, I will be at 1,905,000 combined lifetime miles with the prospect of a few more miles from the UA EQM adjustment.
The million lifetime miles on CO got me lifetime Silver, which didn't do anything for me at all, but the combination will put me at lifetime Gold and possibly lifetime Platinum. At the very least, I will make lifetime Platinum in 2012. Overall, it is the best I could possibly have hoped for from the merger.

JDT1955

Thanks for the information. This sounds like quite a deal. I have 1.8 MM on CO, 1.1 MM on UA, but I've been flying UA since the 80's with lots of BC/FC on UA, along with LH, SQ, SK, TG, etc. So will all that be totaled up? How can I get an estimate of what this will be? Assuming this puts my total past 3MM (who knows, I may be pushing 4!) and that puts me at 1K for life, do the new rules mean 6 GPUs/yr for me in my declining years?? Thanks again.

mre5765

Zero gpus for life. Return that bag, it has no pony.
Welcome to Flyertalk.

You appear to be another person who thinks a bag of equine excrement holds a pony.

UAs website says two things about the pmua Mileage Plus program. One, 1ks get swus when they fly 100k, period. Two, 3mmers get 1k status for life, some one time swus, and a gift. Period, nada else.

As for your insimuation that i think this is right or i like it, maybe you should read some more of my posts. Im not happy that as a mmer, I wont get rpus every January. I dont need your accusations, ok?

JDT1955

OK, thanks for the reality check!

ryman554

That would be an accurate analysis IF the $6000 seat in question would actually be sold.

Considering that business class cabins routinely go out with seats available, or at the very least, upgrades occur at the gate 45 minutes before departure, then that does not appear to be the case.

We can discuss whether fliers have been "trained" for this -- ie, if I can get C for the price of Y, then why buy C -- but that's almost an impossible revenue opportunity cost question for us to answer.

Kl34c

No accusations here. Just tired of seeing matter of fact statements on this while many others still hold different interpretations of the language of the program. Many people has been asking for United to clarify this point directly, but no news from them. Alternatively, It will be good to hear directly from someone who is lifetime 1K with real first hand experience with this. Any lifetime 1Ks receive SWUs before and not receiving it this year (given that you did not reach 100K EQM for 2010 and 2011)? I am hoping that we get an accurate answer here instead of implying strongly with your own interpretations of a significant change that might or might not have occurred. It is not just you, so no hard feelings. ok

GoingAway

There is no "someone" who is lifetime under the program ... it is a NEW program that isn't even in effect yet.

Kl34c

Lifetime 1K was given about 2-3 years ago and there are some lifetime 1K out there. The only question might be if there is any lifetime 1K who did not reach 1K by flying since that program and would have direct experience to speak from. Most of the lifetime 1K must still be 1K or GS from flying in the last 2 years as the program is still relatively new.

Lifetime 1Ks were not given the SWUs on top of SWUs that they gained through flying, eg. no 6+6. But the reward is meant for veteran flyers when they retire from flying as much. That has been the promise from United to lifetime 1K as of 2 years ago.

If SWUs is only given to 100K EQMers, then it should have said SWUs is given to any MP members immediately upon meeting that, why did it say 1K flying 100K in a given year will be awarded that right away? I think the change might be the timing of award and not a matter of some 1K will not be getting them. That is a fair assumption given that United has kept lifetime program relatively non-specific in the past when they do not have to deal with many actual flyers in those situation.

GoingAway

I think you're missing the point that what happened in the past to CURRENT MMers is irrelevant as again, this is a NEW program with NEW rules.

MrJBoy

I sent email to 1Kvoice about it, and got this reply.

Dear XXX:

Thank you for contacting United Continental Holdings, Inc.

The MileagePlus(R) Million Miller program will reward members for extraordinary, long-term loyalty to United(R), Continental(R) and Copa Airlines(R).

Starting January 1, 2012, flight miles on the new United (including Continental),Copa Airlines or Copa Airlines Colombia will accrue toward Million Miler status. Until that time, MileagePlus and OnePass members will continue to earn toward status and benefits in their respective programs.

We evaluated the MileagePlus(R) and OnePass(R) lifetime recognition programs based on a lot of feedback from members who had already reached one million miles and more. These members made it clear that program status was what mattered most, and being able to extend that status to a spouse or significant other was almost as important.

These benefits will be effective late in the first quarter of 2012.

Complete details are available at www.mileageplusmergerupdates.com.

We are building an airline that will earn your confidence and approval.
We thank you for your patience and appreciate your loyalty.

Regards,

XXXX XXXX
United Airlines Customer Care

Bold is mine.
I didn't know UA asked current Million Milers feedback before...
It looks she just copied pasted general reply.

ironmanjt

I'm currently at 590,000 BIS/PMUA MM miles, and looks like I will hit 1,040,000 with this adjustment. A few years ago when triple EQM was offered I only hit about 140,000 BIS but nearly 350,000 EQM....this is a huge ^ for me!

cesco.g

With the stripping of SWUs, and if there are no GPUs the loyal UA overseas customer is the big looser. Whatever is left e.g. of the 3MM 1K benefits might be ok for the domestic/N.A. American flyer but is of little or no value for the overseas flier.

Even worse for the flier who does not need spousal match.

I see very little incentive for the UA international flier to stay loyal to reach 3MM or 4MM. Very disappointing, as most of those customers provide some of the most profitable business for UA.

Pipema

At CO we only saw DEQM's. Maybe the pendulum is starting to swing the other way!

Kl34c

or domestic customer, e.g. heavy LAX, SYN customers. Retired people who can affort to pay for premium international ticket will likely not opt to fly UA to Asia or South Pacific. It is those veteran still need to fly on lower fare tickets who will pay for the ticket to UA because of SWUs rewards given to them for their past loyalty. A reduction of SWUs to 3mm lifetime 1K may be acceptable as they do not fly that much any more, but the total removal is a crime.