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 24, 2015 | 5:06 am
#286
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA Platinum, IHG Gold, HHonors Diamond, National Executive Elite
Posts: 186
(1) If your status remained the same from 2014 to 2015 or changed on Feb, 1. 2015 (the status changeover date). (What is your status?)
2014 - Platinum
2015 - Gold
(2) What were the reasons your status changed, or remained the same on Feb. 1 ?... please expound in some detail FOR THE MOST RELEVANT TOP REASONS FOR YOU......
I actually was on track for platinum but then I had a baby in September so I basically didn't fly for 3 months and ended up about 20,000 miles short. Amazing what a little one will do to your willingness to do a run to HKG to re-qualify.
(3) Did you have any particular difficulties in maintaining or increasing your 2014 status for 2015?
My PQD was over $11k and I would expect roughly the same in 2015. I do mostly shorter flights so hitting the mileage mark is the rub for me. Hardest thing for me was finding flights that were not super expensive as on those I have to use the lower cost carrier and split my miles between other airlines since I travel for work.
2014 - Platinum
2015 - Gold
(2) What were the reasons your status changed, or remained the same on Feb. 1 ?... please expound in some detail FOR THE MOST RELEVANT TOP REASONS FOR YOU......
I actually was on track for platinum but then I had a baby in September so I basically didn't fly for 3 months and ended up about 20,000 miles short. Amazing what a little one will do to your willingness to do a run to HKG to re-qualify.
(3) Did you have any particular difficulties in maintaining or increasing your 2014 status for 2015?
My PQD was over $11k and I would expect roughly the same in 2015. I do mostly shorter flights so hitting the mileage mark is the rub for me. Hardest thing for me was finding flights that were not super expensive as on those I have to use the lower cost carrier and split my miles between other airlines since I travel for work.
Feb 24, 2015 | 5:15 am
#287
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Philadelphia, PA, USA
Programs: United 1K (after 15 years GS) 3MM, Marriott LTTitanium
Posts: 560
(1) If your status remained the same from 2014 to 2015 or changed on Feb, 1. 2015 (the status changeover date). (What is your status?)
2013 GS>2014 GS> 2015 1K (with GS challenge which I will meet)
Did the status you earned from 2013 for 2014 change from 2014 to 2015? (may indicate trends)
(2) What were the reasons your status changed, or remained the same on Feb. 1 ?..
no change in 1K req.. not sure why drop from GS same miles, more $
(3) Did you have any particular difficulties in maintaining or increasing your 2014 status for 2015?
Not as 1K
2013 GS>2014 GS> 2015 1K (with GS challenge which I will meet)
Did the status you earned from 2013 for 2014 change from 2014 to 2015? (may indicate trends)
(2) What were the reasons your status changed, or remained the same on Feb. 1 ?..
no change in 1K req.. not sure why drop from GS same miles, more $
(3) Did you have any particular difficulties in maintaining or increasing your 2014 status for 2015?
Not as 1K
Feb 24, 2015 | 7:17 am
#288
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NYC and SFO
Programs: UA 1MM (former 1K, Delta Platinum))
Posts: 1,244
(1) Same 1K status in 2015 as 2014.
(2) In 2014 I realized reasonable value from my 1K status, and with a few international trips I wanted to take, the $10K PQD was within reach. (In 2015 my RPUs and GPUs never clear on my transcon ps service schedule. I'm not seeing any additional value from 1K over Platinum, and $12K is more of a bump.)
(3) I booked W class to Istanbul in order to be eligible to apply GPUs. There was no "apply GPU" button for fare search (as we know), so I manually entered the desired fare classes. This forced me into W class on Turkish Airlines; the letters do not correspond to United fare classes, and this class earns no credit on United. Calling to complain, I was offered some token miles. When I allowed that my primary motivation was to improve the system, they neither improved the system nor actually posted the token miles. Snakes. Luckily, I made 1K again without this flight.
(2) In 2014 I realized reasonable value from my 1K status, and with a few international trips I wanted to take, the $10K PQD was within reach. (In 2015 my RPUs and GPUs never clear on my transcon ps service schedule. I'm not seeing any additional value from 1K over Platinum, and $12K is more of a bump.)
(3) I booked W class to Istanbul in order to be eligible to apply GPUs. There was no "apply GPU" button for fare search (as we know), so I manually entered the desired fare classes. This forced me into W class on Turkish Airlines; the letters do not correspond to United fare classes, and this class earns no credit on United. Calling to complain, I was offered some token miles. When I allowed that my primary motivation was to improve the system, they neither improved the system nor actually posted the token miles. Snakes. Luckily, I made 1K again without this flight.
Feb 24, 2015 | 3:07 pm
#289
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Houston
Programs: United Platinum, Chase Presidential Plus
Posts: 299
(1) If your status remained the same from 2014 to 2015 or changed on Feb, 1. 2015 (the status changeover date). (What is your status?)
2013 S>2014 S> 2015 no status (on 2/1/15)
(2) What were the reasons your status changed, or remained the same on Feb. 1 ?
Deferred transferring elite-qualifying miles until new year, to maximize duration of elite status (Gold from 2/10/15 through 1/31/17).
(3) Did you have any particular difficulties in maintaining or increasing your 2014 status for 2015?
No, this was a choice.
2013 S>2014 S> 2015 no status (on 2/1/15)
(2) What were the reasons your status changed, or remained the same on Feb. 1 ?
Deferred transferring elite-qualifying miles until new year, to maximize duration of elite status (Gold from 2/10/15 through 1/31/17).
(3) Did you have any particular difficulties in maintaining or increasing your 2014 status for 2015?
No, this was a choice.
Feb 27, 2015 | 11:45 am
#290
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,319
1. Same (Gold)
2. Flew required amount of miles and used CC waiver to waive PQD requirement
3. PQD waiver required an effort (making more purchases with the card that I would otherwise make with different card, for a better return).
2. Flew required amount of miles and used CC waiver to waive PQD requirement
3. PQD waiver required an effort (making more purchases with the card that I would otherwise make with different card, for a better return).
Feb 27, 2015 | 1:47 pm
#291
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: ORD
Programs: UA-Gold; 1MM
Posts: 41
(1) If your status remained the same from 2014 to 2015 or changed on Feb, 1. 2015 (the status changeover date). (What is your status?)
2014 - Platinum
2015 - Silver, now Gold because of 1MM in late January. I never really had Silver.
(2) What were the reasons your status changed, or remained the same on Feb. 1 ?... please expound in some detail FOR THE MOST RELEVANT TOP REASONS FOR YOU......
Less flying overall, and far less PQD.
(3) Did you have any particular difficulties in maintaining or increasing your 2014 status for 2015?
Yes, because of a drop in overall travel. Also, even if I hit Gold with annual BIS miles, I'd have been a long way away due to low PQD. Since 1MM was within easy reach by Jan 2015, I'm not that concerned with achieving status any more. I don't see work travel getting me to Plat, 1K, (or 2MM), and Gold works well enough most times.
2014 - Platinum
2015 - Silver, now Gold because of 1MM in late January. I never really had Silver.
(2) What were the reasons your status changed, or remained the same on Feb. 1 ?... please expound in some detail FOR THE MOST RELEVANT TOP REASONS FOR YOU......
Less flying overall, and far less PQD.
(3) Did you have any particular difficulties in maintaining or increasing your 2014 status for 2015?
Yes, because of a drop in overall travel. Also, even if I hit Gold with annual BIS miles, I'd have been a long way away due to low PQD. Since 1MM was within easy reach by Jan 2015, I'm not that concerned with achieving status any more. I don't see work travel getting me to Plat, 1K, (or 2MM), and Gold works well enough most times.
Feb 27, 2015 | 2:10 pm
#292
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: NJ
Programs: UA Gold, Hilton Gold, Marriott Plat,
Posts: 284
(1) If your status remained the same from 2014 to 2015 or changed on Feb, 1. 2015 (the status changeover date). (What is your status?)
2014 - 1K
2015 - Gold
(2) What were the reasons your status changed, or remained the same on Feb. 1 ?... please expound in some detail FOR THE MOST RELEVANT TOP REASONS FOR YOU......
I did the AA challenge in fall 2013 (30k to get ExPlat) and transferred all of my travel to them. I found the value proposition was better for someone who travels primary with my own $, and has very tight business travel budget. I was 1K for 2013/14 and found the GPUs to be most valuable - Used them for travel to NRT, HKG, LHR, MUC and others. I thought the upcharge to a W was reasonable, as I specifically booked flights with R space to clear at booking. When I met the AA ExPlat challenge, I was able to upgrade any fare and saw the light - $750 fares to Asia were game for an SWU on AA, where a W on UA would be close to $1500. This paired with the change to a revenue system did it for me.
(3) Did you have any particular difficulties in maintaining or increasing your 2014 status for 2015?
Not really, I had around $3300 PQD and have Gold because of my Chase CC. I ended with 63k PQM and could have easily attained Plat if I wanted. I only have Gold because I booked a trip to DXB and many to various EU cities on the Widenroe deal.
2014 - 1K
2015 - Gold
(2) What were the reasons your status changed, or remained the same on Feb. 1 ?... please expound in some detail FOR THE MOST RELEVANT TOP REASONS FOR YOU......
I did the AA challenge in fall 2013 (30k to get ExPlat) and transferred all of my travel to them. I found the value proposition was better for someone who travels primary with my own $, and has very tight business travel budget. I was 1K for 2013/14 and found the GPUs to be most valuable - Used them for travel to NRT, HKG, LHR, MUC and others. I thought the upcharge to a W was reasonable, as I specifically booked flights with R space to clear at booking. When I met the AA ExPlat challenge, I was able to upgrade any fare and saw the light - $750 fares to Asia were game for an SWU on AA, where a W on UA would be close to $1500. This paired with the change to a revenue system did it for me.
(3) Did you have any particular difficulties in maintaining or increasing your 2014 status for 2015?
Not really, I had around $3300 PQD and have Gold because of my Chase CC. I ended with 63k PQM and could have easily attained Plat if I wanted. I only have Gold because I booked a trip to DXB and many to various EU cities on the Widenroe deal.
Last edited by Blootch; Feb 27, 2015 at 2:24 pm
Feb 27, 2015 | 2:22 pm
#293
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: IAH
Programs: UA 1K / MM
Posts: 74
1. 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 - 1K
2014 - GS
2015 - GS
2. For 2014, had 2 RTs to South America (UA metal) and 5 RTs to Kazakhstan (on UA metal to / from Europe, LH to / from KZ), all in BF.
3. I did not maintain GS the first try and had to request a "reconsider" which UA graciously awarded.
2014 - GS
2015 - GS
2. For 2014, had 2 RTs to South America (UA metal) and 5 RTs to Kazakhstan (on UA metal to / from Europe, LH to / from KZ), all in BF.
3. I did not maintain GS the first try and had to request a "reconsider" which UA graciously awarded.
Feb 27, 2015 | 2:39 pm
#295
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: A menace to everything in the sky. Yes. Even birds.
Programs: Eh+ Rapid Rolleyes
Posts: 14,522
1) '14 1k. '15 1k.
2) Didn't change. I considered abandoning UA when things were really bad but ultimately e+, sdc, and my huge bank of miles kept me sticky.
3) Did about 50k revenue miles on other metal in 14 due to UA's inability to maintain a schedule (which seems to be getting better). But made it without issue.
On pace to hit 1k in 16 without issue.
2) Didn't change. I considered abandoning UA when things were really bad but ultimately e+, sdc, and my huge bank of miles kept me sticky.
3) Did about 50k revenue miles on other metal in 14 due to UA's inability to maintain a schedule (which seems to be getting better). But made it without issue.
On pace to hit 1k in 16 without issue.
Feb 27, 2015 | 3:13 pm
#296
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: SOF
Programs: A3 Gold, BA Gold, IHG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 874
(1) If your status remained the same from 2014 to 2015 or changed on Feb, 1. 2015 (the status changeover date). (What is your status?)
2014 - Platinum (originally Gold but was less than 300 miles short of 75,000 so UA comped it)
2015 - Member
(2) What were the reasons your status changed, or remained the same on Feb. 1 ?... please expound in some detail FOR THE MOST RELEVANT TOP REASONS FOR YOU......
I knew I wasn't going to go after UA status in 2014 when the PQD requirements were announced in 2013 - by that time though I had completed my flying for the year, so couldn't switch right away. I used my foreign address but still had no way to get to 75,000 miles or the 90 segments required. Accomplishing it the year before was a 1 off for me. The new award chart that went live in February 2014 charging more for flying on partners vs. United and the subsequent switch to a revenue based system in earning award miles really sealed the deal for me and I was confident I made the right decision.
(3) Did you have any particular difficulties in maintaining or increasing your 2014 status for 2015?
No, as I wasn't attempting to earn any status last year.
2014 - Platinum (originally Gold but was less than 300 miles short of 75,000 so UA comped it)
2015 - Member
(2) What were the reasons your status changed, or remained the same on Feb. 1 ?... please expound in some detail FOR THE MOST RELEVANT TOP REASONS FOR YOU......
I knew I wasn't going to go after UA status in 2014 when the PQD requirements were announced in 2013 - by that time though I had completed my flying for the year, so couldn't switch right away. I used my foreign address but still had no way to get to 75,000 miles or the 90 segments required. Accomplishing it the year before was a 1 off for me. The new award chart that went live in February 2014 charging more for flying on partners vs. United and the subsequent switch to a revenue based system in earning award miles really sealed the deal for me and I was confident I made the right decision.
(3) Did you have any particular difficulties in maintaining or increasing your 2014 status for 2015?
No, as I wasn't attempting to earn any status last year.
Mar 2, 2015 | 6:53 am
#297
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: SJC, SFO, YYC
Programs: AA-EXP, AA-0.41MM, UA-Gold, Ex UA-1K (2006 thru 2015), PMUA-0.95MM, COUA-1.5MM-lite, AF-Silver
Posts: 13,436
(1) If your status remained the same from 2014 to 2015 or changed on Feb, 1. 2015 (the status changeover date). (What is your status?)
Changed.
2014 1K> 2015 Gold.
I did not earn enough PQM to be Gold. Instead I was awarded gold due to my Million Miler status.
Did the status you earned from 2013 for 2014 change from 2014 to 2015? (may indicate trends)
2013 1K > 2014 1K > 2015 1K.
As my profile indicates, was 1K for several years: 2007 1K >...>2014 1K >2015 Gold. Prior to 2007, I was Premier Executive, from 1998 or 1997 through 2006. Before that, one or two years as Premier.
(2) What were the reasons your status changed, or remained the same on Feb. 1 ?... please expound in some detail FOR THE MOST RELEVANT TOP REASONS FOR YOU
- the 2013 award chart change: too many miles to redeem for LH F awards
- Z fares no longer eligible for GPU on LH metal
- introduction of P fares on LH and UA metal meant that prices that fared into D and C now fared into P and Z thus making it impossible to GPU on UA or LH metal. I remember the days when COS/BLR priced at $4K in Z or $5K in D and all four long haul segments upgraded.
- no more GPU at gate on LH metal. LH often doesn't release F upgrade inventory until 4 hours before flight time which is after the new cut off
- no PQM bonus for P on LH metal
- two fewer RPUs versus 4 CR1s
- domestic upgrade rate was poor
- PQDs were very complex on non UA metal and UA doesn't fly to a BLR.
- higher UC fees for lower quality product
- no chip and pin on UA credit cards
- wifi in UCs too hard to use
- due to boarding priority changes, too many times this 1K boarded to find no overhead space
(3) Did you have any particular difficulties in maintaining or increasing your 2014 status for 2015?
It would have been easy to make 1K status in 2014 for 2015. Just move two of my half dozen long haul business class round trips to UA ticket stock. I simply stopped caring about 1K status, earning M+ miles, and flying UA metal.
Changed.
2014 1K> 2015 Gold.
I did not earn enough PQM to be Gold. Instead I was awarded gold due to my Million Miler status.
Did the status you earned from 2013 for 2014 change from 2014 to 2015? (may indicate trends)
2013 1K > 2014 1K > 2015 1K.
As my profile indicates, was 1K for several years: 2007 1K >...>2014 1K >2015 Gold. Prior to 2007, I was Premier Executive, from 1998 or 1997 through 2006. Before that, one or two years as Premier.
(2) What were the reasons your status changed, or remained the same on Feb. 1 ?... please expound in some detail FOR THE MOST RELEVANT TOP REASONS FOR YOU
- the 2013 award chart change: too many miles to redeem for LH F awards
- Z fares no longer eligible for GPU on LH metal
- introduction of P fares on LH and UA metal meant that prices that fared into D and C now fared into P and Z thus making it impossible to GPU on UA or LH metal. I remember the days when COS/BLR priced at $4K in Z or $5K in D and all four long haul segments upgraded.
- no more GPU at gate on LH metal. LH often doesn't release F upgrade inventory until 4 hours before flight time which is after the new cut off
- no PQM bonus for P on LH metal
- two fewer RPUs versus 4 CR1s
- domestic upgrade rate was poor
- PQDs were very complex on non UA metal and UA doesn't fly to a BLR.
- higher UC fees for lower quality product
- no chip and pin on UA credit cards
- wifi in UCs too hard to use
- due to boarding priority changes, too many times this 1K boarded to find no overhead space
(3) Did you have any particular difficulties in maintaining or increasing your 2014 status for 2015?
It would have been easy to make 1K status in 2014 for 2015. Just move two of my half dozen long haul business class round trips to UA ticket stock. I simply stopped caring about 1K status, earning M+ miles, and flying UA metal.
Last edited by mre5765; Mar 2, 2015 at 6:58 am
Mar 12, 2015 | 3:15 pm
#299
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: Free checked in bag on UA & DL. Free icecream at Marriott checkin.
Posts: 2,862
(1) If your status remained the same from 2014 to 2015 or changed on Feb, 1. 2015 (the status changeover date). (What is your status?)
2014 - Platinum
2015 - Gold (Lifetime 1M status)
(2) What were the reasons your status changed, or remained the same on Feb. 1 ?... please expound in some detail FOR THE MOST RELEVANT TOP REASONS FOR YOU......
Has become meaningless to attain status when they have literally taken all incentives of being an elite passenger.
a. PQD requirement of only UA ticket: I must be out of my mind to pay $200-500 more to buy UA ticket with LH or SA tickets of their metal is cheaper.
b. CPU/GPUs never clear, so why bother with status.
c. Their catering is the absolute pits. On the occasions I flew in F/C using my miles their catering was the absolute worst I have come across worldwide.
d. RJs, RJs, RJs...
e. SDC and protecting when there is an issue has also been whittled down.
f. More miles for * Alliance award tickets.
(3) Did you have any particular difficulties in maintaining or increasing your 2014 status for 2015?
Easily made more than 100k PQM but refused to play the PQD game. Now with miles based on $, the aim is to get the lowest number of miles to justify I have gotten the best deal and United the worst
All in all, enjoying a great life taking the most convenient flights without regards for status or miles earned.
2014 - Platinum
2015 - Gold (Lifetime 1M status)
(2) What were the reasons your status changed, or remained the same on Feb. 1 ?... please expound in some detail FOR THE MOST RELEVANT TOP REASONS FOR YOU......
Has become meaningless to attain status when they have literally taken all incentives of being an elite passenger.
a. PQD requirement of only UA ticket: I must be out of my mind to pay $200-500 more to buy UA ticket with LH or SA tickets of their metal is cheaper.
b. CPU/GPUs never clear, so why bother with status.
c. Their catering is the absolute pits. On the occasions I flew in F/C using my miles their catering was the absolute worst I have come across worldwide.
d. RJs, RJs, RJs...
e. SDC and protecting when there is an issue has also been whittled down.
f. More miles for * Alliance award tickets.
(3) Did you have any particular difficulties in maintaining or increasing your 2014 status for 2015?
Easily made more than 100k PQM but refused to play the PQD game. Now with miles based on $, the aim is to get the lowest number of miles to justify I have gotten the best deal and United the worst
All in all, enjoying a great life taking the most convenient flights without regards for status or miles earned.
Mar 12, 2015 | 4:09 pm
#300
Join Date: May 2006
Location: EWR
Programs: UA Silver, MRP Platinum, Marriott Vacation Club Chairman, SPG Platinum, Cunard Platinum,
Posts: 967
1K to Platinum. Made the PQMs easily-- just could not justify the PQDs.
I am so disheartened by my local airline since UA is really the only game in town in NJ. At least it is, in Central NJ, where I live.
I have been buying first class seats of late. I think it will be cheaper and more beneficial to my psyche than looking for upgrades or doing MRs. This way I buy my first class ticket and I don't worry about if I will get upgraded . I hated worrying the whole time. It simply was not worth the aggravation. Life is too short!!
I am so disheartened by my local airline since UA is really the only game in town in NJ. At least it is, in Central NJ, where I live.
I have been buying first class seats of late. I think it will be cheaper and more beneficial to my psyche than looking for upgrades or doing MRs. This way I buy my first class ticket and I don't worry about if I will get upgraded . I hated worrying the whole time. It simply was not worth the aggravation. Life is too short!!