Consolidated "I need XXX UA Miles/PQMs for Elite Status" Thread [Archive]
Nov 30, 2013, 2:01 pm
#1336
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Plat
Posts: 79
I'm at 73,800 PQM and our Thanksgiving trip that would have put me over 75K was canceled due to family illness.
Is there any precedent for being bumped up to Platinum anyway? December is busy (i.e., MR is inconvenient) and the accelerator rates I'm seeing are 35cpm (!) for PQMs. I have a relatively high PRASM from a few Intl C trips (somewhere in the 50-55 cpm range). Thoughts? Write to MP and see?
Is there any precedent for being bumped up to Platinum anyway? December is busy (i.e., MR is inconvenient) and the accelerator rates I'm seeing are 35cpm (!) for PQMs. I have a relatively high PRASM from a few Intl C trips (somewhere in the 50-55 cpm range). Thoughts? Write to MP and see?
Nov 30, 2013, 2:07 pm
#1337
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 67,281
I'm at 73,800 PQM and our Thanksgiving trip that would have put me over 75K was canceled due to family illness.
Is there any precedent for being bumped up to Platinum anyway? December is busy (i.e., MR is inconvenient) and the accelerator rates I'm seeing are 35cpm (!) for PQMs. I have a relatively high PRASM from a few Intl C trips (somewhere in the 50-55 cpm range). Thoughts? Write to MP and see?
Is there any precedent for being bumped up to Platinum anyway? December is busy (i.e., MR is inconvenient) and the accelerator rates I'm seeing are 35cpm (!) for PQMs. I have a relatively high PRASM from a few Intl C trips (somewhere in the 50-55 cpm range). Thoughts? Write to MP and see?
However, with the new UA, given you have multiple options that you have decided are inconvenient plus UA is being more picky (PQDs) and appearing to want to thin the elite ranks, while you should try, don't be surprised if you hit a brick wall.
Nov 30, 2013, 6:05 pm
#1338
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: ORD
Programs: AA, UA 1K, HH Gold, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 419
Thanks everyone for the advice. I am always in Economy - I work for a nonprofit. But I have discovered to carefully check the Fare Class purchased, when earning Partner miles (I've missed some earlier this year when I was flying L or T and later discovered I earned 0 miles on Brussels Airlines!). Sometimes it is just a little bit more cost. Okay, looking for some time and a place to fly. The 4 x 500 short segments is appealing; hadn't thought of that.
Only one return at the price per day, so you'd have to do it on consecutive days, but worth considering. That would give you 4 x 500 segments.
If you wanted to do it in one trip, ORD - SFO is pricing at $284 R/T on 12/14,15 and 16.
Nov 30, 2013, 6:48 pm
#1339
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Plat
Posts: 79
You can try and in the past it was pretty iffy but did occansionally occurred.
However, with the new UA, given you have multiple options that you have decided are inconvenient plus UA is being more picky (PQDs) and appearing to want to thin the elite ranks, while you should try, don't be surprised if you hit a brick wall.
However, with the new UA, given you have multiple options that you have decided are inconvenient plus UA is being more picky (PQDs) and appearing to want to thin the elite ranks, while you should try, don't be surprised if you hit a brick wall.
Thanks for the response.
Nov 30, 2013, 7:00 pm
#1340
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: AADULtArer
Posts: 5,928
I'm at 73,800 PQM and our Thanksgiving trip that would have put me over 75K was canceled due to family illness.
Is there any precedent for being bumped up to Platinum anyway? December is busy (i.e., MR is inconvenient) and the accelerator rates I'm seeing are 35cpm (!) for PQMs. I have a relatively high PRASM from a few Intl C trips (somewhere in the 50-55 cpm range). Thoughts? Write to MP and see?
Is there any precedent for being bumped up to Platinum anyway? December is busy (i.e., MR is inconvenient) and the accelerator rates I'm seeing are 35cpm (!) for PQMs. I have a relatively high PRASM from a few Intl C trips (somewhere in the 50-55 cpm range). Thoughts? Write to MP and see?
Nov 30, 2013, 7:34 pm
#1341
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: United Plat 2MM, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,727
FWIW, they bumped me to 1K at 99,997 miles. Maybe 99,998, I forget. But that's the kind of the level of flexibility that they are talking about.
If you're really down 1200 miles, I'd be thinking ORD-DCA as the MR. You could easily do this in half a day: take the 6AM out and be back by 11. There are some dirt cheap fares if you can snag them: $269 in T and L.
Nov 30, 2013, 7:59 pm
#1342
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: NJ, USA
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 671
Am 6500 miles short of Platinum
including a couple of trips in December, I still fall short of Platinum by 6500 miles. Am EWR based - rarely get upgrades. Am able to get exit row aisle seats 90% of the time while booking. All as Gold.
Am wondering if it is worth it to spend a weekend and $500+ to get to Platinum. Suggestions?
Am wondering if it is worth it to spend a weekend and $500+ to get to Platinum. Suggestions?
Last edited by pindi; Nov 30, 2013 at 8:16 pm
Nov 30, 2013, 9:00 pm
#1343
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA LT Plat 2MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 67,281
Dec 1, 2013, 6:08 am
#1344
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: AADULtArer
Posts: 5,928
. I think in 2016 you might get a different answer...or actually not even an issue...
Dec 1, 2013, 7:54 am
#1345
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Plat
Posts: 79
Dec 2, 2013, 3:39 am
#1346
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: EAU
Programs: UA 1K, CO Plat, NW Plat, Marriott Premiere Plat, SPG Plat, Priority Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,712
Looks like I'm shaping up to be short 369 miles from 1K. Anyone know if elite maximizer works on sub-500 mile increments for 1K's? Anyone know what the current cost per mile is?
If I can just buy them for $100 probably will.
The big benefit for Plat over Gold in my opinion is fee-free award bookings/changes. If you don't plan on redeeming awards next year, that may make the difference.
Keep in mind that Plat will net you an extra 12,500 RDM on 50k of travel next year on the extra 25% bonus, and two RPUs. Whether that's worth $500 and your time to you....
If I can just buy them for $100 probably will.
including a couple of trips in December, I still fall short of Platinum by 6500 miles. Am EWR based - rarely get upgrades. Am able to get exit row aisle seats 90% of the time while booking. All as Gold.
Am wondering if it is worth it to spend a weekend and $500+ to get to Platinum. Suggestions?
Am wondering if it is worth it to spend a weekend and $500+ to get to Platinum. Suggestions?
Keep in mind that Plat will net you an extra 12,500 RDM on 50k of travel next year on the extra 25% bonus, and two RPUs. Whether that's worth $500 and your time to you....
Last edited by iluv2fly; Dec 2, 2013 at 5:26 am Reason: merge
Dec 2, 2013, 9:59 pm
#1347
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: NJ,US
Programs: Lifetime United Gold and 1K, Marriott Ambassador, Lifetime Marriott and SPG Platinum , AA, Hilton
Posts: 379
Need 3400 miles to make 1K - HELP
After my next 2 flights - RT to SFO and IAH from EWR I SHOULD need no more than 3400 miles to hit 1K. As they are charging RIDICULOUS fees to buy the miles now it actually makes the most sense to just pay for a Z or P seat on a short flight to make up the difference. Anyone have any suggestions on any deals that I can run? Much appreciated.
Last edited by TheMan; Dec 2, 2013 at 10:08 pm
Dec 3, 2013, 6:57 am
#1348
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 84
Short of 1K Qualifying
I am 645 miles short of re-qualifying for 1K
I have no other trips planned for the year
I purchased a refundable ticket from NYC to ORD and then went to buy additional miles with the accelerator to obtain the extra miles
what was offered was 6,000 miles for $2,100 -
That does not seem like it is a worthwhile purchase and I was able to refund the purchase of the ticket - I tried the same with a low cost ($221) round trip from White Plains to ORD and was offered the same accelerator price of $2,100
Any ideas?
I have no other trips planned for the year
I purchased a refundable ticket from NYC to ORD and then went to buy additional miles with the accelerator to obtain the extra miles
what was offered was 6,000 miles for $2,100 -
That does not seem like it is a worthwhile purchase and I was able to refund the purchase of the ticket - I tried the same with a low cost ($221) round trip from White Plains to ORD and was offered the same accelerator price of $2,100
Any ideas?
Dec 3, 2013, 6:58 am
#1349
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: SFO, BDL
Programs: UA 1K, AA Plat, CX GR, Hilton Diamond, Global Entry
Posts: 963
SFO to LAX
Dec 3, 2013, 7:02 am
#1350
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 20,733
you need to try a shorter flight. try PHL-IAD or something like that. don't cut it too close though, recommend buying at least 2000 miles so that you have some wiggle room in case of MP "accounting errors" not in your favor (which are frequent).