Jun 18, 2013, 7:18 am
Last edit by: iluv2fly
Please read these sources before posting in this thread:If you have calculated the PQDs for a trip at less than 80% of the total cost, you are very likely doing something wrong. Have you made sure to include the International Surcharge (YQ)? Have you read all of the materials linked above, and the frequently made points listed below?
Specific Unanswered Questions
Please limit these to specific, technical questions about the implementation of the PQD program.FMP (Frequently Made Points)
The following points have been made repeatedly in this thread (please feel free to add more concise points):Related Threads
Moderator's Note:- First post from UA Insider (post 1)
- http://www.mileageplusupdates.com/faqs.html
- Additional answers from UA Insider (post 1387)
- more information about questions posed in this thread published to mileageplusupdates.com, per UA Insider
Specific Unanswered Questions
Please limit these to specific, technical questions about the implementation of the PQD program.
- Will there be a calculator that shows PQD, and will that calculator be accurate?
- What exactly will count toward PQD?
United states:
Base fare and carrier-imposed surcharges
Flights flown by United, United Express, or Copa Airlines
Flights operated by a Star Alliance® or a MileagePlus partner airline and issued on a United ticket (ticket number starting with 016)
Economy Plus purchases
will count towards PQD.
Thus:
- The amount of co-pay when using miles to upgrade..
- The cost of PQMs/RDMs purchased when using the premier / award accelerator..
- The value of ETCs (or is it considered a discount from the fare?). (still uncertainty on this since prelim PQDs appeared to include) -Note: the Mileage plus site indicates ETC's count towards PQD (12/16/13 imgonnafly)
- The face value e-certs and travel vouchers.. (still uncertainty on this since prelim PQDs appeared to include)
- The cost of a paid upgrade..
- An extra seat purchase (such as for a customer of size or a musical instrument); it does not presently count toward PQM.
- Change fees.
- How will PQD be determined for UA metal segments without 016 stock ticket?
- What happens if I depart in December and return in January?
Just like PQM, PQD for the applicable part of fare for the segment is credited based on the departure date (year) of the segment flown. Segment fares are calculated using standard rules of the past. For the case cited there would be PQD credited in DEC 2013 (no value) and PQD applied to 2014 applicable to 2014 and 2015 status renewal. - How will UA evaluate the address issue for the PQD exemption?
- It is not clear how the timing of achieving the minimum PQD requirement will impact earning RPUs and GPUs. Examples:
- If someone crosses 75K PQM in say April, but doesn't hit $7500 PQD until December by which time has accrued 200K PQM, will he/she get 10 RPUs all at once? (and 10 GPUs assuming $10k PQD in December)
- Do only 1Ks/GSs earn additional RPUs by flying beyond the 100k mark?
- If a 1K crosses the 100,000 PQM mark in January 201x, the $10,000 PQD mark on December 31 201x, and ends up flying a total of 200,000 PQMs for the year 201x, how many RPUs / GPUs will be earned?
- Will Platinums earn 2 RPUs when crossing the 75k mark but none at incremental levels thereafter (e.g. a Plat who flies 100k EQMs, but does not meet the 1K spend, would *not* earn two more RPUs)?
- If someone crosses 75K PQM in say April, but doesn't hit $7500 PQD until December by which time has accrued 200K PQM, will he/she get 10 RPUs all at once? (and 10 GPUs assuming $10k PQD in December)
- How does IRROPs affect earning of PQDs?
The following points have been made repeatedly in this thread (please feel free to add more concise points):
- You might not be hitting the PQD minimums as easily as you think you are, given exceptions, taxes, and the existence of cheap fares.
- It is possible for leisure travelers and even some business travelers to average well under 10cpm. This doesn't just affect "leisure 1Ks" and people on the edge of categories.
- Presidential Plus card members (exempted from Silver/Gold/Plat PQD requirements) are most likely exempted because the FlexPQM program would complicate matters.
- Manufacturing $25,000 spend might not actually be so hard. There's a whole forum on it.
- The exceptions don't really make sense where there is a revenue-sharing joint venture in place, such as with LH on TATL routes.
- Leaving UA for AA over objections to dollar-based status may be futile because all the majors will likely go to this model with the possible exception of the AS program which allows you to bank your DL and AA miles into one account (DL has already).
- UA is tracking spend on UA metal now.
- YQ, also known as the "international surcharge," is a carrier-imposed surcharge and is included in PQD.
2014 version of this thread can be found here:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/united-airlines-mileageplus/1536552-mileageplus-premier-qualifying-dollar-pqd-requirement-discussion-thread-2014-a-15.html
iluv2fly
Moderator, UA
MileagePlus Premier Qualifying Dollar (PQD) Requirement Discussion [ARCHIVE]
Jul 31, 2013, 5:30 pm
#2911
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
A $10K ticket for UA metal that they get full (or shared ATI) amount vs. a $10K ticket for SQ metal (016 stock) that they get limited $ for? You honestly are fully confident you'll get the same amount of PQDs in each scenario?Please, for the benefit of us all, point to the rule that supports what you're saying.
Jul 31, 2013, 6:00 pm
#2912
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
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Are all *A carriers "partners"? Will all fare codes count? What about non star Partners?
Jul 31, 2013, 6:04 pm
#2913
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
I could tell you that United was offering a $10 off coupon for domestic US tickets, and you'd say that it wasn't clear that the dollars were American. Give me a break. It's impossible to have a productive conversation this way.
Jul 31, 2013, 6:10 pm
#2914
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,834
Jul 31, 2013, 6:53 pm
#2915
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,167
These are make-believe concerns. The answers to the first two questions are completely, utterly set in stone.
I could tell you that United was offering a $10 off coupon for domestic US tickets, and you'd say that it wasn't clear that the dollars were American. Give me a break. It's impossible to have a productive conversation this way.
I could tell you that United was offering a $10 off coupon for domestic US tickets, and you'd say that it wasn't clear that the dollars were American. Give me a break. It's impossible to have a productive conversation this way.
I guess we'll see when we get more explicit details about the program. Lots of unanswered questions and ambiguity still.
Jul 31, 2013, 9:12 pm
#2916
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: SUV
Programs: UA *G MM
Posts: 7,017
An anecdote about 016 tickets. Because of Atlantic Plus Plus, United has been forced to terminate codeshares with other airlines like SAS for anti-trust reasons. So I doubt that you can even buy SAS tickets on 016 ticket stock today; certainly cannot online. If you look at flights to ARN/CPH via LHR today on united.com even the connecting flights are on BA.
I used to frequently buy SAS issued tickets in B class where I would fly to ARN via CPH in SAS Economy Extra (sometimes upgrading to business with my SAS points) and then return via FRA on UA where I would use miles to upgrade. I would ask SAS to book the UA segment without codeshare and that was not a problem.
The interesting thing is that if bought the same ticket from UA then they would book you in economy even if the booking class on SAS metal is B because economy extra doesn't exist as far as UA is concerned. I wonder what's going to happen when Lufthansa launches a premium economy class shortly and you book as a codeshare?
I used to frequently buy SAS issued tickets in B class where I would fly to ARN via CPH in SAS Economy Extra (sometimes upgrading to business with my SAS points) and then return via FRA on UA where I would use miles to upgrade. I would ask SAS to book the UA segment without codeshare and that was not a problem.
The interesting thing is that if bought the same ticket from UA then they would book you in economy even if the booking class on SAS metal is B because economy extra doesn't exist as far as UA is concerned. I wonder what's going to happen when Lufthansa launches a premium economy class shortly and you book as a codeshare?
Aug 1, 2013, 12:45 am
#2917
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,450
UA is betting that the new policy will divert much of the revenue that is currently going to *A partners over to UA. We'll see whether that happens. The fact that SQ and LH have such lousy FF programs certainly weighs in UA's favor. But it's just going to be a real issue for this group of flyers whether to stay with UA.
Aug 1, 2013, 8:12 am
#2918
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: AADULtArer
Posts: 5,681
If someone currently earns a large percentage of their PQMs on *A carriers, the new policy is going to be a problem. They're either going to have buy codeshares, switch to UA metal, or have issues meeting the PQD thresholds. And there all kinds of issues with buying codeshares, not the least of which is booking and fare code translations.
UA is betting that the new policy will divert much of the revenue that is currently going to *A partners over to UA. We'll see whether that happens. The fact that SQ and LH have such lousy FF programs certainly weighs in UA's favor. But it's just going to be a real issue for this group of flyers whether to stay with UA.
UA is betting that the new policy will divert much of the revenue that is currently going to *A partners over to UA. We'll see whether that happens. The fact that SQ and LH have such lousy FF programs certainly weighs in UA's favor. But it's just going to be a real issue for this group of flyers whether to stay with UA.
There will be a loss of revenue from the AA US merger of course.
Aug 1, 2013, 8:28 am
#2919
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Posts: 56,450
I'm not sure UA cares whether the elite ranks are thinned. Like virtually all of corporate America, their moves are revenue driven. They're hoping the 1K who currently buys C tickets on SQ will them on UA instead. Or pay more for an LH codeshare than they would have buying the ticket straight from LH.
Aug 1, 2013, 1:59 pm
#2920
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 9
Sorry if I missed the answer to this earlier in the thread.
Does anyone know if the PQD waiver for spending $25K on a MP co-branded credit card has to be one card and one card only? I have two cards for a specific reason (both of which are linked to my MP account), and am wondering if I should consider changing or need to change all of my spending to one card alone in order to get the waiver.
Does anyone know if the PQD waiver for spending $25K on a MP co-branded credit card has to be one card and one card only? I have two cards for a specific reason (both of which are linked to my MP account), and am wondering if I should consider changing or need to change all of my spending to one card alone in order to get the waiver.
Aug 1, 2013, 3:20 pm
#2921
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
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Posts: 42,198
Aug 1, 2013, 3:40 pm
#2922
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: IAH
Programs: UA Premier 1K, Hyatt Platinum, Marriott Gold
Posts: 158
Sorry if I missed the answer to this earlier in the thread.
Does anyone know if the PQD waiver for spending $25K on a MP co-branded credit card has to be one card and one card only? I have two cards for a specific reason (both of which are linked to my MP account), and am wondering if I should consider changing or need to change all of my spending to one card alone in order to get the waiver.
Does anyone know if the PQD waiver for spending $25K on a MP co-branded credit card has to be one card and one card only? I have two cards for a specific reason (both of which are linked to my MP account), and am wondering if I should consider changing or need to change all of my spending to one card alone in order to get the waiver.
If the primary cardmember has multiple MileagePlus co-branded credit cards issued in the 50 United States or the District of Columbia by Chase Bank USA, N.A., Net Purchases on those cards will be combined to calculate the $25,000 spend for the PQD waiver in 2014.
Aug 1, 2013, 4:31 pm
#2923
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K (until it expires then never again), *wood Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 9,239
Aug 1, 2013, 5:59 pm
#2925
Join Date: Jan 2013
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Posts: 1,995
It may be somewhere in the 195 pages of this post, but I can't find it. The statement:
confuses me. I have the Chase card, but my spending doesn't reach $25,000 until well into the year (or even 'til year end). What happens if I fly, say, 75,000 miles on cheap tickets (not reaching the $7,500 at all), but have the card reaching $25,000 in late December? I assume the Platinum level would not be reached until I've done both (the 75,000 miles and the $25,000 card spend). When do I qualify for Platinum: December?
and who spend at least $25,000 in Net Purchases in 2014 on a MileagePlus co-branded credit card issued by Chase Bank USA, N.A.