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 2, 2015 | 8:38 am
#16
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 537
GS to 1K. Dropped significantly in revenue spent after moving to Dallas from SF bay area. Now going to have pretty random projects so don't think I am going to get status at all this year...
Going from SPG ambassador and United GS to likely nothing next year...
Going from SPG ambassador and United GS to likely nothing next year...
Feb 2, 2015 | 8:42 am
#17
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: DCA, ex-IAH
Programs: nada
Posts: 1,368
Gold to tin/bronze/etc...or whatever the credit card bag and boarding should be named.
Ended up with 30-40k EQM but dollars were something like 1k since a large chuck of miles were on a single AC TPAC trip.
Also in the mix was that due to the burn rate changes I had a bit of redemption in premium cabins on partners that took place during the year.
I just flew AA this weekend and will continue to ramp down flying plus kayak from here out as 99% of my travel is personal. I can't see flying more than 10k on UA this year.
Ended up with 30-40k EQM but dollars were something like 1k since a large chuck of miles were on a single AC TPAC trip.
Also in the mix was that due to the burn rate changes I had a bit of redemption in premium cabins on partners that took place during the year.
I just flew AA this weekend and will continue to ramp down flying plus kayak from here out as 99% of my travel is personal. I can't see flying more than 10k on UA this year.
Feb 2, 2015 | 8:43 am
#18
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 3,540
1K to nothing back to silver probably ending at gold. Travel pattern changed significantly in 2014 and realizing I'd need over $12k in personally funded tickets to requalify for 1K didn't make sense.
I've already qualified for silver and will probably hit gold by PQM with a PQD waiver. No real incentive to hit platinum but it seems that whatever itinerary I'm looking at UA or *A is coming close to being the cheapest so who knows.
I've already qualified for silver and will probably hit gold by PQM with a PQD waiver. No real incentive to hit platinum but it seems that whatever itinerary I'm looking at UA or *A is coming close to being the cheapest so who knows.
Feb 2, 2015 | 8:50 am
#19
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: SJC/PIT
Programs: AA EXP, AS 75K, TK Elite
Posts: 519
1K to nothing. Switched to DL/AA due to lack of reliability and MP devaluation. I still fly UA occasionally for short positioning flights to EWR/IAD/ORD, but they will be credited to the status-matched TK account from now on.
ETA per request from mkr: I guess the buggest gripe was IRROPS handling rather than IRROPS themselves. I had my share of delays in the last couple of weeks on DL but they were more than happy to switch me to US/AA/UA (ironically) to make the inconvenience minimum (and gave me ORC without me asking). In terms of awards, I kind of miss no surcharge redemption at UA but I now transfer Amex, Chase or SPG points to whatever *A program that works the best rather than committing to UA. AA has the best award chart for now and doesn't collect surcharge on CX or JL to Asia, which is my main destination for awards.
ETA per request from mkr: I guess the buggest gripe was IRROPS handling rather than IRROPS themselves. I had my share of delays in the last couple of weeks on DL but they were more than happy to switch me to US/AA/UA (ironically) to make the inconvenience minimum (and gave me ORC without me asking). In terms of awards, I kind of miss no surcharge redemption at UA but I now transfer Amex, Chase or SPG points to whatever *A program that works the best rather than committing to UA. AA has the best award chart for now and doesn't collect surcharge on CX or JL to Asia, which is my main destination for awards.
Last edited by MtRoot; Feb 27, 2015 at 8:20 pm
Feb 2, 2015 | 8:57 am
#21
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Programs: OWEmerald; STARGold; BonvoyPlat; IHGPlat/Amb; HiltonGold; A|ClubPat; AirMilesPlat
Posts: 38,190
1K for another year (fifth or sixth year as such after moving most of my STAR flights to UA/MP from AC/AE). Didn't expect to go for more than Plat but a $650 fare to SIN tipped me to go for the top again (and collect the GPUs and RPUs to recoup the additional spend). Not likely to go for 1K for 2016 though with all the changes...will at least get Gold, possibly Plat...but certainly not 1K.
Dissatisfaction began after the merger and the sudden drop in CPUs. Then came the sense that GSs were all that mattered to UA and 1K was clumped with the other STARGold tiers. This included the loss of many unpublished 1K benefits, service desk/agents, etc. Not residing in the US, I escaped the Spend requirement for status. However, the final straw was adopting RDM accumulation based on actual fare. I pay for my own flights and don't have a corporate backer (work-related projects must be funded too), W fares are too rich for my budget and don't always ensure sitting in business, not to mention RDMs are important for major trips on other STAR carriers in premium cabins. (That's what the end game really is about.) So while I could easily continue flying UA and making 1K, I began the transition 2-1/2 years ago with the AA status match offer and have enjoyed AA and ExecPlat ever since.) My west coast flying will move from UA to AS and I will take advantage of that airline's status match to MVP75K this year and see how much I fly to keep that status for next year.
Already at 42K PQMs with UA, so Gold is in sight. By the end of the summer will be at 84K EQMs with AA. So a lot of flying on AA and AS not booked yet for the 3rd and 4th quarters can be channeled into the AS account. Though will likely have a bit of domestic Canadian flying this year too. Not sure if I'll put these AC flights into MP or reactivate my AC/AE account.
It will remain to be seen what major changes AA brings to its merged program, so come 2016 can't say what my strategy will be. Only consolation is that I'm coming to the end of my flying days...at least heavy duty flying. End game is MM/lifetime elite status in both OW and STAR. Having come to US airlines rather late in the game (my marbles were with CP and AC for a couple of decades), i've a ways to go at about 700K each in MP and AA.
Dissatisfaction began after the merger and the sudden drop in CPUs. Then came the sense that GSs were all that mattered to UA and 1K was clumped with the other STARGold tiers. This included the loss of many unpublished 1K benefits, service desk/agents, etc. Not residing in the US, I escaped the Spend requirement for status. However, the final straw was adopting RDM accumulation based on actual fare. I pay for my own flights and don't have a corporate backer (work-related projects must be funded too), W fares are too rich for my budget and don't always ensure sitting in business, not to mention RDMs are important for major trips on other STAR carriers in premium cabins. (That's what the end game really is about.) So while I could easily continue flying UA and making 1K, I began the transition 2-1/2 years ago with the AA status match offer and have enjoyed AA and ExecPlat ever since.) My west coast flying will move from UA to AS and I will take advantage of that airline's status match to MVP75K this year and see how much I fly to keep that status for next year.
Already at 42K PQMs with UA, so Gold is in sight. By the end of the summer will be at 84K EQMs with AA. So a lot of flying on AA and AS not booked yet for the 3rd and 4th quarters can be channeled into the AS account. Though will likely have a bit of domestic Canadian flying this year too. Not sure if I'll put these AC flights into MP or reactivate my AC/AE account.
It will remain to be seen what major changes AA brings to its merged program, so come 2016 can't say what my strategy will be. Only consolation is that I'm coming to the end of my flying days...at least heavy duty flying. End game is MM/lifetime elite status in both OW and STAR. Having come to US airlines rather late in the game (my marbles were with CP and AC for a couple of decades), i've a ways to go at about 700K each in MP and AA.
Last edited by Shareholder; Feb 19, 2015 at 10:52 pm
Feb 2, 2015 | 9:10 am
#24
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: DSM
Programs: UA 1K MM, AA EP 250K, DL PL 750K, HH Dia, Marriott Gld, Natl Ex
Posts: 794
Kept 1K with similar travel patterns and spend. All domestic, last-minute, segment flyer. Workload was increased so did take extra segments with Delta.
Feb 2, 2015 | 9:15 am
#26
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: PDX/HIO
Programs: AS MVPG; Hertz Pres
Posts: 380
1K to Plat. Corporate travel decreased in 1st half of 2014, picked up later but not enough to hit $10k PQD so I deferred a few trips to 2015. I also matched over to AS. Flying out of PDX, AS's schedule seems to be getting better and better vs UA, and of course no PQD or $-based RDM on AS.
Last edited by nookanaya; Feb 15, 2015 at 3:47 pm Reason: Expanded reasons for status drop, removed 2016 plan
Feb 2, 2015 | 9:19 am
#27
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Philadelphia, PA USA
Programs: CO Silver, HHonors Gold, Marriott Silver
Posts: 983
1. Silver to nothing (except I still do have a Chase PresPlus card - need to decide what I'm doing with that).
2. I didn't try to requalify this year for a few reasons.
- Silver is practically worthless since most of the benefits you get with a credit card (priority boarding, free luggage), so instead of trying to always fly United I flew other carriers for some of my trips. The new mileage earning scheme doesn't really help me much, either.
- Living nearer to Philly, with US merging with AA, there were fewer convenient, affordable options locally.
- Family and job changes left me with less free time to travel.
3. Made the decision by mid-year to not chase status so it wasn't that important anymore.
2. I didn't try to requalify this year for a few reasons.
- Silver is practically worthless since most of the benefits you get with a credit card (priority boarding, free luggage), so instead of trying to always fly United I flew other carriers for some of my trips. The new mileage earning scheme doesn't really help me much, either.
- Living nearer to Philly, with US merging with AA, there were fewer convenient, affordable options locally.
- Family and job changes left me with less free time to travel.
3. Made the decision by mid-year to not chase status so it wasn't that important anymore.
Last edited by cmdinnyc; Feb 19, 2015 at 8:51 am Reason: Add more insight
Feb 2, 2015 | 9:36 am
#28
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 6,079
1. kept 1K
2. New company policy lowers the amount of vacation I can save so had to take more vacation. At the same time work travel decreased. That combined with GPU's to burn meant more trips
3. Came a little short on miles at the end of the year, had to do some creative routing
2. New company policy lowers the amount of vacation I can save so had to take more vacation. At the same time work travel decreased. That combined with GPU's to burn meant more trips
3. Came a little short on miles at the end of the year, had to do some creative routing
Feb 2, 2015 | 9:39 am
#29
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: EUG BKK
Programs: Zero Status Nexus
Posts: 432
1K to Plat. Used a few RPUs and GPUs last month to re-qualify for Gold in 2016. May consider Plat again if UA repeats the $1500 USA-Europe deal this summer and IF quality improves. Cant beat the Star award offerings with UA.
Feb 2, 2015 | 9:44 am
#30
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA GS 1MM
Posts: 694
1. Kept 1K status for what will be 6th year.
2. Flew as I usually do which is to say randomly and just for pleasure but also took 2 international paid J business trips which was new for me. All on UA with the exception for 2 flights on ANA.
3. Was worried about hitting PQD but luckily the new job and J class to SIN and LHR took care of that and should do the same for me this year for 2016.
Overall my experiences were positive this year. No major drama and when problems arose they were taken care of quickly.
I did very much enjoy ANA and the Kir Royales. Their INTL service is much better than UA's
2. Flew as I usually do which is to say randomly and just for pleasure but also took 2 international paid J business trips which was new for me. All on UA with the exception for 2 flights on ANA.
3. Was worried about hitting PQD but luckily the new job and J class to SIN and LHR took care of that and should do the same for me this year for 2016.
Overall my experiences were positive this year. No major drama and when problems arose they were taken care of quickly.
I did very much enjoy ANA and the Kir Royales. Their INTL service is much better than UA's
Last edited by snowed; Feb 16, 2015 at 2:41 pm