Jan 5, 2015, 11:45 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Previous thread -- Presidential Plus Card Changes
Related thread - General Questions re: MileagePlus Flex PQM
This legacy Chase credit card is not taking new applications. Compiled below is a comparison of current card-derived vs. status-derived benefits.
Overall, the current benefits of the PP and the replacement Club card are nearly identical. The key trade-off is increased redeemable mile (RDM) earnings with the Club card vs. FPQM with the PP card. Basically, the Club card earns an incremental 0.5 RDM / $1 vs. the PP card’s 0.2 PQM / $1. This sets a 2.5 RDM : $1 PQM ratio, which puts a price on PQMs earned this way at $0.025 to $0.050. Given that PQMs cost atleast $0.08 or more each if purchased early in the year via award accelerator, this is a pretty good deal for those who anticipate falling short of the upcoming year’s desired Silver / Gold / Platinum threshold.
Benefits unique to the PP card:
- 1000 FPQM per $5,000 spend (or 0.2 / $1)
- FPQMs are only valid for Premier Silver / Gold / Platinum status, expire 3 years after earning
- 1 RDM / $1 card spend (x2 hotel & rental cars for personal card, x2 restaurants, gas, office supplies for business card)
- Premier Qualifying Dollar (PQD) waiver (no minimum card spend, doesn’t apply to 1K)
Benefits unique to the Club card:
- 1.5 RDM / $1 card spend
- PQD waiver (with $25,000 minimum card spend, doesn’t apply to 1K)
Benefits shared between PP and Club cards:
- $395 annual fee
- United club membership (vs. $450 1K/GS, $500 Platinum, $550 Gold, $550 Silver, $550 GM, +$550 with spouse)
-Waiver of 4 segment on United flights for Premier qualification (removed in 2020)
- Premier Access (group 2 boarding)
- 2 free checked bags (vs. 1 Silver, 2 Gold, 3 Platinum)
- Hyatt Gold Passport Platinum
- Hertz Hertz President's Circle status (vs. Five Star for Premier Silver / Gold) (expiring 31 January 2023)
- CPU on award tickets
- No <21 day award booking fees (vs. $50 Silver, $25 Gold, $0 Platinum)
- No foreign transaction fees
- Concierge service
Benefits compared to Explorer card:
- only $95 annual fee
- only 1 free bag for cardholder and 1 companion
- 1 RDM / $1 card spend, +10,000 bonus after $25,000 card spend)
- 2 single-use club passes
- Premier Access (group 2 boarding)
- Premier Qualifying Dollar waiver (with $25,000 minimum card spend)
Sources (accessed Jan 1, 2015):
Chase United Card Benefits
https://www.chase.com/online/Credit-...ewards-new.htm
United Premier Status Benefits
http://www.united.com/web/en-US/cont...r/default.aspx
United Premier Status Qualification Requirements
Premier status qualification requirements
Prior FlyerTalk thread on Presidential Plus card changes
Presidential Plus Card Changes
Based on post by pstrasma
Related thread - General Questions re: MileagePlus Flex PQM
This legacy Chase credit card is not taking new applications. Compiled below is a comparison of current card-derived vs. status-derived benefits.
Overall, the current benefits of the PP and the replacement Club card are nearly identical. The key trade-off is increased redeemable mile (RDM) earnings with the Club card vs. FPQM with the PP card. Basically, the Club card earns an incremental 0.5 RDM / $1 vs. the PP card’s 0.2 PQM / $1. This sets a 2.5 RDM : $1 PQM ratio, which puts a price on PQMs earned this way at $0.025 to $0.050. Given that PQMs cost atleast $0.08 or more each if purchased early in the year via award accelerator, this is a pretty good deal for those who anticipate falling short of the upcoming year’s desired Silver / Gold / Platinum threshold.
Benefits unique to the PP card:
- 1000 FPQM per $5,000 spend (or 0.2 / $1)
- FPQMs are only valid for Premier Silver / Gold / Platinum status, expire 3 years after earning
- 1 RDM / $1 card spend (x2 hotel & rental cars for personal card, x2 restaurants, gas, office supplies for business card)
- Premier Qualifying Dollar (PQD) waiver (no minimum card spend, doesn’t apply to 1K)
Benefits unique to the Club card:
- 1.5 RDM / $1 card spend
- PQD waiver (with $25,000 minimum card spend, doesn’t apply to 1K)
Benefits shared between PP and Club cards:
- $395 annual fee
- United club membership (vs. $450 1K/GS, $500 Platinum, $550 Gold, $550 Silver, $550 GM, +$550 with spouse)
-
- Premier Access (group 2 boarding)
- 2 free checked bags (vs. 1 Silver, 2 Gold, 3 Platinum)
- Hyatt Gold Passport Platinum
- Hertz Hertz President's Circle status (vs. Five Star for Premier Silver / Gold) (expiring 31 January 2023)
- CPU on award tickets
- No <21 day award booking fees (vs. $50 Silver, $25 Gold, $0 Platinum)
- No foreign transaction fees
- Concierge service
Benefits compared to Explorer card:
- only $95 annual fee
- only 1 free bag for cardholder and 1 companion
- 1 RDM / $1 card spend, +10,000 bonus after $25,000 card spend)
- 2 single-use club passes
- Premier Access (group 2 boarding)
- Premier Qualifying Dollar waiver (with $25,000 minimum card spend)
Sources (accessed Jan 1, 2015):
Chase United Card Benefits
https://www.chase.com/online/Credit-...ewards-new.htm
United Premier Status Benefits
http://www.united.com/web/en-US/cont...r/default.aspx
United Premier Status Qualification Requirements
Premier status qualification requirements
Prior FlyerTalk thread on Presidential Plus card changes
Presidential Plus Card Changes
Based on post by pstrasma
PresidentialPlus credit card - Benefits, Q&A, .... (impact of 2019 & 2020 MP changes)
Mar 9, 2017, 7:45 pm
#466
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DCA
Programs: UA LT 1K, AA EXP, Bonvoy LT Titan, Avis PC, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,658
American Express Plat card give Hilton Gold (3rd Tier) so I thought the Chase PP card would give 3rd Tier on new Hyatt program.
Mar 9, 2017, 8:44 pm
#467
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: 66,834
American Express Plat card give Hilton Gold (3rd Tier) so I thought the Chase PP card would give 3rd Tier on new Hyatt program.
Apr 5, 2017, 10:50 pm
#468
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: CAK/CLE
Programs: UA Plat/AA,DL Dirt/HH Diamond,Hyatt Something-ist/Hz Prez,Avis Pres Club
Posts: 674
In other news, my annual fee just posted; still $375 just as it has been since Continental. Not a bad deal compared to the $450 for the Club card or $500+ for Club membership on its own. I still wonder when the $375 will finally end and they increase the fee, or if they ever will.
Apr 6, 2017, 12:37 am
#469
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: 66,834
... In other news, my annual fee just posted; still $375 just as it has been since Continental. Not a bad deal compared to the $450 for the Club card or $500+ for Club membership on its own. I still wonder when the $375 will finally end and they increase the fee, or if they ever will.
Apr 6, 2017, 5:16 pm
#470
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Preferably waiting for takeoff
Programs: AA EXP, MVPG, DL Silver, United Silver, Accor Platinum, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 458
Apr 6, 2017, 5:20 pm
#471
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: 66,834
Apr 8, 2017, 11:41 pm
#472
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: CAK/CLE
Programs: UA Plat/AA,DL Dirt/HH Diamond,Hyatt Something-ist/Hz Prez,Avis Pres Club
Posts: 674
Interesting to see is if the Presidential Plus card itself lives forever or at least for a long time. Do we know how many holders of it there may be? There must be enough for them to bother continuing to produce new cards as replacements, maintain the info online, etc. and deal with the Flex PQMs for it to be worth their while. If they are willing to keep the annual fee at $375 and keep the Presidential Plus benefits like Flex PQMs grandfathered for a long time, I'm in good shape.
Apr 9, 2017, 2:32 am
#473
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA 1K, AA Lifetime Platinum, DL Platinum, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 7,969
What I don't understand is why they find it worthwhile to maintain the PP card, but not to continue to offer it to new cardholders. I know of several people that would be very interested in getting one. And, the reason is not to prevent upsetting the most loyal BIS passengers, as PP flex miles can't be used to get above Platinum. And, for the very reason why those of us that keep it and want but don't have it, the allure of Flex PQMs is very effective at driving spend to the card.
Apr 9, 2017, 6:27 am
#474
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: CLE
Programs: UA MileagePlus Premier Platinum
Posts: 1,355
What I don't understand is why they find it worthwhile to maintain the PP card, but not to continue to offer it to new cardholders. I know of several people that would be very interested in getting one. And, the reason is not to prevent upsetting the most loyal BIS passengers, as PP flex miles can't be used to get above Platinum. And, for the very reason why those of us that keep it and want but don't have it, the allure of Flex PQMs is very effective at driving spend to the card.
Apr 9, 2017, 8:41 am
#475
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: CAK/CLE
Programs: UA Plat/AA,DL Dirt/HH Diamond,Hyatt Something-ist/Hz Prez,Avis Pres Club
Posts: 674
THIS. The Flex PQMs are unique and big. The PQD waiver for just having the card is huge. If they made it only effective if you spent $25,000 a year, it would be manageable but less nice, but if they got rid of the waiver, it would probably kill the card.
Apr 9, 2017, 9:54 am
#476
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,406
f a reason I shouldn't -- particularly after I hit 2mm? Maybe I'm missing something.
Apr 9, 2017, 11:20 am
#477
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: CAK/CLE
Programs: UA Plat/AA,DL Dirt/HH Diamond,Hyatt Something-ist/Hz Prez,Avis Pres Club
Posts: 674
For some of us the "Flex" PQD are pretty much worthless. I can't give them to friends in need and I can't even turn them into RDM. As a 1mm flyer who is a lifetime member of the club I get the card for $100/year. As the FPQM can only be used to get to Platinum, when I hit 2mm (relatively soon) they will be completely worthless. I've been using my Chase Sapphire Reserve since it was introduced and should likely drop this card -- can anyone thing f a reason I shouldn't -- particularly after I hit 2mm? Maybe I'm missing something.
f a reason I shouldn't -- particularly after I hit 2mm? Maybe I'm missing something.
Apr 9, 2017, 11:32 am
#478
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), Hyatt Discoverist(?), Marriott/SPG Gold
Posts: 124
As for not offering new accounts - Chase (and United) have settled into their mix of credit cards. Adding another to the mix increases marketing costs and product portfolio confusion, especially if they already have something at the higher price point (i.e. United Club Card).
Apr 9, 2017, 1:51 pm
#479
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Houston, TX, USA
Programs: UA 1K, AA Lifetime Platinum, DL Platinum, Honors Diamond, Bonvoy Titanium, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 7,969
Grandfathering in people with PP cards keeps people in the Chase family. If you force PP cardholders to change, it opens up consideration for cards from all issuers, not just Chase. Why risk losing someone who's willing to pay a not-insignificant annual fee and generates swipe fees?
As for not offering new accounts - Chase (and United) have settled into their mix of credit cards. Adding another to the mix increases marketing costs and product portfolio confusion, especially if they already have something at the higher price point (i.e. United Club Card).
As for not offering new accounts - Chase (and United) have settled into their mix of credit cards. Adding another to the mix increases marketing costs and product portfolio confusion, especially if they already have something at the higher price point (i.e. United Club Card).
Another thing that seemed odd to me is how they suddenly removed the ability to open new PP memberships, in mid-March a few years ago IIRC, and with no advance notice. It certainly smacked of someone having made a decision that they really didn't want any new cardmembers for this account type. I know several people that would have jumped on the bandwagon if given even 30 days notice that the card was closing to new accountholders.
One theory I have is how it interferes with the concept of PQDs. You can't really have an effective FEQM program without a PQD waiver, so they added the waiver to the PP program when they added PQDs. Maybe they felt that having an advertised card with a PQD waiver was too strong a negative to the PQD program as a whole to justify the benefits of having new PP accounts.
Apr 9, 2017, 3:03 pm
#480
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: 66,834
Another thing that seemed odd to me is how they suddenly removed the ability to open new PP memberships, in mid-March a few years ago IIRC, and with no advance notice. It certainly smacked of someone having made a decision that they really didn't want any new cardmembers for this account type. ...
One theory I have is how it interferes with the concept of PQDs. You can't really have an effective FEQM program without a PQD waiver, so they added the waiver to the PP program when they added PQDs. Maybe they felt that having an advertised card with a PQD waiver was too strong a negative to the PQD program as a whole to justify the benefits of having new PP accounts.
Note at the same time UA/Chase discontinued the purchase PQM earning pmUA cards (which does work for 1Kstatus). So there was a general move from providing EQM/PQMs to other benefits probably of wider interest -- Higher RDM earning, no forex, Club access (which the PP has), ....