colpuck

Frontier is about to go ULCC so I wouldn't expect too much from their program in the coming years.

OMAguy

the new "owners" of Frontier (and former owners of Spirit) have publicly stated that it is going to become an ultra low cost carrier (like spirit and allegiant). they will cram in more seats and charge for everything, going after those who rarely travel. although it may take over a year for this metamorphosis to occur, i think the handwriting is on the wall. i wouldnt be surprised to see frontier drop denver and expand in other cities where there are no hubs. (they have also been quoted as saying they will have a significant expansion in milwaukee - which makes sense since it is no longer anyone's hub)

go for 1K on united.

wxalex

Thanks for the input.

It will be tough to make 1k. I have about 9,000 in scheduled flights. Need to figure out how to get about 12k more...

sogboulder

So in other words, United is going to become even worse in Denver since their only significant competition will be low-cost carriers. I see even more RJs in my future.

Great!

aacharya

Fly or buy. (award accelerator).

mgcsinc

One time I flew Frontier. The plane almost left without me because I wasn't there like 45 minutes before the flight. I was told I was insane for not getting to the airport 2 hours early. It was like bizarro world. I wouldn't fly Frontier again if they paid me.

DENflyer3

Frontier WAS a great little airline about 5 years ago going back. Great service, great people, always on time, and great Mexico flights. Then, they sucked and kept sucking more. They sucked so bad that I let my 80,000 unused miles with them lapse because I could not stand being on their planes anymore. After almost 400,000 lifetime miles with them, it was hard to leave them but then I found United was willing to court me. Then 3.3.12 happened. Since then I cry a lot.

In seriousness, if money is not as much an option for you, stick with UAL. I think the F9 business model is going to work, but it is going to be painful during the process, and they are already reducing the benefits and taking the TV out of the plane which was one of the last things I could have lived with in those quickly aging planes. The staff is really bitter and it shows. With 1k out of Denver you have much more routes and a pretty damn high upgrade percentage. Buy the award accelerator if you can afford it and plan to travel that much next year.

BoSoxinBkk

This was my first year of 1K. I live outside the US and all my travel is international, so I have not used any of the GPUs and RPUs, and I don't see much benefit in mileage running to requalify. Does United automatically drop 1Ks who don't re-qualify down one notch to Platinum, or do I still need to fly 75k mikes to earn Plat this year? I find Plat quite useful due to the waived change fees on awards.

WineCountryUA

GPUs can be used on UA and LH metal flights even on international routes

UA does not do soft landings for 1K (or lower status levels).

BoSoxinBkk

Thanks. I suspected that the soft landing was not there. I'm, at 68k miles and will make the effort to get to 75k by year-end.

All my UA and LH travel is in Z class which is not upgradeable.

sabbasolo

My first year too as 1K this year, and I have been really quite happy with the perks. I have used 5/6 GPU's (missed one upgrade), and 1/4 RPU's. I have flown other airlines too inc SQ and TG and QF, and UA is quite comparable.

Reading other forums, it seems to me that the complaints there are no less raucous than on this UA forum

aacharya

Suggest you trade your GPUs and RPUs in Coupon Connection - you're giving up a very good amount of value - I figure it's worth $1600 to $2000 in trade, easily.

BoSoxinBkk

Yup, I put them up for trade earlier today. I had made the effort last year to get to 1K, but none of the booking classes that I fly on are eligible for upgrade. I generally fly Z class CAI-IAD-CAI for $2,200 and the upgradeable fare buckets are $4,000+.

onocoffee

If you've flown enough this calendar year to qualify for Platinum, then you will make Platinum for 2014. However, if you've flown less by the end of the year, then you will be whatever your mileage qualifies you for.

drowelf

Isn't that technically against the Mileage Plus Program Rules?