Jan 3, 2014, 6:04 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
MM roll call thread: UA Million Miler/Multi-Million Miler Roll Call Thread
UA offers a way to earn status based on accumulative (lifetime) flight.
You can earn (the old fashioned way, same thresholds) higher status, but with MMers status, you will never fall below the MMer status level.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I get a "permanent / lifetime" card?
No, you get an annual card, as everyone else does. It will have an MM insignia. A permanent card would not make sense because you may earn a higher status than your MMer status.
Do I need to do anything to maintain MMer status? Recent flights? 4 segments? some PQMs or PQDs
No, you need to do nothing.
Will 2MM flyers receive 2 RPUs annually?
Yes: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/21007782-post85.html :
Will 3MM flyers receive 6 GPUs annually?
Yes. See above.
Since a 3MM flyer is also a 2MM flyer, will 3MM flyers also receive 2 RPUs annually?
According to an email exchange on 1/15/2014 with 1Kvoice as a 3MM LT 1K one should see 6 GPUs and 2 RPUs by end of January if one didn't fly the miles last year. Those xPUs in fact deposited 1/16/2014.
Pre-merger United 1MM flyers were promised two Confirmed Regional upgrades per year. Were they grandfathered into two RPUs per year?
No. And a class action suit claiming this was a breach of contract with pre-merger MM members was denied by a court, so this issue appears to be closed. For more: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...judgmt-ua.html
Pre-merger United 2MM flyers were promised a Red Carpet Club lounge membership for life. Will they be grandfathered into a lifetime United Club membership?
Yes, but they need to call the MileagePlus service center.
I was close to 2MM status before January 1, 2012, and was on a pace to reach 2MM BIS before January 1, 2013. Should I have received a lifetime membership?
Some have. Call the MileagePlus service center.
2 and 3 Million Miler Gift
Changed to RDM bonus in 2020
If I have Million Mile or Beyond status, do I have to fly 4 segments annually on UA/UX metal to keep my status?
Presently, no, for your earned MM status, nothing more is needed. However, if you want a higher elite status than one your Million Mile or Beyond status gives you, then you have to fly the 4 segments and credit to them to M+.
If I have Million Mile or Beyond status, do I have to earn PQDs to keep my status?
Presently, no, for your earned MM status, nothing more is needed. However, if you want a higher elite status than one your Million Mile or Beyond status gives you, then you have to earn the required PQDs for that status. Your Million Mile and Beyond status do not give you a jump start on PQDs, PQMs, or PQSes toward a higher elite status.
Million Mile Program FAQs
Terms and conditions for MileagePlus Million Miler companion benefit
FT thread: Million Miler companion benefit
Frequently Made Points (2012)
UA offers a way to earn status based on accumulative (lifetime) flight.
Lifetime Premier status
The Million Miler program grants lifetime Premier status to all qualifying members, even if they fly less in the future. Lifetime miles are earned based on the flight distance of United- and United Express®-operated flights. Basic Economy tickets do not earn lifetime flight miles.
(How are "lifetime miles" calculated for MileagePlus?)
Here are the status benefits of the Million Miler program:
The Million Miler program grants lifetime Premier status to all qualifying members, even if they fly less in the future. Lifetime miles are earned based on the flight distance of United- and United Express®-operated flights. Basic Economy tickets do not earn lifetime flight miles.
(How are "lifetime miles" calculated for MileagePlus?)
Here are the status benefits of the Million Miler program:
You can earn (the old fashioned way, same thresholds) higher status, but with MMers status, you will never fall below the MMer status level.
Annual companion Premier status
As a Million Miler, you may invite your spouse or significant other to share your current Premier status. This membership is nontransferable and will automatically renew each year unless you let us know otherwise.
See companion eligibility terms and conditions at the bottom of this page for more details.
To select or review your companion or to change your companion for the next calendar year, visit united.com/MMcompanion.
As a Million Miler, you may invite your spouse or significant other to share your current Premier status. This membership is nontransferable and will automatically renew each year unless you let us know otherwise.
See companion eligibility terms and conditions at the bottom of this page for more details.
To select or review your companion or to change your companion for the next calendar year, visit united.com/MMcompanion.
Do I get a "permanent / lifetime" card?
No, you get an annual card, as everyone else does. It will have an MM insignia. A permanent card would not make sense because you may earn a higher status than your MMer status.
Do I need to do anything to maintain MMer status? Recent flights? 4 segments? some PQMs or PQDs
No, you need to do nothing.
Will 2MM flyers receive 2 RPUs annually?
Yes: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/21007782-post85.html :
Yes. See above.
Since a 3MM flyer is also a 2MM flyer, will 3MM flyers also receive 2 RPUs annually?
According to an email exchange on 1/15/2014 with 1Kvoice as a 3MM LT 1K one should see 6 GPUs and 2 RPUs by end of January if one didn't fly the miles last year. Those xPUs in fact deposited 1/16/2014.
Pre-merger United 1MM flyers were promised two Confirmed Regional upgrades per year. Were they grandfathered into two RPUs per year?
No. And a class action suit claiming this was a breach of contract with pre-merger MM members was denied by a court, so this issue appears to be closed. For more: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...judgmt-ua.html
Pre-merger United 2MM flyers were promised a Red Carpet Club lounge membership for life. Will they be grandfathered into a lifetime United Club membership?
Yes, but they need to call the MileagePlus service center.
I was close to 2MM status before January 1, 2012, and was on a pace to reach 2MM BIS before January 1, 2013. Should I have received a lifetime membership?
Some have. Call the MileagePlus service center.
2 and 3 Million Miler Gift
Changed to RDM bonus in 2020
If I have Million Mile or Beyond status, do I have to fly 4 segments annually on UA/UX metal to keep my status?
Presently, no, for your earned MM status, nothing more is needed. However, if you want a higher elite status than one your Million Mile or Beyond status gives you, then you have to fly the 4 segments and credit to them to M+.
If I have Million Mile or Beyond status, do I have to earn PQDs to keep my status?
Presently, no, for your earned MM status, nothing more is needed. However, if you want a higher elite status than one your Million Mile or Beyond status gives you, then you have to earn the required PQDs for that status. Your Million Mile and Beyond status do not give you a jump start on PQDs, PQMs, or PQSes toward a higher elite status.
Million Mile Program FAQs
Terms and conditions for MileagePlus Million Miler companion benefit
FT thread: Million Miler companion benefit
Frequently Made Points (2012)
- Many lifetime CO elites made gains with the new program:
- Lifetime silvers become lifetime golds
- Infinite elites became lifetime 1Ks
- Many lifetime UA elites made gains with the new program:
- The one-time adjustment to recalculate lifetime miles to be equal to lifetime PQM boosted most lifetime totals, and many people were elevated to the first or next tier of the MM program.
- The companion program benefited most elites.
- The addition of lifetime platinum to existing 2MMer grandfathered lifetime United Club membership was a benefit for all pre-existing 2MMers.
- The replacement of lifetime United Club with platinum was a benefit for those people between 1MM and 2MM lifetime miles who valued a higher upgrade priority.
- For people at or aiming toward 4MM, the introduction of lifetime GS at 4MM
- Leather luggage tags
- Many lifetime CO elites had losses with the new program:
- Moving forward, PQMs do not count toward lifetime status.
- Many lifetime UA elites had losses with the new program:
- For 1MM and 2MM elites, the loss of 100% RDM bonus (reduced to 50% and 75% respectively)
- For 1MM elites, the loss of two annual CR-1s (nka RPUs)
- For people over 1MM but not "close enough" to 2MM, the loss of the opportunity to get lifetime United Club membership.
- The loss of one-time gifts of extra SWUs (nka GPUs)
- The inflation of membership numbers negating the significance of flying an actual one million BIS miles on UA metal, i.e. "Million Mile Flyers"
MileagePlus Million Mile (and Beyond) Flyer Benefits
Oct 24, 2019, 10:59 pm
#451
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 5,000
What is the Argument for UA to Maintain Lifetime Benefits?
I've been thinking about this carefully and can really find no reasons, based on everything that I am seeing with the new solely revenue-based reward scheme, for UA to maintain the free benefits for "lifetime" members without some future spend requirement or a reduction in PlusPoints, E+ benefits, free baggage allowances, etc. provided to the MM population.
1. Everything that corporate is publicly stating, and what their new program criteria are indicating, is that they really only care about revenue. Indeed, it seems like they want all foreign members to fly only on partners, based on the better PQP earning opportunities there.
2. If the above is true, why do bis miles matter to anyone at UA anymore? It truly is rewarding past behavior. One could argue that it is aspirational, but with the program being constantly devalued over the last few years, who here has confidence that they won't erode lifetime benefits as well? Remember, this is all about decreasing the costs of the MP program. What better way to decrease costs than to cut legacy benefits, which only make it cheaper for people to fly by bestowing valuable perks without any spend requirement.
3. I can see no downside to UA cutting MM benefits because those who will make spend anyway don't care. MM benefits only matter to people that are going to spend less than the qualifying milestones in the future-i.e. those who are going to fly less than they are now.
Fire Away!
1. Everything that corporate is publicly stating, and what their new program criteria are indicating, is that they really only care about revenue. Indeed, it seems like they want all foreign members to fly only on partners, based on the better PQP earning opportunities there.
2. If the above is true, why do bis miles matter to anyone at UA anymore? It truly is rewarding past behavior. One could argue that it is aspirational, but with the program being constantly devalued over the last few years, who here has confidence that they won't erode lifetime benefits as well? Remember, this is all about decreasing the costs of the MP program. What better way to decrease costs than to cut legacy benefits, which only make it cheaper for people to fly by bestowing valuable perks without any spend requirement.
3. I can see no downside to UA cutting MM benefits because those who will make spend anyway don't care. MM benefits only matter to people that are going to spend less than the qualifying milestones in the future-i.e. those who are going to fly less than they are now.
Fire Away!
Last edited by zombietooth; Oct 24, 2019 at 11:13 pm
Oct 24, 2019, 11:22 pm
#452
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: United, American, Delta, Hyatt, Hilton, Hertz, Marriott
Posts: 14,805
I've been thinking about this carefully and can really find no reasons, based on everything that I am seeing with the new solely revenue-based reward scheme, for UA to maintain the free benefits for "lifetime" members without some future spend requirement or a reduction in PlusPoints, E+ benefits, free baggage allowances, etc. provided to the MM population.
1. Everything that corporate is publicly stating, and what their new program criteria are indicating, is that they really only care about revenue. Indeed, it seems like they want all foreign members to fly only on partners, based on the better PQP earning opportunities there.
2. If the above is true, why do bis miles matter to anyone at UA anymore? It truly is rewarding legacy behavior. One could argue that it is aspirational, but with the program being constantly devalued over the last few years, who here has confidence that they won't erode lifetime benefits as well? Remember, this is all about decreasing the costs of the MP program. What better way to decrease costs than to cut legacy benefits, which only make it cheaper for people to fly by bestowing valuable perks without any spend requirement.
3. I can see no downside to UA cutting MM benefits because those who will make spend anyway don't care. MM benefits only matter to people that are going to spend less than the qualifying milestones in the future-i.e. those who are going to fly less than they are now.
Fire Away!
1. Everything that corporate is publicly stating, and what their new program criteria are indicating, is that they really only care about revenue. Indeed, it seems like they want all foreign members to fly only on partners, based on the better PQP earning opportunities there.
2. If the above is true, why do bis miles matter to anyone at UA anymore? It truly is rewarding legacy behavior. One could argue that it is aspirational, but with the program being constantly devalued over the last few years, who here has confidence that they won't erode lifetime benefits as well? Remember, this is all about decreasing the costs of the MP program. What better way to decrease costs than to cut legacy benefits, which only make it cheaper for people to fly by bestowing valuable perks without any spend requirement.
3. I can see no downside to UA cutting MM benefits because those who will make spend anyway don't care. MM benefits only matter to people that are going to spend less than the qualifying milestones in the future-i.e. those who are going to fly less than they are now.
Fire Away!
The changes to the program make status harder to get for many people, probably most people. It rewards spend over BIS behavior and for that likely small percentage of flyers who chase status, it should modify their behavior, up to and including walking away entirely. If the aggregate affect is to reduce things like mileage run behavior, it should decrease the number of people marching towards MM status.
There is a way that United can serve its short term goals with the MM program. I think the best way to do it wouldn’t be to raise the mileage threshold. Instead, United should say, if you want Gold for life, it’s 1,000,000 plus ten years of Gold or higher—something similar for Platinum and 1K.
I don’t think United needs to do anything with the MM program. The changes to the MP program is all they need to make MM more expensive—and likely longer—to earn.
Oct 24, 2019, 11:32 pm
#453
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
Lifetime status programs are aspirational. Yearly status is transactional. It's always been this way; the only thing that the new system has done is call that into sharp relief.
The cost of granting status to someone who doesn't fly is near zero. There's no particular reason to cut the lifetime program. I don't see them retuning it toward years of status in the program, either, because the tiers just don't work out. 1MM = 20 years of Gold (assume 50K BIS yearly). 2MM = 27 years of Platinum. 3 MM = 30 years of 1K. And 4MM = ?? years of GS.
A million miles sounds like an achievement. 20 years of Gold status sounds like a slog. It's just not great marketing.
Oct 25, 2019, 12:20 am
#454
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 5,000
I think that all mileage-based FF programs were based on a false premise; that loyalty to their airline, as measured by miles flown, generated more profit over the long term.
What they didn't count on was that, in a non-revenue-based system, there were lots of ways to game mileage earning, while spending very little, and thereby earning outsize benefits compared to one's actual financial contribution to the airline.
Now that they've made the step away from miles flown as a proxy for potential profit, I think that the bis mileage-rewarding lifetime status programs are archaic and no longer useful in terms of driving more revenue to UA.
We shall see what the future holds.
What they didn't count on was that, in a non-revenue-based system, there were lots of ways to game mileage earning, while spending very little, and thereby earning outsize benefits compared to one's actual financial contribution to the airline.
Now that they've made the step away from miles flown as a proxy for potential profit, I think that the bis mileage-rewarding lifetime status programs are archaic and no longer useful in terms of driving more revenue to UA.
We shall see what the future holds.
Last edited by zombietooth; Oct 25, 2019 at 1:03 am
Oct 25, 2019, 12:54 am
#455
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: UA LT GS | UA LT Club | Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 1,250
The MM program is the sole remaining incentive for the jettisoned 1Ks to stick around and tolerate silver/gold status for the next 5-10 years, in exchange for MM status down the road.
If UA was smart, it would aggressively market a 3Y freeze on MM status requirements to get folks to stop worrying about future changes.
Oct 25, 2019, 9:19 am
#457
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: UA GS ,QF Plat
Posts: 686
I think that all mileage-based FF programs were based on a false premise; that loyalty to their airline, as measured by miles flown, generated more profit over the long term.
What they didn't count on was that, in a non-revenue-based system, there were lots of ways to game mileage earning, while spending very little, and thereby earning outsize benefits compared to one's actual financial contribution to the airline.
Now that they've made the step away from miles flown as a proxy for potential profit, I think that the bis mileage-rewarding lifetime status programs are archaic and no longer useful in terms of driving more revenue to UA.
We shall see what the future holds.
What they didn't count on was that, in a non-revenue-based system, there were lots of ways to game mileage earning, while spending very little, and thereby earning outsize benefits compared to one's actual financial contribution to the airline.
Now that they've made the step away from miles flown as a proxy for potential profit, I think that the bis mileage-rewarding lifetime status programs are archaic and no longer useful in terms of driving more revenue to UA.
We shall see what the future holds.
Last edited by wanderingkev; Oct 25, 2019 at 9:29 am
Oct 25, 2019, 9:27 am
#458
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SEA/YVR/BLI
Programs: UA "Lifetime" Gold, AS MVPG100K, OW Emerald, HH Lifetime Diamond, IC Plat, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 9,490
I've been thinking about this carefully and can really find no reasons, based on everything that I am seeing with the new solely revenue-based reward scheme, for UA to maintain the free benefits for "lifetime" members without some future spend requirement or a reduction in PlusPoints, E+ benefits, free baggage allowances, etc. provided to the MM population...
Oct 25, 2019, 9:38 am
#459
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: CLE
Programs: UA GS+LT UC, AA EXP+LT PLT, Fairmont LT PLT, Marriott PLT, Hilton DIA, Hyatt Glob, Avis CHM
Posts: 4,671
United has failed to live up to promises for lifetime Silver Wings, lifetime club members, and lifetime MM in the past. No other airline has been this deceptive to lifetime members.
It's not a question of if, it's a question of when they will pull the rug out from under their current generous MM program.
It's not a question of if, it's a question of when they will pull the rug out from under their current generous MM program.
Oct 25, 2019, 1:17 pm
#460
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 94
Being at 0.85 million miles I actively try to fly United whenever I can chose - just to reach 1 million miles. Without the million miler program I would have diversified away from United for flights above the 1K/GS threshold.
Oct 25, 2019, 1:29 pm
#461
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: UA LT GS | UA LT Club | Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 1,250
If they ever tampered with the MM program, they would be discarding this safety net, and I would cost them millions in revenue and potentially billions from their $23 billion market cap.
Oct 25, 2019, 7:53 pm
#462
Join Date: Oct 2009
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton ♦ , Hyatt Carbonado, Wyndham ♦, Marriott PE, "Stinking Bum" elsewhere.
Posts: 5,000
And there are hundreds of thousands of UA FFs doing the exact same thing. It's a safety net for UA. They can wildly devalue the program in other areas and folks will still stay for the same reason as you.
If they ever tampered with the MM program, they would be discarding this safety net, and I would cost them millions in revenue and potentially billions from their $23 billion market cap.
If they ever tampered with the MM program, they would be discarding this safety net, and I would cost them millions in revenue and potentially billions from their $23 billion market cap.
I also don't think that UA will suffer at all if they end the program. Flights are full and domestic F is mostly being sold for cash. Annual earned status will likely be enough to motivate repeat business from the international J flyers.
Domestically, I've been doing some flying in paid F on other carriers lately (in cases where the flights are more direct or cheaper than UA) and the service and comfort is pretty much the same. My flight experience on AA or DL is not diminished because I am not an "elite" in their programs. Being an "elite" only matters if you're flying in Y, and then you get a very small chance at an upgrade, an E+ seat (the most valuable benefit), some free food, and a, "Thanks for being a 1K", pat on the back.
Last edited by zombietooth; Oct 25, 2019 at 8:18 pm
Oct 26, 2019, 1:56 am
#463
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,417
For one thing, they’ve already tampered with it, multiple times, and significantly. (1MM used to get RPUs; 2MM used to get lifetime UC access).
For another thing, you’re vastly, vastly overestimating the number of people who think about their Million Miler status or will ever be in position to reach it.
Oct 26, 2019, 3:18 am
#464
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Frozen in Carbonite
Programs: UA Aluminum 0.6MM, Bonvoy Life Sentence, Hyatt Eliteist, AA Super Plutonium
Posts: 2,878
This is pure, unadulterated fantasy.
For one thing, they’ve already tampered with it, multiple times, and significantly. (1MM used to get RPUs; 2MM used to get lifetime UC access).
For another thing, you’re vastly, vastly overestimating the number of people who think about their Million Miler status or will ever be in position to reach it.
For one thing, they’ve already tampered with it, multiple times, and significantly. (1MM used to get RPUs; 2MM used to get lifetime UC access).
For another thing, you’re vastly, vastly overestimating the number of people who think about their Million Miler status or will ever be in position to reach it.
I used to care. I don’t anymore. I have no fantasies that this program will give me any substantial incremental benefits for my lifetime. I’m not even convinced lifetime status will exist by the time I hit 1MM miles
The airlines know they can engage in cartel like behavior and people will still fly them. Look at all of the major US airlines in the last 10 years and it’s clearly obvious that it’s a race to the bottom. The programs have been gutted all around. Sure, they give you miles for the illusion that you’re getting something substantially valuable in return...yet they constantly debase this “currency” - and each time they do it - those miles become progressively less valuable. The latest move by United is a prime example of that. Many flights have moved to the penny-a-point redemption level...and it will continue. I can see the days will quickly be gone where I can redeem a hundred thousand miles for a $5,000+ flight, even on partners, which I’ve done many times in the past.
The FF game was fun and really valuable 10 years ago. Today it’s a joke.
Oct 26, 2019, 11:02 am
#465
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,423
Domestically, I've been doing some flying in paid F on other carriers lately (in cases where the flights are more direct or cheaper than UA) and the service and comfort is pretty much the same. My flight experience on AA or DL is not diminished because I am not an "elite" in their programs. Being an "elite" only matters if you're flying in Y, and then you get a very small chance at an upgrade, an E+ seat (the most valuable benefit), some free food, and a, "Thanks for being a 1K", pat on the back.