Feb 5, 2015, 5:25 am
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?
Feb 15, 2015 | 11:16 am
#256
Used to be 'IAD22066'
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: IAD
Programs: UA 1K AA
Posts: 282
1. GS -> 1K
2. 2013 1K -> 2014 GS -> 1K
3. 2014 GS to 2015 1K (don't understand how this is different from question 2)
4. The reason I didn't re-earn GS was that I didn't do nearly as much international travel. Corporate policy allows BusinessFirst for international travel but not many international trips this year. UA has been great for my international trips. I just need to do more international projects and will likely do several trips this year.
5. Again, we were lucky not to have any situations occur in Asia this year. Also, during the past year, my wife and I earned a lot of miles. When we took trips together, I usually purchased the ticket with miles while she used the cash (so she got the miles).
2. 2013 1K -> 2014 GS -> 1K
3. 2014 GS to 2015 1K (don't understand how this is different from question 2)
4. The reason I didn't re-earn GS was that I didn't do nearly as much international travel. Corporate policy allows BusinessFirst for international travel but not many international trips this year. UA has been great for my international trips. I just need to do more international projects and will likely do several trips this year.
5. Again, we were lucky not to have any situations occur in Asia this year. Also, during the past year, my wife and I earned a lot of miles. When we took trips together, I usually purchased the ticket with miles while she used the cash (so she got the miles).
Feb 15, 2015 | 11:32 am
#257
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Rock Island, IL
Programs: UA 1K (1MM), HHonors Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 377
1. 1K -> 1K
2. 1K -> 1K -> 1K
3. 1K -> 1K
5. Several trips cancelled due to weather in the beginning of 2014 which resulted in barely making 1K. Had to do a mileage run for 2500 miles. Flew from Moline to LGA and back in the same day in November. Did not have problem getting PQD. With the difficulty of flying out of Moline (lots of cancellations) thought about a status match to AA or DL.
2. 1K -> 1K -> 1K
3. 1K -> 1K
5. Several trips cancelled due to weather in the beginning of 2014 which resulted in barely making 1K. Had to do a mileage run for 2500 miles. Flew from Moline to LGA and back in the same day in November. Did not have problem getting PQD. With the difficulty of flying out of Moline (lots of cancellations) thought about a status match to AA or DL.
Feb 15, 2015 | 10:58 pm
#258
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: United 1MM
Posts: 322
(1) Gold -> 1K.
(2) 2013 Gold -> 2014 Gold
(3) 2014 Gold -> 2015 1K
(4) Had two family events to fly back to the US for, in addition to two longhaul work RTs, a return leg of another AU-US RT carried to the start of 2014, and some travel within Europe (LX and SK) and within the US. Barely made 1K. Living in Australia, I didn't have a PQD requirement, but my UA profile did show $7700 PQDs and I had a trip from MEL to Europe on SQ that did not earn PQDs. If that were counted, I would be close to the 10K PQD mark.
(5) None.
(2) 2013 Gold -> 2014 Gold
(3) 2014 Gold -> 2015 1K
(4) Had two family events to fly back to the US for, in addition to two longhaul work RTs, a return leg of another AU-US RT carried to the start of 2014, and some travel within Europe (LX and SK) and within the US. Barely made 1K. Living in Australia, I didn't have a PQD requirement, but my UA profile did show $7700 PQDs and I had a trip from MEL to Europe on SQ that did not earn PQDs. If that were counted, I would be close to the 10K PQD mark.
(5) None.
Feb 15, 2015 | 11:08 pm
#259
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Cupertino,CA, USA
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 51
(1) If your status remained the same from 2014 to 2015 (What is your status?)
Remained the same. 1K.
(2) Did the status you earned from 2013 for 2014 change from 2014 to 2015? (may indicate trends)
Remained the same. 1K.
(3) What was your change from 2014 to 2015 in MP Premier status at the time right after the Feb. 1, 2015 changeover date?
Remained the same. 1K.
(4) What were the reasons your status changed, or remained the same on Feb. 1 ?...
Remained the same. 1K. Had to use more MR's to meet the PQD requirements. Also started to focus on reaching the 2MM mark.
(5) Did you have any particular difficulties in maintaining or increasing your 2014 status for 2015?
Had to use more MR's to meet the PQD requirements. Ended up with 180k+ miles flown.
Remained the same. 1K.
(2) Did the status you earned from 2013 for 2014 change from 2014 to 2015? (may indicate trends)
Remained the same. 1K.
(3) What was your change from 2014 to 2015 in MP Premier status at the time right after the Feb. 1, 2015 changeover date?
Remained the same. 1K.
(4) What were the reasons your status changed, or remained the same on Feb. 1 ?...
Remained the same. 1K. Had to use more MR's to meet the PQD requirements. Also started to focus on reaching the 2MM mark.
(5) Did you have any particular difficulties in maintaining or increasing your 2014 status for 2015?
Had to use more MR's to meet the PQD requirements. Ended up with 180k+ miles flown.
Feb 15, 2015 | 11:25 pm
#260
Join Date: May 2003
Location: BOS
Programs: UA 1K, AA Gold (as of June 2015)
Posts: 35
Was Platinum at start of the 2014 program year
Made 1K during 2014 for 2015
Decided to go for 1K with one extra paid premium cabin transatlantic ticket for two reasons: (1) I like going with the underdog. It's part of why I switched to United in March 2012! (2) I would rather my extra spend for sitting up front go toward a W fare (for use with a GPU) and count toward PQD than be "wasted" on an upgrade copay (which doesn't). Yes, I realize my logic is a bit flawed, and that I may have been "played" by United. It was a conscious choice on my part and I think I'm doing alright.
Made 1K during 2014 for 2015
Decided to go for 1K with one extra paid premium cabin transatlantic ticket for two reasons: (1) I like going with the underdog. It's part of why I switched to United in March 2012! (2) I would rather my extra spend for sitting up front go toward a W fare (for use with a GPU) and count toward PQD than be "wasted" on an upgrade copay (which doesn't). Yes, I realize my logic is a bit flawed, and that I may have been "played" by United. It was a conscious choice on my part and I think I'm doing alright.
Feb 16, 2015 | 6:10 am
#263
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
Feb 16, 2015 | 10:45 am
#265
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: San Juan Capistrano, CA
Programs: UA Premier Gold (1MM), AS MVP
Posts: 990
(1) If your status remained the same from 2014 to 2015 (What is your status?)
2014 1K to 2015 Premier Gold (1MM)
(2) Did the status you earned from 2013 for 2014 change from 2014 to 2015?
1K>1K>Gold
(3) What was your change from 2014 to 2015 in MP Premier status at the time right after the Feb. 1, 2015 changeover date?
Dropped to Gold (due to 1MM status - otherwise would have only "earned" Silver)
(4) What were the reasons your status changed, or remained the same on Feb. 1 ?...
From 2012 on, I missed so many CPU and GPU upgrades, I didn't see the point in maintaining status. Flying mostly for work (cheap fares), combined with new RDM rules and award levels, was a second factor, so the two create a downward spiral effect (e.g. one doesn't balance the other)
(5) Did you have any particular difficulties in maintaining or increasing your 2014 status for 2015?
I would not have had I tried harder, but I am choosing to direct to my other program
2014 1K to 2015 Premier Gold (1MM)
(2) Did the status you earned from 2013 for 2014 change from 2014 to 2015?
1K>1K>Gold
(3) What was your change from 2014 to 2015 in MP Premier status at the time right after the Feb. 1, 2015 changeover date?
Dropped to Gold (due to 1MM status - otherwise would have only "earned" Silver)
(4) What were the reasons your status changed, or remained the same on Feb. 1 ?...
From 2012 on, I missed so many CPU and GPU upgrades, I didn't see the point in maintaining status. Flying mostly for work (cheap fares), combined with new RDM rules and award levels, was a second factor, so the two create a downward spiral effect (e.g. one doesn't balance the other)
(5) Did you have any particular difficulties in maintaining or increasing your 2014 status for 2015?
I would not have had I tried harder, but I am choosing to direct to my other program
Feb 16, 2015 | 11:26 am
#267
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 95
(1) Remained the same. 1K.
(2) Remained the same. 1K.
(3) Remained the same. 1K.
(4) More INTL travel to destinations where company allows travel in Business
(5) No difficulties maintaining. 152K PQM, 28K PQD
(2) Remained the same. 1K.
(3) Remained the same. 1K.
(4) More INTL travel to destinations where company allows travel in Business
(5) No difficulties maintaining. 152K PQM, 28K PQD
Feb 16, 2015 | 1:02 pm
#268
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: IND
Programs: UA Million Miler (Lifetime Gold), Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,531
(1) Still gold; have been for several years.
(2) I keep gold only because I have a credit card that gives me 5,000 PQMs for $5,000 spend on united.com.
(3) Made an extra trip near the end of the year to make both PQM and PQD requirements since UA is still my best choice for my flying needs. Doubt I'll make the increased PQD spend to keep gold for 2016 though.
(2) I keep gold only because I have a credit card that gives me 5,000 PQMs for $5,000 spend on united.com.
(3) Made an extra trip near the end of the year to make both PQM and PQD requirements since UA is still my best choice for my flying needs. Doubt I'll make the increased PQD spend to keep gold for 2016 though.
Feb 16, 2015 | 3:41 pm
#269
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Washington DC
Programs: Former 1k, Lifetime UA Gold, Marriott Platinum; Avis Preferred; Hertz Gold
Posts: 1,740
(1) If your status remained the same from 2014 to 2015 (What is your status?)
Remained the same. 1K.
(2) Did the status you earned from 2013 for 2014 change from 2014 to 2015? (may indicate trends)
Remained the same. 1K.
(3) What was your change from 2014 to 2015 in MP Premier status at the time right after the Feb. 1, 2015 changeover date?
Remained the same. 1K.
(4) What were the reasons your status changed, or remained the same on Feb. 1 ?...
Remained the same. 1K.
(5) Did you have any particular difficulties in maintaining or increasing your 2014 status for 2015?
I've never had a problem (or will) meeting the PQD thresholds - unless they go to GS levels. For the first time last year I used elite advantage to buy PQM. Increasingly, however I am flying less with UA and buying PQM. It's February and I'm already at 50k PQM. This allows me to fly less on United (no more MRs) and sample the competition which I'm liking!
Remained the same. 1K.
(2) Did the status you earned from 2013 for 2014 change from 2014 to 2015? (may indicate trends)
Remained the same. 1K.
(3) What was your change from 2014 to 2015 in MP Premier status at the time right after the Feb. 1, 2015 changeover date?
Remained the same. 1K.
(4) What were the reasons your status changed, or remained the same on Feb. 1 ?...
Remained the same. 1K.
(5) Did you have any particular difficulties in maintaining or increasing your 2014 status for 2015?
I've never had a problem (or will) meeting the PQD thresholds - unless they go to GS levels. For the first time last year I used elite advantage to buy PQM. Increasingly, however I am flying less with UA and buying PQM. It's February and I'm already at 50k PQM. This allows me to fly less on United (no more MRs) and sample the competition which I'm liking!
Feb 16, 2015 | 3:51 pm
#270
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: New York, New York, USA
Programs: UA 1K; UA MM
Posts: 54
1. 1K -> 1K
2. 1K -> 1K -> 1K
3. 1K -> 1K
5. Did make a first-ever mileage run to keep 1K status (EWR-DFW-IAH-LGA), mostly to spend time at the Amex Centurion Club at DFW. Didn't have any problem making the spend requirement. As a partner in a small law firm, I pay for the vast bulk of my travel out of my own pocket.
2. 1K -> 1K -> 1K
3. 1K -> 1K
5. Did make a first-ever mileage run to keep 1K status (EWR-DFW-IAH-LGA), mostly to spend time at the Amex Centurion Club at DFW. Didn't have any problem making the spend requirement. As a partner in a small law firm, I pay for the vast bulk of my travel out of my own pocket.