Gifting Status?
 

I've searched the FAQ, Wiki, Google, and forums but haven't found an answer to this question:

Do certain elite levels (besides GS) have the ability to gift low level status to someone who currently has no status?

Thanks for your help everyone!

No, unless you have accrued at least a million EQMs on United (starting next year). Then you can designate your spouse/partner to have the same status you have, which will always be at least Premier Gold.

In times past there was a "Premier Associate" programme, but it is long gone.

Thanks, Joshua.

Can I just drop in to say that the use of the word "gift" as a verb hurts my ears and my brain?

It's "give". A gift is something that you give.

Jorgen, thanks for chiming in with a completely unhelpful post.

Using gift as a verb is correct.

Gift
noun
1. something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favor toward someone, honor an occasion, or make a gesture of assistance; present.
2. the act of giving.
3. something bestowed or acquired without any particular effort by the recipient or without its being earned: Those extra points he got in the game were a total gift.
4. a special ability or capacity; natural endowment; talent: the gift of saying the right thing at the right time.

verb (used with object)
5. to present with as a gift; bestow gifts upon; endow with.
6. to present (someone) with a gift: just the thing to gift the newlyweds.

some sources list "gift" as a verb (in a secondary use),
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/gift
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gift

I was going to call it a neologism, but actually now I come to look it up in the OED,

http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/78178?...j&result=3#eid

it's been used as a verb at least as far back as 1619.

I still don't have to like it. "Give" is a perfectly good verb.

Anyway, apologies for the distraction. On the subject of the thread, Joshua is of course correct, it is not possible to give someone else status.

Are you trying to put thesaurus-makers out of business?

A few years ago when UA did the big a benefit thing for hitting a certain mileage level for the year you could gift (sorry Jorgen) Premier to someone. Then it became gift Premier Associate. But that program is long gone.