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
#781
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 84
Your Pet Peeves About PQD & Suggestions
First, I think UA Corp. should be in the business of making money rather than in merely moving bodies around. Making in everyway it can, but without alienating customers while doing it with rules which ultimately frustrate the overall goal of making money through loyal customer patronage.
With that in mind here are two of my pet peeves about PQDs are:
1. Making the tracking of PDQs difficult with present rules that only count certain parts of a ticket's cost, rather than (now hear me out on this!) counting the whole fare and taxes, surcharges, etc. BUT then changing the qualification requirements upwards to compensate for the taxes, surcharges,etc. This is only a mathematical problem but would allow customers to anticipate and track PQDs better. Less fuss, more benefit to all.
2. Count all monies paid to United towards PDQ requirement. For example all regular and PQM miles purchases and change fees would count for PQDs. These items seem to be more highly profitable than flight fare revenue anyway and have little extra associated expenses, therefore this source of revenue should be encouraged- not discouraged. Counting dollars paid for such things would make a lot of customers feel more loyal and less gamed. Lot of us feel gamed by United by there incredible array of limiting rules and restrictions. Others would more likely become loyal United customers if the rules did not seem so convoluted and slanted against them.
3. PQDs should be credited to MP account s when the money becomes non-refundable and becomes revenue whether or not someone actually flies their itinerary or not. Consider this UA has made what it wanted on the transaction, so why add more hoops for the customer to jump through.
You may be critical, but I think these are areas in which United could lead the way, gain both more loyalty and more revenue in the long run.
What are your pet peeves?
And you lucky FTers who qualify for everything without really trying and who therefore relish tight restrictions to elite status so that there are less elites, please for a moment put on your tolerance caps and manifest your most Zen-like disposition.
I realize adoopting these ideas would take an enlightened self interest perspective from UA, so one can only hope....
With that in mind here are two of my pet peeves about PQDs are:
1. Making the tracking of PDQs difficult with present rules that only count certain parts of a ticket's cost, rather than (now hear me out on this!) counting the whole fare and taxes, surcharges, etc. BUT then changing the qualification requirements upwards to compensate for the taxes, surcharges,etc. This is only a mathematical problem but would allow customers to anticipate and track PQDs better. Less fuss, more benefit to all.
2. Count all monies paid to United towards PDQ requirement. For example all regular and PQM miles purchases and change fees would count for PQDs. These items seem to be more highly profitable than flight fare revenue anyway and have little extra associated expenses, therefore this source of revenue should be encouraged- not discouraged. Counting dollars paid for such things would make a lot of customers feel more loyal and less gamed. Lot of us feel gamed by United by there incredible array of limiting rules and restrictions. Others would more likely become loyal United customers if the rules did not seem so convoluted and slanted against them.
3. PQDs should be credited to MP account s when the money becomes non-refundable and becomes revenue whether or not someone actually flies their itinerary or not. Consider this UA has made what it wanted on the transaction, so why add more hoops for the customer to jump through.
You may be critical, but I think these are areas in which United could lead the way, gain both more loyalty and more revenue in the long run.
What are your pet peeves?
And you lucky FTers who qualify for everything without really trying and who therefore relish tight restrictions to elite status so that there are less elites, please for a moment put on your tolerance caps and manifest your most Zen-like disposition.
I realize adoopting these ideas would take an enlightened self interest perspective from UA, so one can only hope....
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jan 6, 2015 at 9:34 pm Reason: Moved to master thread as these ideas have long been discussed
#782
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: LHR (sometimes CLE, SFO, BOS, LAX, SEA)
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 5,892
Like when people say "I'm going to go to Barnes and Nobles to buy a book", its just a tiny bit grating. Dunno.
This is an interesting idea. Seems like a no-brainer from the customer's point of view. The only caveat to think about is that there are some surprising events that can make a ticket refundable (mechanical delay, medical emergency) and UA would have to write logic to negate the PQD during a refund.
#783
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
Posts: 52,121
Threads like this. People who think they know the business better than the professionals and whose "solutions" always seem to be in their own best interests. (I'm not saying that the C-office at United is in any way even close to perfect, but they do have all the data.)
#784
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,907
First, I think UA Corp. should be in the business of making money rather than in merely moving bodies around. Making in everyway it can, but without alienating customers while doing it with rules which ultimately frustrate the overall goal of making money through loyal customer patronage.
#785
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,418
#786
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 205
UA is a leader in ancillary revenue making billions. They ARE in the business of making money, moving people around is just the means to the end of making money. That's why they have PQD's. They don't want to give you benefits unless you help them make money. The more money you help them make, the more you get in return.
#787
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Honolulu, Hawaiʻi [+MKK4 EBBER R577 EDSEL R577 ELKEY EXERT]
Posts: 15,826
Both my wife and I have three Dec 2014 flights with PQD "processing" due to both IRROPs and an OS segment. The flights will allow us to re-qualify for our respective elite thresholds. My #1 pet peeve is that, due to UA's inability to efficiently and timely process PQD under its own scheme, we are left in limbo on our 2015 status.
#789
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,000
Both my wife and I have three Dec 2014 flights with PQD "processing" due to both IRROPs and an OS segment. The flights will allow us to re-qualify for our respective elite thresholds. My #1 pet peeve is that, due to UA's inability to efficiently and timely process PQD under its own scheme, we are left in limbo on our 2015 status.
2) UA depends on OS to provide OS data
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jan 7, 2015 at 12:47 am Reason: snarky comment removed
#790
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 84
Yes, I guess it would need refiining and I am imagine UA has in their IT department scores of people who could manage that distinction.
Sorry, mherdeg about my typo of PQD.
I just realized (not sure however) this should have been posted in another thread. I searched first but failed in finding related threads. Sorry!
Actually, I never meant to presume I knew everything, but I fervently think that when the interests of customers and company align good things happen for both parties. Often beyond expectations.
And I wonder for whom the "professionals" you cite work. The professionals who have all the data. It seems reasonably to presume they devote their talents solely to their employer, UA's, interests.
Yes, it is funny UA, presumably international carrier, apparently values U.S. customers less than those who live outside the U.S. Or is it only because that they can do it, therefore they actually do it? In my view this is self limiting marketing to their core customers that costs them millions..
Are you saying that is the best way for all concerned or the way that they can "force" it to be?
If what Baze says is true UA makes its money on the upfront monetary transaction and their offer to moving people around is merely the resultant service provided. That makes one wonder why there are no PQDs (and the other Premiere qualifying metrics) given if the pax does not fly the leg(s) purchased. It would seem UA's costs go down in those cases, despite the no-show and standby replacement (often for revenue), if the pax forfeits all of part of their fare anyway.
Sorry, mherdeg about my typo of PQD.
I just realized (not sure however) this should have been posted in another thread. I searched first but failed in finding related threads. Sorry!
Actually, I never meant to presume I knew everything, but I fervently think that when the interests of customers and company align good things happen for both parties. Often beyond expectations.
And I wonder for whom the "professionals" you cite work. The professionals who have all the data. It seems reasonably to presume they devote their talents solely to their employer, UA's, interests.
UA is a leader in ancillary revenue making billions. They ARE in the business of making money, moving people around is just the means to the end of making money. That's why they have PQD's. They don't want to give you benefits unless you help them make money. The more money you help them make, the more you get in return.
If what Baze says is true UA makes its money on the upfront monetary transaction and their offer to moving people around is merely the resultant service provided. That makes one wonder why there are no PQDs (and the other Premiere qualifying metrics) given if the pax does not fly the leg(s) purchased. It would seem UA's costs go down in those cases, despite the no-show and standby replacement (often for revenue), if the pax forfeits all of part of their fare anyway.
Last edited by DLB; Jan 7, 2015 at 2:28 pm Reason: additional comment
#791
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TW/California
Programs: UA MM, SPG LT Plat,
Posts: 238
Last year, i took 3 trip from Taiwan to Europe on Eva/Swiss. I credited them to my MP account because I want to retain my 1K status. The only options from UA were to connect through US, i.e. TPE-SFO-FRA, which is kind of cool if you are on a mileage fun, but not if you only have limited time to get there and back.
By the way, I have a question. Does UA get any benefit at all if I fly other Star Alliance carriers, but credit my miles to Mileage Plus? The ticket is not purchased as a 016 ticket.
#792
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,769
The operating carrier crediting to MP does need to purchase those miles from UA -- so there is a some revenue to UA in that case.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jan 7, 2015 at 1:03 am Reason: rephrased
#793
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,418
#794
#795
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 205
In my opinion, it's because there may not be good flight options if you are outside US, so they don't want you to walk away from UA altogether
Last year, i took 3 trip from Taiwan to Europe on Eva/Swiss. I credited them to my MP account because I want to retain my 1K status. The only options from UA were to connect through US, i.e. TPE-SFO-FRA, which is kind of cool if you are on a mileage fun, but not if you only have limited time to get there and back.
By the way, I have a question. Does UA get any benefit at all if I fly other Star Alliance carriers, but credit my miles to Mileage Plus? The ticket is not purchased as a 016 ticket.
Last year, i took 3 trip from Taiwan to Europe on Eva/Swiss. I credited them to my MP account because I want to retain my 1K status. The only options from UA were to connect through US, i.e. TPE-SFO-FRA, which is kind of cool if you are on a mileage fun, but not if you only have limited time to get there and back.
By the way, I have a question. Does UA get any benefit at all if I fly other Star Alliance carriers, but credit my miles to Mileage Plus? The ticket is not purchased as a 016 ticket.