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MileagePlus Premier Qualifying Dollar (PQD) Requirement Discussion Thread

Old Jan 1, 2014, 6:30 am
FlyerTalk Forums Expert How-Tos and Guides
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.
  • 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.
    will not count toward PQD.
  • 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)?
  • 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?
FMP (Frequently Made Points)
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.
Related Threads
Moderator's note:

Previous thread can be found here:


MileagePlus Premier Qualifying Dollar (PQD) Requirement Discussion [ARCHIVE]

iluv2fly
Moderator, UA
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MileagePlus Premier Qualifying Dollar (PQD) Requirement Discussion Thread

Old Dec 24, 2018, 7:25 pm
  #1201  
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Originally Posted by Kleinnaf
when does the PQD waiver from chase reset?
my Mother is $600 PQD short and chase waiver is showing i need to spend another 3k which is no problem i just want to know when will it post on UAs end?
Chase UA PQD Waiver Q&A: when updated, calendar year, cancellation,.. [Consoldiated]
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Old Jan 31, 2019, 8:23 am
  #1202  
 
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Any rumors or mumbling of United allowing earnings on partner PQDs? Really frustrating this is one policy they decided not to copy from their competition.
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Old Feb 6, 2019, 11:17 am
  #1203  
 
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United PQD on SAS flights

Are United Premium Qualifying Dollars (PQD) earned on any SAS intercontinental (US - Europe) flights? I have noticed that United now gives no PQD on SAS flights. Any wisdom on this from flyers?
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Old Feb 6, 2019, 11:22 am
  #1204  
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You only earn PQD on tickets that are issued by United. If you buy an SK flight on United ticket stock, you will accrue PQD. Otherwise you will not. That has been the rule since Day 1.

And SK does not allow UA to ticket SK's discount TATL fares, so that is not going to happen.
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Old Feb 6, 2019, 12:41 pm
  #1205  
 
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Originally Posted by Kacee
You only earn PQD on tickets that are issued by United.
... or operated by United (even if issued by another airline).
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Old Feb 6, 2019, 1:47 pm
  #1206  
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Originally Posted by Arctifox
... or operated by United (even if issued by another airline).
Yes, thank you, not directly relevant to OP's question but a good clarification.
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Old Feb 15, 2019, 5:13 pm
  #1207  
 
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Will United ever grant EQD based on a percentage of miles flown on * Alliance partner flights like American/Delta? I know they have never done so, but thoughts about the future?
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Old Feb 15, 2019, 5:34 pm
  #1208  
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Originally Posted by hoangtri1
Will United ever grant EQD based on a percentage of miles flown on * Alliance partner flights like American/Delta? I know they have never done so, but thoughts about the future?
unlikely. They have decided to not do this and apparently data supports it so far. Don't see any change coming here any time soon.
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Old Feb 15, 2019, 6:51 pm
  #1209  
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They're probably concerned about losing way too much business to *A partners. Neither DL nor AA has nearly so many attractive partner options to fly.
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Old Feb 15, 2019, 10:36 pm
  #1210  
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Originally Posted by Kacee
They're probably concerned about losing way too much business to *A partners. Neither DL nor AA has nearly so many attractive partner options to fly.
The question is whether or not they'll lose way too much business to DL and AA. So far, apparently not, but here's hoping.
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Old Feb 15, 2019, 10:44 pm
  #1211  
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Originally Posted by Kacee
They're probably concerned about losing way too much business to *A partners. Neither DL nor AA has nearly so many attractive partner options to fly.
AA has some great partners to fly, CX and JAL are good examples. DL, on the other hand, is somewhat of a train wreck, but KE can work in a pinch.

What's interesting with AA is their multiplier for some partners is higher than their own metal - for example, flying PY on CX results in more earned spend credit than flying PY on AA.
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Old Feb 15, 2019, 10:54 pm
  #1212  
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Originally Posted by bocastephen
What's interesting with AA is their multiplier for some partners is higher than their own metal - for example, flying PY on CX results in more earned spend credit than flying PY on AA.
Huh? EQDs on AA-marketed flights are based on the ticket cost, like PQDs on UA-operated flights.

That said, it's no secret that it's often far cheaper to accrue EQDs/MQDs by flying partner airlines, especially on premium cabin sale fares.
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Old Feb 15, 2019, 11:08 pm
  #1213  
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Originally Posted by jsloan
Huh? EQDs on AA-marketed flights are based on the ticket cost, like PQDs on UA-operated flights.

That said, it's no secret that it's often far cheaper to accrue EQDs/MQDs by flying partner airlines, especially on premium cabin sale fares.
That's what I meant - you can earn more AA EQD/MQD by flying on some partners in a PY or higher fare...while at UA, we get nothing on partners except PQM/RDM....however AA does not waive earning for foreign residents, so that is something to keep in mind.
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Old Aug 30, 2019, 12:57 pm
  #1214  
 
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Serious question: what is the purpose of the PQD requirement? Is PQD really the limiting factor for anyone's status requirement? I just hit silver in segments (and almost miles), but I am already just $400 short of the gold PQD requirement.
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Old Aug 30, 2019, 1:01 pm
  #1215  
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Originally Posted by llbad
Serious question: what is the purpose of the PQD requirement? Is PQD really the limiting factor for anyone's status requirement? I just hit silver in segments (and almost miles), but I am already just $400 short of the gold PQD requirement.
UA copied/copies what DL does.

David
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