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
Dec 9, 2017, 1:30 pm
#1141
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,386
That's kind of what I'm thinking is the best course of action. Although I may wait until Monday to see if the fare just goes up a little first. I don't have a lot of faith in an agent getting this right.
I did look at booking the new flight as a new one, just to get some of that information. I need to dig more into specific fare codes though I think. I agree it's best to have a plan before calling and that's kind of what I'm struggling with, since I've never really had a situation like this before where UA just wants to refund me.
12/28: ORD-PTY (via IAH) - D fare class
12/31: PTY-ORD (via IAH) - W fare class
I tried selecting a few higher fares (W, V, Q, etc.) in the search and it still just returns the lowest fare class, which is annoying. Does that functionality not work or am I using it wrong?
I want to switch the return to the 1:50 am departure (followed by a nap ), still on 12/31, since I've been offered a very nice NYE opportunity here in Chicago, and my original flight gets in too late on the 31st. I appreciate any additional thoughts you have on this!
I did look at booking the new flight as a new one, just to get some of that information. I need to dig more into specific fare codes though I think. I agree it's best to have a plan before calling and that's kind of what I'm struggling with, since I've never really had a situation like this before where UA just wants to refund me.
12/28: ORD-PTY (via IAH) - D fare class
12/31: PTY-ORD (via IAH) - W fare class
I tried selecting a few higher fares (W, V, Q, etc.) in the search and it still just returns the lowest fare class, which is annoying. Does that functionality not work or am I using it wrong?
I want to switch the return to the 1:50 am departure (followed by a nap
), still on 12/31, since I've been offered a very nice NYE opportunity here in Chicago, and my original flight gets in too late on the 31st. I appreciate any additional thoughts you have on this!Your underlying problem here is that they appear to have added a set of sale fares (in both W and P) for ORD-PTY that are much lower than the prices when you originally booked, including a true P fare at $848 RT and a W fare at $700 RT (vs. T at $752 and S at $772).
I'm hesitant to give more specific instructions without knowing the fare basis (and the original ticketing date, in case the existing fares have been repriced since then). However, I would expect you to have success if you call and say that you'd like to keep the exact same fare basis you're already on -- basically, ask the agent not to reprice. Explain that you were trying to earn some extra miles or had to hit a credit card spending milestone or something (I'm not sure agents will understand PQDs).
The next highest fare class whose lowest fare is definitely more PQDs is probably Q, but, again, that's based on current fares, not necessarily what you paid.
PS: It's also possible that your outbound fare would be repriced if it's gotten cheaper too.
Dec 9, 2017, 1:36 pm
#1142
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,446
This is correct. I've had it waived in that situation though.
Dec 9, 2017, 8:48 pm
#1143
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,404
From what I've read here, it seems like the online upgrade option will count toward PQD. Correct? It looks like that cost is about $180, so I'd net about +160 PQD using that option which isn't bad considering I get into F/J on both trips for those segments. This may actually be the best option if I understand it correctly.
Dec 10, 2017, 5:36 am
#1144
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Platinum/LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,594
Excellent. Thanks to everyone for your help. I learned it's one thing to read the PQD threads, and a totally different one when you're playing around with the PQD rules yourself for the first time! Now I just need to figure out what works best for me.
Dec 10, 2017, 11:31 am
#1145
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Platinum/LT Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 5,594
Just to wrap this up...the price to upgrade my DEN-ORD segment went down today. So I took that upgrade, changed my PTY-ORD flight to the desired flight and it cost me a net of about $320 with the change fee and the $18 ETC. But I'm now in F for 3 segments: DEN-ORD, PTY-IAH, and IAH-ORD (on an INTL 767). Seemed like a pretty good buy up overall. Thanks again to everyone for your help explaining and answering my questions!
Dec 27, 2017, 2:15 pm
#1146
Join Date: Dec 2016
Posts: 578
I have a friend that had booked a flight without status and paid for an e+ seat. However, by the time of the flight, they will be UA silver. Does the payment for the E+ seat still get PQD, or will it be refunded due to having silver?
Dec 27, 2017, 2:37 pm
#1147
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,404
Dec 27, 2017, 2:37 pm
#1148
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,884
Payment for E+ will still count as PQD, though, of course.
Jan 3, 2018, 4:38 pm
#1149
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 643
I'm planning to fly SAN-LAX-IST on UA & TK in J.
Has anyone found any good tips/tricks lately about getting that all plated on 016 stock so as to earn PQD's?
Since the first leg is on UA I'd like to think that there's a way to do this, but as of yet, I haven't had any luck with expedia, hipmunk, etc....
Has anyone found any good tips/tricks lately about getting that all plated on 016 stock so as to earn PQD's?
Since the first leg is on UA I'd like to think that there's a way to do this, but as of yet, I haven't had any luck with expedia, hipmunk, etc....
Jan 3, 2018, 5:02 pm
#1150
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: 66,821
I'm planning to fly SAN-LAX-IST on UA & TK in J.
Has anyone found any good tips/tricks lately about getting that all plated on 016 stock so as to earn PQD's?
Since the first leg is on UA I'd like to think that there's a way to do this, but as of yet, I haven't had any luck with expedia, hipmunk, etc....
Has anyone found any good tips/tricks lately about getting that all plated on 016 stock so as to earn PQD's?
Since the first leg is on UA I'd like to think that there's a way to do this, but as of yet, I haven't had any luck with expedia, hipmunk, etc....
The other OTAs will have to book this on the TATL flight operator ticket stock per IATA rules. You might get a independent TA to use 016 but that would be a risk from them to violate the IATA rule.
Jan 3, 2018, 6:09 pm
#1151
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,404
I'm planning to fly SAN-LAX-IST on UA & TK in J.
Has anyone found any good tips/tricks lately about getting that all plated on 016 stock so as to earn PQD's?
Since the first leg is on UA I'd like to think that there's a way to do this, but as of yet, I haven't had any luck with expedia, hipmunk, etc....
Has anyone found any good tips/tricks lately about getting that all plated on 016 stock so as to earn PQD's?
Since the first leg is on UA I'd like to think that there's a way to do this, but as of yet, I haven't had any luck with expedia, hipmunk, etc....
Feb 9, 2018, 8:43 am
#1152
Join Date: May 2016
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1k
Posts: 312
I booked a quite complicated itinerary online, which somehow was pricing much cheaper on UA.com than otherwise available. I was charged about $2,450, of which $2,285 is airfare, but when I look down to the PQD I see $2,956. What do you think the chances are that I'll get those PQD/miles?
Truth be told, I had to call to get the ticket issued after booking online on UA.com, and web support did say that the underlying pricing fares were a mess, so I wonder if it somehow dropped the YQ by accident when computing how much to charge me? instead of pricing a SFO-Final destination-SFO fare, web support told me it was constructed as:
Truth be told, I had to call to get the ticket issued after booking online on UA.com, and web support did say that the underlying pricing fares were a mess, so I wonder if it somehow dropped the YQ by accident when computing how much to charge me? instead of pricing a SFO-Final destination-SFO fare, web support told me it was constructed as:
- Open-jaw roundtrip (Fare class V): Day 1 SFO-AAA with a stopover in EWR (not just connection bizarrely)
- Day 10 open jaw back BBB-SFO (via EWR, but not with a "stopover")
- One-way (Fare class M): Day 2 (right after landing from TATL flight) AAA-BBB
- Roundtrip (Fare class M): Day 2 BBB-final destination / Day 10 final destination-BBB
- This in spite of none of the layover being more than 2 hours
Feb 10, 2018, 8:57 am
#1153
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,017
I booked a quite complicated itinerary online, which somehow was pricing much cheaper on UA.com than otherwise available. I was charged about $2,450, of which $2,285 is airfare, but when I look down to the PQD I see $2,956. What do you think the chances are that I'll get those PQD/miles?
Truth be told, I had to call to get the ticket issued after booking online on UA.com, and web support did say that the underlying pricing fares were a mess, so I wonder if it somehow dropped the YQ by accident when computing how much to charge me? instead of pricing a SFO-Final destination-SFO fare, web support told me it was constructed as:
Truth be told, I had to call to get the ticket issued after booking online on UA.com, and web support did say that the underlying pricing fares were a mess, so I wonder if it somehow dropped the YQ by accident when computing how much to charge me? instead of pricing a SFO-Final destination-SFO fare, web support told me it was constructed as:
- Open-jaw roundtrip (Fare class V): Day 1 SFO-AAA with a stopover in EWR (not just connection bizarrely)
- Day 10 open jaw back BBB-SFO (via EWR, but not with a "stopover")
- One-way (Fare class M): Day 2 (right after landing from TATL flight) AAA-BBB
- Roundtrip (Fare class M): Day 2 BBB-final destination / Day 10 final destination-BBB
- This in spite of none of the layover being more than 2 hours
Mar 6, 2018, 5:45 am
#1154
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: DL Platinum, AA Lifetime Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum, Radisson Premium
Posts: 6,638
Booked a fare on Chase UR but no idea what my accrual will be as it's not showing up on UA fot com or on app or on future flights. Does this mean it's a bulk fare?
It usually shows that info if it is, but this shows nothing whatsoever for accrual
Mar 6, 2018, 6:06 am
#1155
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 1,060
When this happens to me I call United and if indeed UR's system booked a bulk ticket or too low a class to earn status, I cancel the ticket (within 24 hours)