Last edit by: mkr
THIS IS A THREAD FOR WHICH ALL MP MEMBERS WILL BE ABLE TO RESPOND ...THANKS.
The goal of the survey is to benefit all of us.
This thread is to ask ALL MileagePlus members who read the MileagePlus Forum to please respond to this
short 3 question survey. It will only take a few minutes..
PLEASE PM YOUR MP FTer FRIENDS TO ASK THEM TO ALSO POST IN THIS SURVEY....THANKS.
This thread is to ask ALL MileagePlus members who read the MileagePlus Forum to please respond to this
short 3 question survey. It will only take a few minutes..
PLEASE PM YOUR MP FTer FRIENDS TO ASK THEM TO ALSO POST IN THIS SURVEY....THANKS.
The 3 questions are in Post #1
WIKI UPDATED FEBRUARY 24 (already over 275 posts)
PLEASE READ THIS WIKI AND POST #1 BEFORE RESPONDING TO THIS SURVEY. THANKS.
WE NEED YOUR INPUT....PLEASE TAKE PART.
IF YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE WHO HAS ALREADY RESPONDED, KINDLY CHECK YOUR POST TO MAKE SURE YOUR REASONS FOR MAINTAINING OR CHANGING YOUR STATUS LEVEL ARE CLEAR IN QUESTION #2. KINDLY EDIT, IF NEEDED. THIS IS TO HELP IN GATHERING OF DATA FOR THE SURVEY, TO BENEFIT US ALL. THANK YOU.
The data will be compiled and posted in this WIKI after approximately each 100 respondants during the year to keep it simple for someone (me) who has trouble figuring out where Boarding Line 1 is

DATA WILL BE UPDATED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE WIKI
UA monitors these threads. They will not release their statistics on MP membership changes, so let us work together to compile our own data.
PURPOSE OF SURVEY
The aim is to get a very large number of data points in the coming weeks/months to see percentages of those who dropped, maintained, or increased in status through their 2014 earnings activity for 2015 status in MP because of many reasons.
The survey asks persons to state their individual reasons for their 2014-15 activity for attaining a certain status level for 2015. The survey will determine in a objective, structured, measurable and efficient way, what were persons' experiences in flying on UA in 2014 in light of various changes in the MileagePlus program or other UA flying experiences that have affected the amount of flying they did on UA in 2014. This MAY have affected their Premier status. Kindly PM your UA FTer friends to ask them to post in this survey. Thanks.
The Feb. 1 changeover date is to include those persons who responded to a "Buy Up" offer in January to maintain their 2014 status.)
IF YOU RESPONDED TO A BUY UP OFFER AFTER FEB.1, PLEASE INDICATE THAT IN YOUR RESPONSE (UA's BUY UP OFFERS EXTENDED UNTIL 2/28.
. (Some persons have other reasons for changing their 2014 flying on UA other than complaints about UA or MileagePlus.... such as the amount of business travel changing).
It will take just a few minutes for you to respond. Data will be updated in this WIKI after every 100 responses. Please read Post #1 before responding to this survey. Thank you.
(There is a separate thread for 2015 in which a brief, 3 question survey is being taken in regards to persons' plans for 2015 for earning 2016 Premier status (and reducing, maintaining, or increasing the amount of your UA flying) in light of the new PQD requirements for 2016 and new policies regarding earning Reward Mileage, or your other unique reasons. Kindly expound on your 2015 plans for 2016 status in that thread. Thanks.)
HERE IS THE LINK TO THAT THREAD:
[2015] Version: What plans do you have in 2015 for earning 2016 Premier status?
DATA
I am working on the data for this thread and will post more information later. So far, I have counted 200 respondants through Post #204 (including those who reported for 2 persons). 46% have dropped in status from 2014 to 2015. 40 % have stayed the same. 14 % increased status.
The most noticable trend so far among FTers who have reported to this thread is that of the (92/200) 46% who reported dropping in status,
(53/92) 58% were 1K in 2014. Of that 58%, 50% dropped to Gold or Below.
Here is the 2015 status breakdown of the 200 persons so far reporting included in the survey statistics : GS 3%, 1K 35%, Platinum 19.5%, Gold 18%, Silver 12%, GM 12.5%.
No GS dropped below 1K. 6 GS dropped, replaced by 3 new ones.
16 Platinums dropped, replaced by 9 new ones. So there was a slight decrease in Platinums...combined with the number of 1Ks who dropped below Platinum, shows a trend of a smaller group that MIGHT eventually show up in the sizes of Boarding Group 1...(if the data from this survey would be interpreted to somehow signal a drop of MP members across the system...We can only speculate on this, as FT is a small percentage of the entire MP population, and not everyone on FT will respond to this thread. OF COURSE THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS THAT AFFECT THE SIZE OF BOARDING GROUP 1 AT TIMES... SUCH AS IRRROPS, SDCs, DEPARTURE CITY, ELITE HEAVY ROUTES, DESTINATION CITY, DAY OF WEEK, TIME OF DAY, etc.)
But it is interesting to see such a drop of 1Ks to be below Platinum who have reported so far in this thread.
************************************************** **************************************
REPEAT: There is a separate thread for 2015 in which a brief, 3 question survey is being taken in regards to persons' plans for 2015 for earning 2016 Premier status in light of the new PQD requirements for 2016 and new policies regarding earning Reward Mileage, or your other unique reasons. Kindly expound on your 2015 plans for 2016 status in that thread. Thanks.)
HERE IS THE LINK TO THAT THREAD:
[2015] Version: What plans do you have in 2015 for earning 2016 Premier status?
Many posters are providing excellent reasons why their status dropped, stayed the same, or increased from 2014 to 2015.
However, many posters are not providing any reasons.
IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO US ALL if future posters would expound in more detail for their reasons for their status as of the changeover date on Feb. 1, 2015...see examples in Post #1.
Please read Post #1 before posting in this thread. Thank you.
For those who have already posted their status, it will be very helpful to us all for you to go back to edit your posts to expound more clearly to give us all some better insights for your reasons for your status. In particular, for the 46% who dropped status from 2014 to 2015.... It would be very helpful to us all for you to expound on your reasons. This may help to see if any trends are being established (at least among those MP members who choose to post in this Forum... a small sample of all MP members). No significant trends for reasons have yet emerged in the early life of this survey.
It is possible that number is somewhat indicative of all MP members across the UA system, but it is unknown. UA certainly will not share their statistics with us. How representative are those who post in this FT Forum of the entire MP membership?....unknown...we can only speculate.
The more persons who take time to report in this thread, the greater number of data points we will have.
[IS UA's STRATEGY TO THIN THE RANKS OF PREMIERS AND HOPE MORE PERSONS WILL "BUY-UP" their upgrades rather than using CPUs, RPUs, and GPUs ? Or is UA thinking that more persons will now buy higher fares? Hard to know...there has been a lot of speculation in the past in the MileagePlus Forum about these possibilities.]
If these numbers are somewhat indicative of MP members across the UA system, then we ought to begin seeing some indications of this in the size of Boarding Group 1 in the coming weeks and months. If Boarding Group 1 seems to be shrinking, this may indicate a larger drop in 1Ks to Gold or below, and a drop from the ranks of Platinums. (OF COURSE SOME CITIES ARE VERY HEAVY 1Ks and Plats...but be observing...see if you notice any overall shrinking of sizes of Boarding Group 1,)
Most posters so far have been Premier members.
Some posters are providing excellent reasons why their status dropped, stayed the same, or increased.
However, many posters are not providing any reasons.
AGAIN...IT WOULD BE VERY HELPFUL TO US ALL if future posters would expound in more detail for the reasons for their status...see examples in Post #1. This will help to identify if any trends for reasons are emerging.
Thanks. I will update WIKI at some appropriate point when more data becomes available in the future.
[Survey]: From 2014-15 Did your MP Status Increase, Decrease, or remain the same?
#182
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: AA 1.6MM EXP; UA GS; SPG LTG,Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,477
2013 Plt (status match through company from AA) - > 2014 Plt (BIS) -> 2015 1k (BIS)
FWIW: also maintained EXP 2013-2015. Will do so again this year, but not sure about 1k.
Reason = more flying. Over 200k BIS last year. Mostly TATL, some TPAC and maybe 50k domestic. Clearly not enough premium to warrant GS (ended up with ~30kPQD) - not sure how far off I was from GS.
FWIW: also maintained EXP 2013-2015. Will do so again this year, but not sure about 1k.
Reason = more flying. Over 200k BIS last year. Mostly TATL, some TPAC and maybe 50k domestic. Clearly not enough premium to warrant GS (ended up with ~30kPQD) - not sure how far off I was from GS.
#183


Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Lisboa
Posts: 651
Dropped from Gold in 2014 to Silver in 2015.
Main drivers: I travel to Dallas frequently, and with the expiration of the Wright Amendment restrictions, it is just a lot easier to fly WN non-stop rather than connect in Houston on UA. Also playing the field on international travel rather than remaining exclusive to UA. Maintaining status on UA just not as beneficial to me as it once was.
Main drivers: I travel to Dallas frequently, and with the expiration of the Wright Amendment restrictions, it is just a lot easier to fly WN non-stop rather than connect in Houston on UA. Also playing the field on international travel rather than remaining exclusive to UA. Maintaining status on UA just not as beneficial to me as it once was.
#184

Join Date: May 2012
Location: Houston, TX
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 3
2012 1K
2013 1K
2014 1K
2015 Platinum
Last year, I made over $10K PQD and over 100K PQM with the help of some Presidential Plus PQMs but told by United that was only good to Platinum. I am quite disappointed and will move on this year to other airlines. Just because I fly United, my whole family flies United. My total spend on United is much more.
I think I can do better with buying whatever cheaper tickets available including cheap business class tickets than buying W and waiting for upgrades to clear.
2013 1K
2014 1K
2015 Platinum
Last year, I made over $10K PQD and over 100K PQM with the help of some Presidential Plus PQMs but told by United that was only good to Platinum. I am quite disappointed and will move on this year to other airlines. Just because I fly United, my whole family flies United. My total spend on United is much more.
I think I can do better with buying whatever cheaper tickets available including cheap business class tickets than buying W and waiting for upgrades to clear.
#185




Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: BOS<>NYC<>BKK
Programs: UA 4.6MM LT-GS; AA1MM; Amtrak SE; MAR LT TITAN; PC Plat; HIL DIA; DL GLD, HYA GLOB
Posts: 4,917
GS, 4th year in a row. 1K prior eight years.
I consistently spend >$50K on premium class international tickets. Last year I hit 3MM.
I consistently spend >$50K on premium class international tickets. Last year I hit 3MM.
#187




Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Midwest
Programs: UA GS, UA 1.8MM, AA LT PLT, AA 2.6MM, Intercontinental Royal Ambassador
Posts: 839
(1) Stayed the same GS > GS
(2) 2013 GS >2014 GS >2015 GS
(3) N/A
(4) I think GS is the best domestic program between UA, DAL and AA so I have kept it for three years and now entering my fourth year.
(2) 2013 GS >2014 GS >2015 GS
(3) N/A
(4) I think GS is the best domestic program between UA, DAL and AA so I have kept it for three years and now entering my fourth year.
#188
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: DFW
Programs: AA PLT
Posts: 487
Dropped from 2014 Silver to 2015 GM.
I've been Gold or Silver with CO/UA for 10 years, but was fed up with ERJs on 1000+ mile flights, fewer and fewer upgrades, and poor service. That, combined with a move to the DFW area, made the switch to AA pretty easy.
I've been Gold or Silver with CO/UA for 10 years, but was fed up with ERJs on 1000+ mile flights, fewer and fewer upgrades, and poor service. That, combined with a move to the DFW area, made the switch to AA pretty easy.
#190
Original Poster
Suspended
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Just outside Big D, or many other places in big metal tubes
Programs: WN Rpd.Rwrds, AA, was longtime CO very top Elite tier, Overentitled UA Lifetime 1K (since 2012)
Posts: 1,334
#191
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: LAS ORD
Programs: AA Pro (mostly B6) OZ♦ (flying BR/UA), BA Silver Hyatt LT, Wynn Black, Cosmo Plat, Mlife Noir
Posts: 5,992
1/2/3) 2013 1K > 2014 Plat > 2015 GM
Note that I would have requalified for 1K for 2014, but switched remaining flights for the year to BA/AA in 11/2013 as I was fed up with UA and my new BA membership year had already started anyway.
4) - significant irrops / poor irrops recovery
- UA network advantage became irrelevant because of above
- complete lack of response from 1KVoice on several issues, including 2 involving paid F TATLs
- continued devaluation of MP program
- perception of continued gutting of UA generally, which I felt would continue (and did)
5) None.
Note that I would have requalified for 1K for 2014, but switched remaining flights for the year to BA/AA in 11/2013 as I was fed up with UA and my new BA membership year had already started anyway.
4) - significant irrops / poor irrops recovery
- UA network advantage became irrelevant because of above
- complete lack of response from 1KVoice on several issues, including 2 involving paid F TATLs
- continued devaluation of MP program
- perception of continued gutting of UA generally, which I felt would continue (and did)
5) None.
#192


Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: BWI
Programs: UA 1MM & 1K, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 256
Despite all the changes going on with UA, I'll stick with them as the route network works quite well for the places I want/need to go, although, I'll admit losing US to AA is quite a blow to some of my domestic leisure travel as they fly to many destinations UA does not and generally has excellent fares out of BWI.
#195




Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: SNA
Programs: UA 1MM, Global Entry, Avis President's Club
Posts: 276
2012 - 1K
2013 - 1K
2014 - 1K
2015 - Plat
Severe reduction in flying for work. Only made Plat due to CC waiver and use PPlus FEQM. Without that, I would have dropped to Gold.
2013 - 1K
2014 - 1K
2015 - Plat
Severe reduction in flying for work. Only made Plat due to CC waiver and use PPlus FEQM. Without that, I would have dropped to Gold.



