Jan 1, 2014, 6:30 am
Last edit by: chrisl137
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
The value of ETCs if used as a form of payment on the checkout page
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 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?
- If one travels on a non-016 ticket originally booked non-UA/Copa metal, will one earn PQDs if rebooked onto UA?
- If one travels on a non-016 ticket originally booked on UA/Copa metal, but is rebooked onto non UA/Copa metal, will one still get credit for PQDs in these scenarios:
- The UA/Copa segment was the source of the irrops?
- The segment of another carrier causes the irrops, the carrier is a *A or UA/Copa partner?
- The segment of another carrier causes the irrops, the carrier is not a *A or UA/Copa partner?
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 $25,000 spend can be done across multiple Chase MP cards, as long as the cards are tied to the same MileagePlus account.
- 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.
- How to book 016 PQD earning tickets when no UA, UX, Copa metal flights are on itinerary.
- Do You Think UA Will Lose a Lot of Revenue With Less MR?
- Any Drawbacks from having MP account registered to foreign address?
- http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...nited-com.html
- Incorrect/Ineligible PQD/PQM/RDM Information showing on my itinerary.
Previous thread can be found here:
MileagePlus Premier Qualifying Dollar (PQD) Requirement Discussion [ARCHIVE]
iluv2fly
Moderator, UA
MileagePlus Premier Qualifying Dollar (PQD) Requirement Discussion Thread
Jan 1, 2014, 5:47 am
#16
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: United Gold, Hilton Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3
I am a Presidential Plus card holder. I am Gold for 2014. I just checked my MP account status @ United.com and it does show the 4 Flight Segment waiver depicted in your screen shot; however, it does not show the PQD waiver in your screen shot. Did that just appear in your MP account info or did you have to call to get that posted? Thanks.
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Jan 1, 2014 at 6:20 am
Jan 1, 2014, 6:06 am
#17
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Hoboken, NJ; Pembroke Pines, FL
Programs: CO Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,939
Hmm, I'm a holder of the legacy Presidential Plus Card but I don't have the Presidential Plus PQD Waiver flagged on my account. I wonder what's up?
Last edited by FlyinHawaiian; Jan 1, 2014 at 6:21 am Reason: image removal
Jan 1, 2014, 6:20 am
#18
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: United Arab Emirates & Arizona, USA
Programs: UA MM/1P, EK Au, QR, TK, Marriott Life Ti, Hilton Dia, IC Dia, Hyatt Glob, Accor Pt, Shangri-La
Posts: 4,526
Well, I just changed the addresses of my sisters' accounts today (January 1st) and the PQD requirement went away as soon as the primary address was changed to non-US. They are not Premier members and have no current reservations, so not sure if that made the switch immediate. Their accounts are set up for the occasional flight they take once in a while for mileage credit.
I changed over my account yesterday or the day before and the PQD requirement wasn't there when I logged in this morning. I'm not going to play around with it to see if it will show up again if I change my primary address. It will be interesting to find out if primary residence will be taken into account ONLY at time of qualification, I. e. meet a mileage or segment level and then, the system will check the address and see if PQD applies.
If people switch to US addresses later in the year and have already flight activity credited to their accounts, how will United go back and figure out their PQD amount after the fact? Is their software sophisticated enough to do that? Or maybe the fair thing to do will be to take into account the primary address on the account when the first flight posts for the year and use those requirements for subsequent flights for the remainder of 2014 regardless of a potential primary address change on the account.
I changed over my account yesterday or the day before and the PQD requirement wasn't there when I logged in this morning. I'm not going to play around with it to see if it will show up again if I change my primary address. It will be interesting to find out if primary residence will be taken into account ONLY at time of qualification, I. e. meet a mileage or segment level and then, the system will check the address and see if PQD applies.
If people switch to US addresses later in the year and have already flight activity credited to their accounts, how will United go back and figure out their PQD amount after the fact? Is their software sophisticated enough to do that? Or maybe the fair thing to do will be to take into account the primary address on the account when the first flight posts for the year and use those requirements for subsequent flights for the remainder of 2014 regardless of a potential primary address change on the account.
Jan 1, 2014, 6:25 am
#19
Moderator: Hawaii-based airlines & Hawai'i forums
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Ka ʻĀpala Nui, Nuioka
Programs: NEXUS/Global Entry, Delta, United, Hyatt, IHG, Marriott, and Hertz
Posts: 18,039
MileagePlus Premier Qualifying Dollar (PQD) Requirement Discussion Thread [2014]
This thread replaces the previous discussion thread from 2013 and the wiki from that thread has been copied above.
Jan 1, 2014, 6:31 am
#20
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Midwest
Programs: Lifetime Platinum
Posts: 261
Do "international surcharges" count toward PQD? I was just told that they do.
Curious to find out for a Gold friend of mine if an "international surcharge" of $516 on his upcoming ticket to Europe credited toward PQD or not, I called Global Services. The agent didn't know, but looked it up somewhere and after a few minutes came back to say that it did. Is this correct? The fact that she didn't know much about it makes me question the answer.
I'm not concerned about my PQD since my annual spend is many multiples of the 1K requirement.
Curious to find out for a Gold friend of mine if an "international surcharge" of $516 on his upcoming ticket to Europe credited toward PQD or not, I called Global Services. The agent didn't know, but looked it up somewhere and after a few minutes came back to say that it did. Is this correct? The fact that she didn't know much about it makes me question the answer.
I'm not concerned about my PQD since my annual spend is many multiples of the 1K requirement.
Last edited by Chevelter; Jan 1, 2014 at 6:47 am
Jan 1, 2014, 8:12 am
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SJC, SFO, YYC
Programs: AA-EXP, AA-0.41MM, UA-Gold, Ex UA-1K (2006 thru 2015), PMUA-0.95MM, COUA-1.5MM-lite, AF-Silver
Posts: 13,437
Do "international surcharges" count toward PQD? I was just told that they do.
Curious to find out for a Gold friend of mine if an "international surcharge" of $516 on his upcoming ticket to Europe credited toward PQD or not, I called Global Services. The agent didn't know, but looked it up somewhere and after a few minutes came back to say that it did. Is this correct? The fact that she didn't know much about it makes me question the answer.
I'm not concerned about my PQD since my annual spend is many multiples of the 1K requirement.
Curious to find out for a Gold friend of mine if an "international surcharge" of $516 on his upcoming ticket to Europe credited toward PQD or not, I called Global Services. The agent didn't know, but looked it up somewhere and after a few minutes came back to say that it did. Is this correct? The fact that she didn't know much about it makes me question the answer.
I'm not concerned about my PQD since my annual spend is many multiples of the 1K requirement.
Do you know why?
Jan 1, 2014, 8:26 am
#22
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: NYS
Programs: UA 1K MM, IHG Plat Amb, HH Diamond
Posts: 311
Am I wrong in assuming that award accelerator purchases are probably going to go down for UA? I have an award ticket booked to BUD in late April. I usually would have purchased the miles and added on the EQM's also. But now this money doesn't count towards PQD's, why bother? I will continue the miles purchase for the .02 cpm but leave off the EQM's. Such a shame!
Jan 1, 2014, 8:41 am
#23
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 4,510
Am I wrong in assuming that award accelerator purchases are probably going to go down for UA? I have an award ticket booked to BUD in late April. I usually would have purchased the miles and added on the EQM's also. But now this money doesn't count towards PQD's, why bother? I will continue the miles purchase for the .02 cpm but leave off the EQM's. Such a shame!
Jan 1, 2014, 8:45 am
#24
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: UA 1K, HH Diamond, Bonvoy Plat
Posts: 109
As Gold I have to make all challenges 
YTD Premier qualifying miles: 0
YTD Premier qualifying segments: 0
YTD Premier qualifying dollars: 0
4 flight segment minimum: 0 of 4
Credit card spend PQD waiver Not met
But I should make the $25,000 CC spend waiver for PQD
YTD Premier qualifying miles: 0
YTD Premier qualifying segments: 0
YTD Premier qualifying dollars: 0
4 flight segment minimum: 0 of 4
Credit card spend PQD waiver Not met
But I should make the $25,000 CC spend waiver for PQD
Jan 1, 2014, 8:47 am
#25
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: United Premier 1K 1MM; AA Plat Pro; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott Platinum; Avis President's Club
Posts: 2,529
I fly tonight to BAH so we'll see if the PQDs post in a few days.
Jan 1, 2014, 9:04 am
#26
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Costa Rica
Programs: UA 1K, Priority Platinum, Marriot Gold, Delta Platinum
Posts: 308
International member here PQD does not show on account.
Jan 1, 2014, 9:08 am
#27
Join Date: Jan 2012
Programs: United Gold, Hilton Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3
For those with the legacy United Presidential Plus Chase card, I just answered my own question. If you go to the "My Account" link and click on the "View Premier progress" link under Premier status qualification information tab, it pulls up the screen shot showing Presidential Plus PQD Waiver with the word "Eligible". My apologies to to all for not surfing a bit more before my original post. Unfortunately, the web designers at UA change the GUI regularly which confused me.
Last edited by Hollas; Jan 1, 2014 at 9:11 am Reason: typo
Jan 1, 2014, 9:11 am
#28
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS/ BOM
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,567
I think, as soon as you change your address to a US address, that field will get activated. They are tracking it regardless of where you live. ALternately, you can always MPSC and get the info, they would be able to check it.
Jan 1, 2014, 9:14 am
#29
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: NYS
Programs: UA 1K MM, IHG Plat Amb, HH Diamond
Posts: 311
Between me and you I only bought the EQM's for the 6 GPU's. The other status's are not needed because of my MM status, but I also don't know if I will be able to reach 1K this year. Even with the 5 RT's to HK I will fall way short in the PQD department. Is there any talk about UA allowing PQD purchases? It will go straight to the bottom line! No miles, just PQD's.
Jan 1, 2014, 9:23 am
#30
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
The waiver only applies up to Platinum so you are not entirely waived from the PQD requirement, so maybe that's why they chose not to display anything there.