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]
Jun 18, 2013, 7:34 am
#61
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: LGA/JFK/EWR
Programs: UA 1K1.75MM, Hyatt Globalist, abandoned Marriott LTT (RIP SPG), Hertz PC
Posts: 21,171
Jun 18, 2013, 7:34 am
#62
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
Well. Not unexpected. I really think this makes sense and I support this move. I wish AA did it, too. It is a much better model than transactional loyalty on a one-off basis. Now that status is more meaningful, that should bode well for those who fulfill the published criteria.
After the thinning of the herd, then the following decimation or worse for the remainder of the herd faces less public outcry, less resistance and goes ahead since there are fewer who care or who are in a position to care and respond forcefully to the forces that turn against them eventually too.
Things will get uglier, so prepare to be fleeced and then decimated by those who pretend to be doing you a favor while thinning the herd. The ruling party aren't doing this to enhance long-term benefits given to the "over-entitled elites", and so benefit reductions will eventually follow for the remainder of the elite herd with fewer in a position to care to make some noise about the reduction in benefits too.
Jun 18, 2013, 7:35 am
#63
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,309
From Delta MQD:
Residency: Country of residence is determined by the primary address in the member’s SkyMiles account at the time of qualification for Medallion status. Documentation may be required for some types of address changes. Please see the SkyMiles Membership Guide for more information and a list of acceptable documentation. Delta reserves the right to audit an account at any time for residency requirements, request further supporting documentation and update the address for any member's SkyMiles account using the National Change of Address (NCOA) data filed by relocating postal customers, but shall have no obligation to do so. Accounts found in violation are subject to penalty, up to and including termination of Medallion status and closure of the SkyMiles account.
people flying for work have a hard time understanding people go on vacations on airplanes it seems.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Jun 18, 2013 at 8:44 am Reason: merge
Jun 18, 2013, 7:36 am
#64
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Houston (IAH,HOU) / Kāʻanapali (JHM,OGG)
Programs: UA GS 2MM, AA P 2MM, DL PM, US P, VS G, SPG LT P, HH D, HYATT P, PC P, AVIS PC, HERTZ PLAT
Posts: 970
UA Insider: Can we safely assume YQ is considered a carrier imposed surcharge (can't see how it would not be)?
Jun 18, 2013, 7:36 am
#65
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 133
Since I'm primarily a leisure traveler who is always looking for the best deal (and to get VDB'd), this will make it more challenging for me to hit those premier thresholds.
Jun 18, 2013, 7:37 am
#67
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,169
Your clairvoyant Uncle RNE told you this was coming, but did you believe me?! 
Winners: Premier passengers; they will face less competition.
Losers: Mileage runners; they will face reality.
Honorable Mention: Adam Smith @:-)
RNE, advising MRs to snag your cheap elite status this year. You won't have it after January 2015.
Winners: Premier passengers; they will face less competition.
Losers: Mileage runners; they will face reality.
Honorable Mention: Adam Smith @:-)
RNE, advising MRs to snag your cheap elite status this year. You won't have it after January 2015.
Jun 18, 2013, 7:37 am
#68
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: LAS - I'm All In!
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott PP
Posts: 3,639
That is who I feel bad for. The leisure traveler that takes 5 transcons for $400 each. They get 27K miles for the year. They are not a high revenue flyer but they are a loyal "frequent flyer". They don't even get to book E+ until check-in anymore and are down to the same number of checked bags as someone that shells out $90 for a United CC.
That is the real travesty here.
Jun 18, 2013, 7:41 am
#69
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,866
Jun 18, 2013, 7:41 am
#70
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: BOS
Posts: 3,534
For leisure travelers this seems like a good time to head for Kayak, which is likely what UA wants anyway.
Jun 18, 2013, 7:42 am
#71
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Programs: UA*1K MM SK EBG LATAM BL
Posts: 23,309
so how many "business" flyers will now be waiting longer for their employer to buy their "business" ticket until the price is more expensive
Jun 18, 2013, 7:44 am
#72
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New York, NY
Programs: UA, AA, DL, Hertz, Avis, National, Hyatt, Hilton, SPG, Marriott
Posts: 9,452
I would encourage UA to use this opportunity to roll out some improvement in elite recognition, a la DL, to coincide with the spend requirement. If this airline wants to goose revenue per traveler, at least make the experience something we feel good about spending money on.
Jun 18, 2013, 7:45 am
#73
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Alexandria, Va. USA
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, DL Silver, UA Gold, *A Gold, OW Emerald
Posts: 1,492
Now those smaller first class cabins make sense.
Jun 18, 2013, 7:46 am
#74
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,603
I would encourage UA to use this opportunity to roll out some improvement in elite recognition, a la DL, to coincide with the spend requirement. If this airline wants to goose revenue per traveler, at least make the experience something we feel good about spending money on.
I want to ask Aaron the following, since he's probably being innundated with questions:
What about:
purchased PQM miles?
purchased upgrades at booking?
miles & money upgrades after booking?
will those $$ count?
Jun 18, 2013, 7:47 am
#75
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
ORD-BOS: 18 CPM
ORD-SFO: 10.4 CPM
ORD-DCA: 18 CPM
ORD-LNK: 21 CPM
ORD-SJU: 7.5 CPM
If you are exclusively a leisure traveler who is only getting the absolute rock bottom fares every single time, sure, maybe you won't be elite, but then maybe you don't deserve to be.
My partner will achieve silver this year just barely, and his PQD spend will easily meet the $2500 threshold.