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
Aug 30, 2019, 1:13 pm
#1216
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,410
Yes, it limits many. Short stage lengths (such that you qualify on segments) are very expensive by comparison, hence your experience. If you instead went to HKG for $398 r/t you could be getting nearly 14,000 PQM for 300 PQD, which would give a very different picture.
Aug 30, 2019, 1:15 pm
#1217
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Pasadena, California
Programs: UA 1K, 1MM
Posts: 10,412
As for me, I project to re-qualify pretty easily based on PQD; I'll need to figure out some way to pick up another ~12K PQM. About half my PQMs and PQDs come from TATLs.
Aug 30, 2019, 1:27 pm
#1218
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 6,349
BTW, what is UA's reasoning to waive PQD requirements for non-USA addresses?
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Aug 31, 2019 at 11:40 am Reason: split post
Aug 30, 2019, 8:26 pm
#1219
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Melbourne MEL Calgary YYC
Programs: UA1K, QF Plat, *A & Marriot Gold, OW Emerald, Hyatt Hertz PC CanPass Nexus APEC Global Entry
Posts: 468
might be BS but sounded good
Aug 30, 2019, 8:47 pm
#1220
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: 66,850
Common story but does not work for 1K, where there is no credit card waiver but there is still a non-USA address waiver.
Aug 31, 2019, 1:05 am
#1221
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,453
It's quite easy to reach 100,000 PQM on less than half of the $15k PQD required for 1K (some do it for as little or $2 or $3k). So, yes, the PQD requirement is for many a major limiting factor.
Aug 31, 2019, 7:14 am
#1222
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,501
Limiting factor? Depends on whether the spend is your own money or other people's money
Aug 31, 2019, 12:37 pm
#1223
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,402
I'm at 70K PQM and $7K PQD. Yes, it is definitely a limiting factor; doubly so if you fly partner airlines on tickets you buy directly from them. Those tickets accrue PQM but no PQD.
Aug 31, 2019, 4:55 pm
#1224
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,218
Did not think I was going to make 1K for 2020 but as I was only going to be short $1,000 decided to splurge. Not certain I will do the same for 2021 - will depend on my GPU success rate. So far 6/9 with 3 applied for flights in November....we'll see.
Aug 31, 2019, 5:44 pm
#1225
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,884
I am at OQM of $118,000 and PQD of $11,000. I am doing a PQD run in November to make 1K for the $1,000 I need to qualify as 1K.
Did not think I was going to make 1K for 2020 but as I was only going to be short $1,000 decided to splurge. Not certain I will do the same for 2021 - will depend on my GPU success rate. So far 6/9 with 3 applied for flights in November....we'll see.
Did not think I was going to make 1K for 2020 but as I was only going to be short $1,000 decided to splurge. Not certain I will do the same for 2021 - will depend on my GPU success rate. So far 6/9 with 3 applied for flights in November....we'll see.
Aug 31, 2019, 5:49 pm
#1226
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,218
Yes those stats are my current stats to show you can exceed PQM of 100,000 but be no where close on PQD. I was forecast to end year with PQD of $14,000 hence the PQD run of $1,000. Will end with PQM of 140,000.
Aug 31, 2019, 7:06 pm
#1227
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
As a data point for this year, I am tracking towards around 150,000 PQM and $15,000 PQD total for the year (far far away from a GS renewal). Mostly S, W, V fare classes on domestic routes, with one cheap TPAC in there on K fares.
Aug 31, 2019, 10:23 pm
#1228
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Pasadena, California
Programs: UA 1K, 1MM
Posts: 10,412
I have no idea how things will play out for those of who manage to re-qualify for 1K next year. I can't imagine that it would be relatively worse ... but my guess is that most of us who get there won't notice a big difference.
Nov 14, 2019, 12:45 am
#1229
Join Date: Sep 2019
Posts: 42
I know E+ seat purchases are supposed to earn PQD. Is that true for award tickets (XN) as well?