bldr1k

Unlikely unless they are more generous this year. I've been between 175 and 200K (mostly BIS) with around 40K spend the last few years and didn't make it.

USAF Flyboy

Wow, that's a pretty high bar. Basically unless you fly full fare or C/F as a matter of company policy you're not in the ballpark. Thanks for the feedback.

Ari

You can qualify if you buy C/F fares as a matter of personal policy as well.

maddie1004

I can confirm the latter. You have to call and there has to be space available at the time (i.e., no waitlist). Sometimes, I've had to push- I've seen the NC online and they claim there's none available until I tell them directly.

For the former (converting upgrade inventory into award inventory), I've never tried this- can anyone explain how they did it? Does the agent volunteer this idea if no other space is available? Or do you need to know it's there and ask them about it?

Also, has anyone had any luck with this on Continental yet? Or does it only work on united stuff?

UA-NYC

That's more or less my situation two years in a row - didn't get it, not even thinking there's a chance.

So now credit card holders get the same benefit as the company's most profitable customers - brilliant.

goingbananas

I use to do this all the time. If I were flying C fare and UG to F with SWU to say SIN, showing NF2, I would then call in an award ticket for my SO, to convert that last NF seat to a saver award seat. In this case, she must be flying with me to make this happen. Did this several times over the years.

For me this was the biggest benefit in being a GS over the years.

Some would convert it voluntarily, no questions asked....some you have to ask...some don't know about it....if you get the latter, hang up, call again and get someone else.

Ari

UDU on discount fares is really going to be a thing of the past for non-GS once the new upgrade structure takes effect, so no biggie.

I was never in favor of UDU in the first place-- I like the old 500-mile upgrade system better.

UA_Flyer

+1

CR-1 is still a leftover from the legacy system that in some way carry on the e-500 system.

pdx1M

I just did a conversion of upgrade to saver award for my wife for a trip in April both ways. I was buying my ticket (Z fare) and wanted a saver for her in Biz but there were only flights with upgrades available (NF). I figured out the ones I wanted and the great agent at the GS line had no problem fixing everything up for me. Great benefit.

GodOSpoons

I can confirm using UG instruments on domestic, at minimum. I used a CR-1 on a standard Y award on December 23rd, 2011 BOS-ORD-PHX and cleared at the number one position at gate on both flights.

Timothy

blueman2

Any existing GSs get requal notification yet? I have heard nada so far from UA.

flyer215

My GS friend asked while booking a ticket 4-5 days ago, and was told "mid January" was the timeframe for re-qual notification.

Apparently last year, some folks were emailed on Jan 11, FWIW.

osxanalyst

I was added back to GS this year (early Jan) after dropping to 1k last year (IAD). FF BISM just over 50k (including CO). The vast majority of all my flights are F/C/Y and I was under 125k EQM for the year. Losing GS last year made me try out Singapore and others in 2011 .

Since I purchase all but the shortest flights in F/C, GS's best benefit for me is re-accommodation during irrops. Upgrade priority also really only matters intl C->F, which I missed in 2011 for the first time in forever, but its not a huge deal (SQ C > UA F). I'm not sure that I wouldn't keep flying partner airlines this year where their offering is better as the inflight benefits seem to outweigh (for me) the GS benefits.

Cuse44

I sent an email to GS Customer Relations this morning to inquire about when 2012 re-qualification notifications will be sent out. This is the response that I received (good news for me!)

FWIW - I am a legacy PPlat from CO (exclusively domestic flying). In 2011, I had combined EQM of 140K with 75K Full Fare (Mostly Y and B, some D and C) and around 40K in spend.

Red_Rob

Spoke with a CO Pres Plat agent who shared what they knew (somewhat limited) on GS qualification this year:

1) Set the pool size to 1% of Premier (combined 2012 program) size, which they have completed (example only pool set to 10,000)
2) Determine automatic invites, such as key accounts, etc (Ex 1000, 9000 spots remaining)
3) Determine revenue methods to use. CO & UA used different with regard to taxes, fees, and certain codeshares (agent mentioned that some codeshares for example LH counted on CO, but wasn't sure if it was based on ticket stock or metal). When the agent I spoke to was briefed in late Dec this was not finalized.
4) Sort based on combined revenue
5) Examine near miss pool (example deciding to re-qual people, or other reasons - whatever metrics they decide to use, likely ones that have been speculated about here) (Example 2,000, 7,000 spots now remaining)
6) Fill remaining spots based on total revenue (ex, top 7,000 revenue customers who didn't qualify based on the above)

She was fairly certain that the pool size would be 1% of premier customers.