PQD Psychology at work.. United won...
Feb 7, 14, 4:01 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: EAU
Programs: UA 1K, CO Plat, NW Plat, Marriott Premiere Plat, SPG Plat, Priority Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,700
PQD Psychology at work.. United won...
A few times this year (after I narrowly avoided fleeing to DL) I've been booking airfare and noticed the flights I want are "expensive". And I find myself thinking, "Well, at least it will count towards PQD!"
Has anyone else noticed this? It's really taken the sting off that $500 ERJ hop to podunk USA, or the extra hundred or two to get a better routing or timing.
In general I'm less mad and more inclined to book uneconomical airfares since it pads my PQD total.
The worst part is, I'm pretty sure I don't really even need the padding!
Has anyone else noticed this? It's really taken the sting off that $500 ERJ hop to podunk USA, or the extra hundred or two to get a better routing or timing.
In general I'm less mad and more inclined to book uneconomical airfares since it pads my PQD total.
The worst part is, I'm pretty sure I don't really even need the padding!
Feb 7, 14, 4:53 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: YVR SFO EOF
Programs: UA 1K, VX S
Posts: 4,864
Yup, I do the same. I came in just short of my necessary PQDs last year, so I'm willing to pay a small premium this year for better times/dates. I'm mostly ok with this. I suspect there will be fewer "why the hell did I book that terrible redeye?" instances this year. 
Feb 7, 14, 5:08 pm
#4
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: SFO
Posts: 310
Yes, this is definitely happening to me, though in a different way. Since I forecast that I'm on the borderline of $10K spend, I'm still booking as normal for now, and will see where I am in Oct/Nov, when I may need to intentionally buying higher fares.
However, where I used to wait and scour for cheapo K/G/N fares, I find myself spending less time searching and just booking whatever is available fitting my schedule and best CPU chances.
However, where I used to wait and scour for cheapo K/G/N fares, I find myself spending less time searching and just booking whatever is available fitting my schedule and best CPU chances.
Feb 7, 14, 5:15 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: CLE
Programs: UA 1K MM, DL Plat
Posts: 980
Unless you're in the minority of folks who were WAY off the $10k spend for 1K benefits in the past, I'm not sure why PQD would do anything but annoy you... It's not like there's a PQD "race" in the same way that there's a mileage race.
Miles have at least some intrinsic value. UA may devalue them, but at least for now, their value is still >0. PQDs have NO intrinsic value.
Ergo, for every $1 over $10,000 that you paid to get to 1K, you're essentially throwing money down the toilet. UA has told you what the value of 1K is. Why willingly pay any more than you absolutely have to? I'm surprised the race isn't to engineer your spend to finish the year as close to $10,001 PQD as possible!
Miles have at least some intrinsic value. UA may devalue them, but at least for now, their value is still >0. PQDs have NO intrinsic value.
Ergo, for every $1 over $10,000 that you paid to get to 1K, you're essentially throwing money down the toilet. UA has told you what the value of 1K is. Why willingly pay any more than you absolutely have to? I'm surprised the race isn't to engineer your spend to finish the year as close to $10,001 PQD as possible!
Feb 7, 14, 5:42 pm
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Pasadena, California
Programs: UA 1K, 1MM
Posts: 10,238
Same for me. Whereas I used to look for the lowest fare for work travel -- and Travel doesn't really care, so long as I don't try to book myself into Y, B, M or something like -- I'm trying to factor (higher) spend into the equation. I used to request odd itineraries purely to up my EQMs; now I'm doing the same, but trying to increase the PQD, too (without getting ridiculous).
I'll see where I stand at the end of 2014. I'm projecting that I'll drop from gold to silver. If my PQD spend is just too far off the mark this year, I may not make it such a priority in years to come. I didn't like this change, and it's because I suspect I'm going to be one of the casualties.
I'll see where I stand at the end of 2014. I'm projecting that I'll drop from gold to silver. If my PQD spend is just too far off the mark this year, I may not make it such a priority in years to come. I didn't like this change, and it's because I suspect I'm going to be one of the casualties.
Feb 7, 14, 6:17 pm
#10
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.032MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CWC Au-197; CCC Elite; WoH Dis
Posts: 51,300
Originally Posted by jasonp622
i definately have waited a few extra days to book some work travel.
Originally Posted by iapetus
I'm trying to factor (higher) spend into the equation. I used to request odd itineraries purely to up my EQMs; now I'm doing the same, but trying to increase the PQD, too (without getting ridiculous).
Feb 7, 14, 6:21 pm
#11
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Southern CT & Phoenix, AZ
Programs: UA Premier Gold, Hyatt Plat, Hilton Silver, Marriott Gold
Posts: 237
No way - not worth it
I'm not justifying paying more to get PQD's - that is insane.
I have ZERO PQD's so far this year and am putting as much as possible on my Chase card to qualify for the exemption.
Made PLAT to boot based on the "free" status upgrade offered one day after I dropped down to Gold.
I have ZERO PQD's so far this year and am putting as much as possible on my Chase card to qualify for the exemption.
Made PLAT to boot based on the "free" status upgrade offered one day after I dropped down to Gold.
Feb 7, 14, 6:23 pm
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Northern Calif./Eastern Ida.
Programs: Amethyst Premier Plutonium Medallion
Posts: 19,556
Originally Posted by raehl311
A few times this year (after I narrowly avoided fleeing to DL) I've been booking airfare and noticed the flights I want are "expensive". And I find myself thinking, "Well, at least it will count towards PQD!"
Has anyone else noticed this? It's really taken the sting off that $500 ERJ hop to podunk USA, or the extra hundred or two to get a better routing or timing.
In general I'm less mad and more inclined to book uneconomical airfares since it pads my PQD total.
The worst part is, I'm pretty sure I don't really even need the padding!
Has anyone else noticed this? It's really taken the sting off that $500 ERJ hop to podunk USA, or the extra hundred or two to get a better routing or timing.
In general I'm less mad and more inclined to book uneconomical airfares since it pads my PQD total.
The worst part is, I'm pretty sure I don't really even need the padding!
Feb 7, 14, 6:56 pm
#14
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Taipei, Taiwan
Programs: UA 1MM, SPG Gold, EVA Diamond
Posts: 1,072
In the same boat as a few people on this thread. I make monthly trips to BKK and would easily qualify for PQD if I could fly all UA metal... I was happy to fly other *A airlines but it's just too much of a hassle for me to mix match airlines within one itinerary to get enough PQD so I'm trying out the EXP challenge with AA so I can switch to fly CX.... Not something I wanted to do but since I hit 1MM, very little incentive to stick around... Never thought this day would come as UA has always treated me well.
Feb 7, 14, 6:56 pm
#15
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: Free checked in bag on UA & DL. Free icecream at Marriott checkin.
Posts: 2,811
Originally Posted by mahasamatman
I wonder when employers will start firing people for defrauding them.
I cannot get myself to book another ERJ/CRJ flight with UA for a host of reasons and this PQD is the last straw.
Flying DEN-YYZ on AC last week was an eye opener compared to all the years of flying crappy UA CRJs. No way am I going to spend more than the bare minimum on UA.
