It's not a matter of preference. The revenue system is happening.

RNE, eyes wide open.

I don't think the airline cares where the revenue comes from, and neither do the share holders. I don't like arguing like Karl Rove and just yelling stuff into facts but I believe it is inevitable that all programs will evolve to revenue based, then profit based, and MR will become a footnote in history. I think this will take 3-5 years though..

It's more like, redirect my program rules to benefit the customers that make me profitable, instead of the MRs

Missed this post earlier...I would say its in progress?

The problem is - without the other part of the equation, these supposed profitable customers - will not be enough alone to keep this going if you alienate the less profitable (but still >0 profit) customers - the leisure flyer, who does those two TPACs a year.


Do you really think anyone outside of FT does MRs? Even if, thats like what 0.00x% of the clientele?

If it is coming in 2013, I would not mind a pseudo system that combined both mileage and dollar thresholds.

The program that was rumored for 2012 and the thresholds discussed in those rumors would be acceptable IMO.
To recap, in August 2011, here is what was believed to be the changes for the 2012 program year :

Status level names and qualification criteria:

Premier Silver:
(a) 25,000 elite qualifying miles AND $2,000 revenue AND 4 United segments,
OR
(b) 30 elite qualifying segments AND $2,000 revenue AND 4 United segments,
OR
(c) $5,000 revenue AND 4 United segments

Premier Gold:
(a) 50,000 elite qualifying miles AND $4,000 revenue AND 4 United segments,
OR
(b) 60 elite qualifying segments AND $4,000 revenue AND 4 United segments,
OR
(c) $10,000 revenue AND 4 United segments

Premier Platinum:
(a) 75,000 elite qualifying miles AND $6,000 revenue AND 4 United segments,
OR
(b) 90 elite qualifying segments AND $6,000 revenue AND 4 United segments,
OR
(c) $15,000 revenue AND 4 United segments

Premier Diamond (1K):
(a) 100,000 elite qualifying miles AND $8,000 revenue AND 4 United segments,
OR
(b) 120 elite qualifying segments AND $8,000 revenue AND 4 United segments,
OR
(c) $20,000 revenue AND 4 United segments

Failure to meet the $ thresholds would relegate the customer to the next
lowest status level (ie, if a 100,000 mile flyer only spent say $5,000 they
would be dropped to Premier Platinum.)

ok, so lets say I spend $8K and get 100,000 - but only $1K of it is on UA - and the rest is on partners (including JV partners) - or I fly United but its a LH ticket - how does that work?

Your system means essentially UA status will be solely for people who fly United - may as well exit Star Alliance.

Why are you people even wasting time arguing over details of a program change to revenue based, that no other airline has? The leading FF program is going to change the entire rules and history of the loyalty program because???????????

Oh yeah it's FT and people love to make up an alternate reality then get others to bite on their alternate reality and now we have people who probably never even believed this will happen thinking it might so they have to take a position on how it would be IF it did happen.

Not going to revenue based, why would the industry leader change first? It won't. Too outside the box.

while see the issue you raise, it could be handled for purchased on united.com even if on non-UA flights. Also UA may have access to purchase data for flights creditting to MP.
But if the $ amount is purely revenue to UA, that will be an issue. BTW, that is the way GS is.

Really? When was the last time you bought a ticket on TK on united.com
Really? Competition is gonna let UA know how much someone paid for a ticket?

Why would anyone credit to MP from partners knowing that they wont get status for it when they have 26 other star partners to choose from.

I can see how revenue works on SouthWest or Jetblue - who are not tied up to an international network/alliance.

This is a carbon copy of what Lucky suggested would be coming this past year, which turned out to be a "chicken little" thing. I think until a legacy carrier adopt a revenue based model UA won't change. What you may see is lowest fare classes earn less than 100% miles.

Again, a big difference for domestic air warriors vs. int'l.

Honestly, Star Alliance doesn't do me a whole lot of good. I fly all domestic so my entire spend is purely with United. I didn't even have so much as 1 US Scareways segment this year.

I realize I'm not 1K material, but I'd still consider myself a decent customer for United. Maybe even a little valuable.

I spent 11k for 41,000

Stupid CVG prices. Program needs some sort of revenue component

Bingo, I know lots of people who fly 15K per year on UA and take 1 TATL vacation on a *A carrier. Silver status gets them to concentrate spend on UA & *A where otherwise they would be 100% lowest cost only (so maybe UA would lose half the business). I was the same way as a Silver, Gold, Plat, & 1K (now as a GS I even suffer on UA metal for TATL or TPAC since I likely barely make it with <$50K a year)

WOW...let's give them all of the bad ideas, how about talking about what they can do to better their FF program

What improvements would you like to see?

you dont think overpaid corporate beancounters cant come up with bad ideas on their own?

Their track record of enhancements speaks otherwise.