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]
Dec 18, 2013, 1:44 pm
#3976
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
Frequently Made Points
That's the answered questions section. It could not possibly be clearer. Literally the entire purpose of that section is to avoid this issue. You'd have to be completely ignoring the actual text to interpret the explanatory entry under the question in the unanswered questions section as somehow indicating that the status of YQ is in question.
That's the answered questions section. It could not possibly be clearer. Literally the entire purpose of that section is to avoid this issue. You'd have to be completely ignoring the actual text to interpret the explanatory entry under the question in the unanswered questions section as somehow indicating that the status of YQ is in question.
Dec 18, 2013, 1:47 pm
#3977
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oregon
Programs: AA EXP, AS 75K, UA 1MM Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Plat, National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 4,001
Oh, then you're right. It's not in the other section at all. I totally photoshopped that.
Dec 18, 2013, 2:06 pm
#3978
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
Wonder if this will actually swell the 1K ranks for 2014, with people seeing it as their final year for it? Most likely the answer is no. The rules are too tough for a typical flyer to understand what's coming. FT is not representative of anything resembling normal.
Dec 18, 2013, 2:25 pm
#3979
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
To handle the continuing issue of folks posting about low PQD percentages because, despite the admonition at the top of the wiki, they have not read the FAQ's, or because they have not read the "Frequently Made Points" on the wiki, I have now added an additional, even more explicit warning about posting sub-80% PQD rates.
Dec 18, 2013, 2:29 pm
#3980
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA EXP, UA former 1K (1.9MM and gone), Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 1,111
Even a $450 transcon, which is pretty normal, isn't going to cut it. The biz traveler in Y with a travel department that's sensitive to cost isn't going to make it. Which is exactly what Jeff wants. To be 1K, you have clear the hurdle without assistance.
Wonder if this will actually swell the 1K ranks for 2014, with people seeing it as their final year for it? Most likely the answer is no. The rules are too tough for a typical flyer to understand what's coming. FT is not representative of anything resembling normal.
Wonder if this will actually swell the 1K ranks for 2014, with people seeing it as their final year for it? Most likely the answer is no. The rules are too tough for a typical flyer to understand what's coming. FT is not representative of anything resembling normal.
Dec 18, 2013, 3:07 pm
#3981
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,169
Dec 18, 2013, 3:11 pm
#3982
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Van down by the river
Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, Marriott PP/LT Plat, Golden Circle Diamond
Posts: 718
Even a $450 transcon, which is pretty normal, isn't going to cut it. The biz traveler in Y with a travel department that's sensitive to cost isn't going to make it. Which is exactly what Jeff wants. To be 1K, you have clear the hurdle without assistance.
Wonder if this will actually swell the 1K ranks for 2014, with people seeing it as their final year for it? Most likely the answer is no. The rules are too tough for a typical flyer to understand what's coming. FT is not representative of anything resembling normal.
Wonder if this will actually swell the 1K ranks for 2014, with people seeing it as their final year for it? Most likely the answer is no. The rules are too tough for a typical flyer to understand what's coming. FT is not representative of anything resembling normal.
Dec 18, 2013, 3:20 pm
#3983
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
Totally agree with first part. UA would not have put in PQD and deal with the nuances if it was not going to reduce the FF ranks. Every which way UA can justify not counting a buck, they'll do it. I'm even suprised they are counnting E+ spending since most who would do it are not FFer anyways.
Dec 18, 2013, 4:01 pm
#3984
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA MileagePlus (Premier Gold); Hilton HHonors (Gold); Chase Ultimate Rewards; Amex Plat
Posts: 6,680
Dec 18, 2013, 4:01 pm
#3985
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: 66,857
Dec 18, 2013, 4:54 pm
#3986
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 4,510
Frequently Made Points
That's the answered questions section. It could not possibly be clearer. Literally the entire purpose of that section is to avoid this issue. You'd have to be completely ignoring the actual text to interpret the explanatory entry under the question in the unanswered questions section as somehow indicating that the status of YQ is in question.
That's the answered questions section. It could not possibly be clearer. Literally the entire purpose of that section is to avoid this issue. You'd have to be completely ignoring the actual text to interpret the explanatory entry under the question in the unanswered questions section as somehow indicating that the status of YQ is in question.
Dec 18, 2013, 5:07 pm
#3987
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 8,634
Moreover, it's all irrelevant. The wiki stuff was all after-the-fact justification. The other poster didn't say "I have this trip, and it's unclear what will count." He was responding to a post about PQD being a high percentage of total price by saying (paraphrased) "ORLY? Here's this trip with tiny PQD!"
It's like people are trying to invent a world where PQDs suck more than they really do, in order to catastrophize in the way that has become so popular here. I find it annoying. Others have expressed the same sentiment.
And, for the record, I like yelling at people on the internet. You can think what you want about what that makes me, but please don't impute meltdowns on me. Kthx.
Dec 18, 2013, 9:02 pm
#3988
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: AADULtArer
Posts: 5,690
Totally agree with first part. UA would not have put in PQD and deal with the nuances if it was not going to reduce the FF ranks. Every which way UA can justify not counting a buck, they'll do it. I'm even suprised they are counnting E+ spending since most who would do it are not FFer anyways.
gS 1K...no way around spend requirement
And
Los Otros
Dec 18, 2013, 9:57 pm
#3989
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Van down by the river
Programs: UA GS, AA EXP, Marriott PP/LT Plat, Golden Circle Diamond
Posts: 718
Less 1Ks mean less phone calls for GPUs and the like. Yet another way for UA to cut costs. I'd worry if I was a 1K call center employee
