Status Matching to UA - How to Get around the 5 Year Ban
Jan 6, 2013, 10:25 am
#16
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Redwood City, CA USA (SFO/SJC)
Programs: 1K 2010, 1P in 2011, Plat for 2012,13,14,15 & 2016. Gold in 17 & 18, Plat since
Posts: 8,826
It's possible an AA-USAir merger might grant your wish. At that point USAir becomes the competition and there might be carrots and sticks and bones thrown to USAir folk to come over to UA. Just might have to hold on for awhile.
Last edited by Mike Jacoubowsky; Jan 6, 2013 at 11:46 am Reason: typo
Jan 6, 2013, 11:56 am
#17
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: JAX
Programs: UA Plat MM, AA Gold MM, Marriott LTT, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 3,770
It's unlikely US/AA merge will change this 5-yr rule. OP was denied match as DL Plat already.
Jan 6, 2013, 12:20 pm
#18
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Redwood City, CA USA (SFO/SJC)
Programs: 1K 2010, 1P in 2011, Plat for 2012,13,14,15 & 2016. Gold in 17 & 18, Plat since
Posts: 8,826
+1. I always understood that all airline and hotel programs do a lifetime status match/challenge. That's why I have only status challenged to UA years ago (down a level from US CP to UA 1P and worked my way back up)and not bothered with other programs.
It's unlikely US/AA merge will change this 5-yr rule. OP was denied match as DL Plat already.
It's unlikely US/AA merge will change this 5-yr rule. OP was denied match as DL Plat already.
Obviously there's historical precedence for this; what happened when CO left SkyTeam? Did the other SkyTeam partners make a play for CO's customers?
Last edited by Mike Jacoubowsky; Jan 6, 2013 at 12:22 pm Reason: clarity
Jan 6, 2013, 4:56 pm
#21
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Hiding under the trees in Denver, CO
Programs: UA 1K 2.5MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,306
Maybe see if you could start crediting your trips to a UA frequent flier account, while enjoying your US status for this entire year. That way you'll get full miles for the flights you're taking. It may be technically complicated to do so, but might be your best option if you can use the *A benefits from the US air status but start accruing the miles to a UA account and your elite status there.
Although you won't get the mileage bonuses for elite status on your travel, at least you can purchase elite benefits, like Economy Plus seating and United Club access, while you're working toward UA elite status.
You could also try calling Mileage Plus a couple more times to see if you can find an agent who will be receptive to your request for comped status. Setting up a few international itineraries beforehand with your UA M+ number will improve the credibility of your request.
Jan 6, 2013, 5:20 pm
#22
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA *G 1MM LT United Club & Global Entry
Posts: 2,756
Bite the bullet and start over by accruing flight miles to UA. Use your US club membership and US *G status for domestic and international lounge access. If you need more US miles to top off your account buy them when they go on sale super cheap.
SunLover
SunLover
Jan 6, 2013, 6:58 pm
#25
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: BOS
Posts: 3,534
You could get a Chase United Club credit card which would give your premier access until you fly enough to get to premier silver. In the meantime you could buy economy plus access until you hit premier silver status so you can get it for free (at check-in).
One Y/B fare trip SFO-TLV nearly gets you to 25k PQM and I'm sure with a few creative routing tricks you can get over the line. Two of those and you'll be United Gold and Star Gold and be able to access the E+ seats at booking.
One Y/B fare trip SFO-TLV nearly gets you to 25k PQM and I'm sure with a few creative routing tricks you can get over the line. Two of those and you'll be United Gold and Star Gold and be able to access the E+ seats at booking.
Jan 6, 2013, 7:09 pm
#26
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Dubai / NYC
Programs: EK-IO, UA-1K2MM, ETIHAD-GOLD, SPG-PLAT LIFETIME, JUMEIRAH SERIUS GOLD
Posts: 5,220
Looks like M&M had devalued their program faster then UA. A lot of M&M Members switching to UA (even German based members). I was gonna switch to M&M This year as I fly more miles w LH then I do w UA but reading all the new rules, etc I tossed it in the garbage. MP still seems to be one of if not the top program out there
OP should just suck it up & start from scratch. A few R/T's and he'll have status anyway
OP should just suck it up & start from scratch. A few R/T's and he'll have status anyway
Jan 6, 2013, 10:37 pm
#27
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: WAS-ish
Programs: UA 1K-MM + UC, Marriott Plat, National Exec
Posts: 1,341
LH has two fields, known as FQTS and FQTV, for FF#s -- one for benefits and one for crediting. The old United system had the same fields as LH and allowed the same flexibility (see here). For that matter, SQ's PPS system very explicitly allows you to get SQ status credit for flights while earning other-airline miles for them.
On the other hand, US pretty specifically forbids this, and won't even let you use the change-FF#-at-the-last-minute trick, which according to this thread in the A3 forum should work with the new United. YMMV, naturally.
Jan 11, 2013, 11:24 am
#29
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Hiding under the trees in Denver, CO
Programs: UA 1K 2.5MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,306
This is not universally (or even generally, I think) true.
LH has two fields, known as FQTS and FQTV, for FF#s -- one for benefits and one for crediting. The old United system had the same fields as LH and allowed the same flexibility (see here). For that matter, SQ's PPS system very explicitly allows you to get SQ status credit for flights while earning other-airline miles for them.
On the other hand, US pretty specifically forbids this, and won't even let you use the change-FF#-at-the-last-minute trick, which according to this thread in the A3 forum should work with the new United. YMMV, naturally.
LH has two fields, known as FQTS and FQTV, for FF#s -- one for benefits and one for crediting. The old United system had the same fields as LH and allowed the same flexibility (see here). For that matter, SQ's PPS system very explicitly allows you to get SQ status credit for flights while earning other-airline miles for them.
On the other hand, US pretty specifically forbids this, and won't even let you use the change-FF#-at-the-last-minute trick, which according to this thread in the A3 forum should work with the new United. YMMV, naturally.
I used the US last-minute-trick a couple of times, but I didn't want to mention it because my experience was five years ago. Too bad it's not available any more.