The Consolidated "Is United 1K Status Worth It? - 2013/14 Edition
Feb 5, 2013, 4:38 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: msp
Programs: AA PLT 3MM, DL PM 2MM
Posts: 1,142
The Consolidated "Is United 1K Status Worth It? - 2013/14 Edition
This thread is continued from: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...-12-posts.html
Me too! UA has been great to this 1K when things go wrong. One example of many:
Last May, flying on a Z fare SFO-CDG-SFO (via IAD). Woke up early in Paris to check flight status for the IAD flight back to the USA, and saw "flight cancelled" in red letters. After a moment or two in shock, followed by the realization that there were no later flights to IAD, I hopped on Skype and called the US 1K line (heart beating rapidly). Less than 5 minutes later, rebooked in C on Lufthansa to FRA and then on the non-stop in 747 F (a very nice experience!) to SFO. Got there earlier than I would have on the original flights.
Thanks UA!
(Also reinforced the need to always get up early to check on return flights to the USA, and also to carry my headset for Skype calls!)
Last May, flying on a Z fare SFO-CDG-SFO (via IAD). Woke up early in Paris to check flight status for the IAD flight back to the USA, and saw "flight cancelled" in red letters. After a moment or two in shock, followed by the realization that there were no later flights to IAD, I hopped on Skype and called the US 1K line (heart beating rapidly). Less than 5 minutes later, rebooked in C on Lufthansa to FRA and then on the non-stop in 747 F (a very nice experience!) to SFO. Got there earlier than I would have on the original flights.
Thanks UA!
(Also reinforced the need to always get up early to check on return flights to the USA, and also to carry my headset for Skype calls!)
Last edited by J.Edward; Jun 21, 2013 at 5:20 pm
Feb 5, 2013, 6:53 pm
#2
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: 66,856
Is it as good as it was ? No
Is it as good as it could be? No
Is it good enough? Depends on your options, where you fly and what you value. For me, it has become a harder decision but I've decided to get it another year. The MP program in general is betters that AA or DL my only real alternatives. AA seems to treat their elites while traveling better and DL has improved seats and expanded network with NW, however net net UA is still better for me -- but this wasn't even a race before but UA has lost much of the advantages it had before.
Is it as good as it could be? No
Is it good enough? Depends on your options, where you fly and what you value. For me, it has become a harder decision but I've decided to get it another year. The MP program in general is betters that AA or DL my only real alternatives. AA seems to treat their elites while traveling better and DL has improved seats and expanded network with NW, however net net UA is still better for me -- but this wasn't even a race before but UA has lost much of the advantages it had before.
Feb 14, 2013, 4:11 pm
#3
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: ewr pbi
Programs: Premier 1K (Former CO Plat)
Posts: 135
Premier Accelerator Reward
As a million (plus 600000) miler, a long time CO Plat and a year and a half as a UA 1K, I find my status as a Plat depressing. On flights where I was regularly upgraded, I find that I am 5 to 12 on the list AFTER all of the upgrades. So I am interested in opinions as to whether it is worth spending about $2,300 to get about 25,000 Premier Accelerator Reward miles that can be used to elevate the status to 1K. I am a six month EWR-PBI commuter, with one or two annual trips abroad and a few long domestic flights. 
Feb 14, 2013, 4:17 pm
#4
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: DCA or IAD (originally DUB)
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM, Hertz PC, Marriott Platinum/Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,657
Search is always your friend for a hardy perennial topic like this http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ighlight=worth
Feb 14, 2013, 4:17 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Nashville, TN
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium.;UA 1.5MM; UA Lifetime Gold (whoppee); DL Plat
Posts: 2,124
Same here--was CO Plat for many, many years and this has been a real shock. I did 1K last year to see if UG are any better %...I'm usually #1 or 2 on the list but when people buy up, I don't get it....my GPU's and RPU's clear better.....it all depends on whether FC is worth the extra 2500 or could you just purchase FC with the $2500 and be $ ahead...just do the math and see which is better.
Feb 14, 2013, 4:18 pm
#6
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,174
Premier Accelerator Reward
What I would suggest: assume for a moment 1k will not help you at all on free upgrades at the gate.
Do you get $2000 value from 6 global and 2 regional upgrades? Assume the 75% bump to 100% on bonus miles bump worth $250/$300 (on a base of nearly 100k flown miles)
There is your break even. After that any gate freebie upgrades are just bonus.
If you spend hoping to only get free UG you may be disappointed there and if you don't get value from instruments it is a double letdown
Do you get $2000 value from 6 global and 2 regional upgrades? Assume the 75% bump to 100% on bonus miles bump worth $250/$300 (on a base of nearly 100k flown miles)
There is your break even. After that any gate freebie upgrades are just bonus.
If you spend hoping to only get free UG you may be disappointed there and if you don't get value from instruments it is a double letdown
Feb 14, 2013, 4:33 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Golden, CO USA
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 765
My first response is no.... the less 1K's, the better MY chances are with upgrades 
My real opinion is to try the buy-up if the upgrades are important for you. With all the status tier shuffling on Feb 1st, we really don't know how many 1K's are left and it will be difficult for you to know what your 1K upgrade chances WOULD have been if you drop a tier.
It's an expensive test, but worth it if you value the space available upgrades and the Globals.
DEN
My real opinion is to try the buy-up if the upgrades are important for you. With all the status tier shuffling on Feb 1st, we really don't know how many 1K's are left and it will be difficult for you to know what your 1K upgrade chances WOULD have been if you drop a tier.
It's an expensive test, but worth it if you value the space available upgrades and the Globals.
DEN
Last edited by DEN; Feb 14, 2013 at 4:55 pm
Mar 16, 2013, 12:19 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Jupiter, FL
Programs: Starwood Platinum, Hilton Gold, Delta Diamond, Hertz Presidents, AA Gold
Posts: 119
1k worth $2,500?
I've switched to DL due to a job relocation (south Florida) so I no longer have UA status (nor the accompanying upgrades). My wife and I are planning to go to Thailand later this year and DL upgrade-qualifying fares there are horrific. I can buy 1k status ( including the 6 upgrades) for $2,500 through a charity auction and am trying to figure out if its worth it. In addition to Thailand, I would fly UA 2-3x per year to the west coast but am thinking primarily of the value (and probability) of getting w fares upgraded from PBI-BKK later this year.
Any advice from you experts out there? Thanks a bunch.
Any advice from you experts out there? Thanks a bunch.
Mar 16, 2013, 12:22 pm
#9
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 328
Withdrawn
Last edited by juniorsu; Mar 16, 2013 at 1:39 pm
Mar 16, 2013, 12:24 pm
#10
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: IAD
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 292
Might be a long shot, but take a look at what the full J fare to/from BKK is for you. If you have a UA Club card, you can take advantage of the two-for-one BF ticket deal (buy one J ticket, get 2nd free if there is Saver J space available). May be cheaper to buy one RT full J than two W-fare RT tickets + $2500.
Plus, you would then be confirmed in J vs playing the upgrade game.
Plus, you would then be confirmed in J vs playing the upgrade game.
Mar 16, 2013, 12:38 pm
#11
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Kitchener, ON, Canada
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 1,266
I've switched to DL due to a job relocation (south Florida) so I no longer have UA status (nor the accompanying upgrades). My wife and I are planning to go to Thailand later this year and DL upgrade-qualifying fares there are horrific. I can buy 1k status ( including the 6 upgrades) for $2,500 through a charity auction and am trying to figure out if its worth it. In addition to Thailand, I would fly UA 2-3x per year to the west coast but am thinking primarily of the value (and probability) of getting w fares upgraded from PBI-BKK later this year.
Any advice from you experts out there? Thanks a bunch.
Any advice from you experts out there? Thanks a bunch.
Mar 16, 2013, 12:55 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Houston
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Gold
Posts: 12,693
Mar 16, 2013, 1:06 pm
#13
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: CLE
Programs: UA GS, Marriott Plat, National Executive Elite
Posts: 115
Mar 16, 2013, 1:09 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: LAX
Programs: UA MM | BA Silver
Posts: 7,193
I would say its worth $2,500.
Mar 16, 2013, 1:10 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,909
If this is not a UA sanctioned auction I would be very leery about bidding. If it is someone selling their companion status the purchaser could be in for a BIG surprise at the airport. Not to mention the seller in big trouble.