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
#676
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,926
Do you have a source for this? Saying they will and that its to their benefit to do so is fine as an opinion. But If people are buying the upgrades when it doesn't count toward PQD anyway, then how exactly does UA benefit?
#678
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,169
Every business benefits from determining which of its customers contributes to its bottom line. Frequent flyer programs were a quick and dirty way for airlines to do this. Things like Global Services were an even better measure. Money, not miles. The logical outgrowth from this is—and always has been—measuring dollars spent, not miles flown. We are now in a transition period where both are measured. But dollars are not yet accurately measured because some spend is not counted. That will change. All spend will be counted and miles will not matter at all. They really never should have. Let me close by stating that spend itself is also not a good measure. Margin needs to be measured to truly determine who is more valuable. That ultimate measurement is coming because it benefits the airlines. Wait and watch.
#679
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 58,146
They are actually making it easier to reach the 10K PQD requirement through increased ticket prices. My PQD total is well ahead of my PQM total so far this year, and it isn't because I'm flying more.
#680
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott
Posts: 231
I'm in exactly the opposite position: already at 92K PQM, but clearly won't make the PQD since I'm only at $4659. Any chance I'll be given 1K again if I only have miles but not the spend?
#681
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,356
Keep in mind you will have to pass $5k PQD just to make Gold regardless of your miles.
#682
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 4,519
Your situation is a good example of how hard it is going to be for many to make the PQD requirement to achieve or maintain their accustomed status. Which could support RNE's contention that purchased Accelerator PQMs might count toward PQDs in the future.
#683
Join Date: May 2001
Location: Portland, OR, USA
Programs: UA 1K 3 Million/ex-many year GS, AA PLT/2 Mil, AS MVPG, HH Dia, Starwood Life Plat, Hertz PC
Posts: 1,401
Every business benefits from determining which of its customers contributes to its bottom line. Frequent flyer programs were a quick and dirty way for airlines to do this. Things like Global Services were an even better measure. Money, not miles. The logical outgrowth from this isand always has beenmeasuring dollars spent, not miles flown. We are now in a transition period where both are measured. But dollars are not yet accurately measured because some spend is not counted. That will change. All spend will be counted and miles will not matter at all. They really never should have. Let me close by stating that spend itself is also not a good measure. Margin needs to be measured to truly determine who is more valuable. That ultimate measurement is coming because it benefits the airlines. Wait and watch.
Best example: a business flyer on OPM who has a choice of two airlines for a trip next week at essentially the same fare and acceptably equivalent schedules. How does an airline get that customer to choose to make that trip with them? FF programs are a good tool for influencing such decisions and so long as that customer is buying a ticket that contributes margin and provided that the revenue management systems are good enough not to generally underprice that seat versus what the airline could get if they didn't sell to that customer, then the airline wants that piece of business. It isn't at all clear to me that a pure revenue or even margin based FF program will influence that customer's purchase choice.
The airline isn't in the FF program for the purpose of "being fair" or even "rewarding their most profitable customer" - they are in it to improve their business. It isn't at all clear that the move to dollar based programs in their current simplistic form actually does that efficiently.
#684
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,169
While I don't disagree that much with what you say I think what airlines would really want to do is to alter customer behavior to increase spend and margin. That is actually different from just finding the big spend or margin customers.
Best example: a business flyer on OPM who has a choice of two airlines for a trip next week at essentially the same fare and acceptably equivalent schedules. How does an airline get that customer to choose to make that trip with them? FF programs are a good tool for influencing such decisions and so long as that customer is buying a ticket that contributes margin and provided that the revenue management systems are good enough not to generally underprice that seat versus what the airline could get if they didn't sell to that customer, then the airline wants that piece of business. It isn't at all clear to me that a pure revenue or even margin based FF program will influence that customer's purchase choice.
The airline isn't in the FF program for the purpose of "being fair" or even "rewarding their most profitable customer" - they are in it to improve their business. It isn't at all clear that the move to dollar based programs in their current simplistic form actually does that efficiently.
Best example: a business flyer on OPM who has a choice of two airlines for a trip next week at essentially the same fare and acceptably equivalent schedules. How does an airline get that customer to choose to make that trip with them? FF programs are a good tool for influencing such decisions and so long as that customer is buying a ticket that contributes margin and provided that the revenue management systems are good enough not to generally underprice that seat versus what the airline could get if they didn't sell to that customer, then the airline wants that piece of business. It isn't at all clear to me that a pure revenue or even margin based FF program will influence that customer's purchase choice.
The airline isn't in the FF program for the purpose of "being fair" or even "rewarding their most profitable customer" - they are in it to improve their business. It isn't at all clear that the move to dollar based programs in their current simplistic form actually does that efficiently.
RNE, opining that customers are a necessary evil.
#685
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,169
Thanks for the mention. That's consistent with what I'm saying, but it's not a good example, because even if Nikongirl spent, say, $1600 for 8000 PQMs (20/each) to reach 100k PQMs, that extra spend even if it counted toward PQD would get her only to Gold 2015, nowhere near 1K. That said, all spend should count. Money is money. And UA should measure it all—for its own benefit, not necessarily ours.
#686
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 58,146
I think it is far more likely that they will raise the PQD spend levels than make it easier to reach those levels.
#687
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,169
But no matter how "hard" they make each status level, the move away from miles is unmistakable and inexorable. I predict that momentum will go so far as to count all spending. You scoff. We'll see.
#688
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Virginia, USA
Posts: 4,519
Why do think UA would make it easier to attain status by allowing all spend to count for PQD status? They are clearly trying to cull the herd when it comes to their over-entitled elite population, and limiting the spending that counts for PQD.
I think it is far more likely that they will raise the PQD spend levels than make it easier to reach those levels.
I think it is far more likely that they will raise the PQD spend levels than make it easier to reach those levels.
#689
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 93
I'm estimating I will have just over 68,000 PQM by 12/31, but my PQD will be no higher than $4,000. No gold for me!
#690
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 58,146
I like to live life on the edge.
Won't happen unless DL does it first.
Won't happen unless DL does it first.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Oct 26, 2014 at 3:33 pm Reason: fixed BB code