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 | 9:58 am
#31
Moderator: Mileage Run, United Airlines; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: The City/Honolulu
Programs: UA 3MM; Hyatt Glob*****; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,491
Kept 1K status.
Flew usual route, 152K
Made the spend because of the 4/1 international business fare bonanza. I bought 3. If not for those probably would have relied on my 2MM Plat status.
Flew usual route, 152K
Made the spend because of the 4/1 international business fare bonanza. I bought 3. If not for those probably would have relied on my 2MM Plat status.
Feb 2, 2015 | 10:02 am
#33
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: AVL
Programs: AA EXP, UA LT Plat, Mar LTT
Posts: 18,147
1K to Lifetime Plat.
I'd been 1K for many years, since BEFORE it was a "status level", if you're long enough in the tooth to recall that time in the mid 80s!
The merger was the undoing for me. I recall well NonePass. I recall close friends explaining (or trying to explain) why CO didn't permit its elites to upgrade once they were inside T-24. I recall the contempt for hub captives. I recall the lack of SWU's. I recall the TODs everyone complained about prior to the merger. I recall speaking to FLIBS and having him tell me that CO management WANTED to take both airlines' strengths into the merged carrier - and then hearing him denigrate "training" at pmUA.
Each of you has your own reason for liking pmCO, and therefore the current UA. I can fault no one for that. But, none of you can dispute the above issues. They are simply fact.
My LT Plat status will keep me flying the carrier, but last year I did 1500 EQM'S. I'll do a few thousand EQM'S this year, too. When the tide turns (as it will), UA will once again SEEK customers. When that occurs, my flying on them (100% leisure) will increase. Until then, I'll let fanboys be fanboys and I'll fly OALs.
All the best!
Dave
I'd been 1K for many years, since BEFORE it was a "status level", if you're long enough in the tooth to recall that time in the mid 80s!
The merger was the undoing for me. I recall well NonePass. I recall close friends explaining (or trying to explain) why CO didn't permit its elites to upgrade once they were inside T-24. I recall the contempt for hub captives. I recall the lack of SWU's. I recall the TODs everyone complained about prior to the merger. I recall speaking to FLIBS and having him tell me that CO management WANTED to take both airlines' strengths into the merged carrier - and then hearing him denigrate "training" at pmUA.
Each of you has your own reason for liking pmCO, and therefore the current UA. I can fault no one for that. But, none of you can dispute the above issues. They are simply fact.
My LT Plat status will keep me flying the carrier, but last year I did 1500 EQM'S. I'll do a few thousand EQM'S this year, too. When the tide turns (as it will), UA will once again SEEK customers. When that occurs, my flying on them (100% leisure) will increase. Until then, I'll let fanboys be fanboys and I'll fly OALs.
All the best!
Dave
Last edited by bseller; Feb 19, 2015 at 7:59 am Reason: OP request
Feb 2, 2015 | 10:03 am
#34
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Orlando
Programs: DL 4MM/DM, UA 1MM/Gold, AA Paper
Posts: 1,386
Went from 1K to Platinum. Traveled less for business last year and not chasing the BIS miles this year. Using other overseas airlines as well as UA product is not that great anymore.
Feb 2, 2015 | 10:05 am
#35
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: TUS and any place close to a lav
Programs: UA 1.7MM
Posts: 5,424
Feb 2, 2015 | 10:11 am
#36
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Northern California
Programs: I want to be free! Free!
Posts: 3,565
From Gold to a most reluctant 1K, strictly due to UA's monopoly on my most common route. Took DL whenever I could -- likely cost me GS, but I plan to continue to avoid UA as much as possible.
In response to the request for reasons, they are manifold:
1 - Far and away the biggest reason is lack of reliability. There were a couple egregious examples but the number of trips with non-trivial delays over the past year was staggering. There is also a troubling pattern of flights arriving late and then departing even later, with zero sense of urgency on behalf of the ground staff.
2 - Piss poor handling of irrops. Multiple instances this year of being rebooked to unacceptable alternatives, often not in my ticketed class of service. Most travel is OPM so refunding the difference does little for me.
3 - Group 1 insanity -- it's just too big. My spend was circa $35K on UA last year; the GS flanking maneouver while I still have to show up well before boarding time if I don't want to play the game of swimming upstream to get my bag from further back in the plane because magically the bins have filled up is kind of a slap in the face.
4 - Onboard services are egregious for the cost of F. More important than anything else, I'm tired of the dice throw for a plane with operational power/wifi - I travel for work, so I need to... you know... work.
5 - Constant moving of the goal posts on frequent flier perks (feels like there are material changes to the program every 9-12 months). Pick the program and stick with it. Not that others do better, but I'll just give up the game altogether at some point.
6 - Continued cuts to SJC service not appreciated
Didn't make the list because it's kind of overarching, but I just don't trust United; multiple breaches of trust and lack of fulfillment of promises (including basic implied promises of the brand) has left me feeling antagonized every time I fly.
In response to the request for reasons, they are manifold:
1 - Far and away the biggest reason is lack of reliability. There were a couple egregious examples but the number of trips with non-trivial delays over the past year was staggering. There is also a troubling pattern of flights arriving late and then departing even later, with zero sense of urgency on behalf of the ground staff.
2 - Piss poor handling of irrops. Multiple instances this year of being rebooked to unacceptable alternatives, often not in my ticketed class of service. Most travel is OPM so refunding the difference does little for me.
3 - Group 1 insanity -- it's just too big. My spend was circa $35K on UA last year; the GS flanking maneouver while I still have to show up well before boarding time if I don't want to play the game of swimming upstream to get my bag from further back in the plane because magically the bins have filled up is kind of a slap in the face.
4 - Onboard services are egregious for the cost of F. More important than anything else, I'm tired of the dice throw for a plane with operational power/wifi - I travel for work, so I need to... you know... work.
5 - Constant moving of the goal posts on frequent flier perks (feels like there are material changes to the program every 9-12 months). Pick the program and stick with it. Not that others do better, but I'll just give up the game altogether at some point.
6 - Continued cuts to SJC service not appreciated
Didn't make the list because it's kind of overarching, but I just don't trust United; multiple breaches of trust and lack of fulfillment of promises (including basic implied promises of the brand) has left me feeling antagonized every time I fly.
Last edited by aCavalierInCoach; Feb 20, 2015 at 4:13 pm Reason: was asked to add reasons
Feb 2, 2015 | 10:13 am
#37
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: SEA/YVR/BLI
Programs: UA "Lifetime" Gold, AS Titanium, OW Emerald, HH Lifetime Diamond, IC Plat, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold
Posts: 9,583
The same for Mrs. Fredd and me, although I consider it "Lifetime" Gold, or maybe Lifetime "Gold." 
(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?)
We both moved from 1Ks of many years standing to "Lifetime" "Gold."
(2) What were the reasons your status changed, or remained the same on Feb. 1?
UA sent us a very clear message that they would no longer offer any incentives to secure the loyalty of leisure on-our-own-dime travelers such as we are. Along with the legally sanctioned but immoral devaluation of previously promised "lifetime" benefits documented in the infamous Million Miler lawsuit, the final straws for us were trying vainly to gift GPUs to relatives as we watched them getting sold out from under us. Yes, we got the message, UA. In return for our "loyal" Million Mile BIS flights in a decade of flying through 9/11 and bankruptcy, we will cheerfully board with credit card holders on future flights.
(3) Did you have any particular difficulties in maintaining or increasing your 2014 status for 2015?
We didn't try. We flew 30,000+ UA miles and will continue to book UA if and when its fares are competitive for a particular destination. We received a generous status match from AS and are enjoying flying and travel in general.
(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?)
We both moved from 1Ks of many years standing to "Lifetime" "Gold."
(2) What were the reasons your status changed, or remained the same on Feb. 1?
UA sent us a very clear message that they would no longer offer any incentives to secure the loyalty of leisure on-our-own-dime travelers such as we are. Along with the legally sanctioned but immoral devaluation of previously promised "lifetime" benefits documented in the infamous Million Miler lawsuit, the final straws for us were trying vainly to gift GPUs to relatives as we watched them getting sold out from under us. Yes, we got the message, UA. In return for our "loyal" Million Mile BIS flights in a decade of flying through 9/11 and bankruptcy, we will cheerfully board with credit card holders on future flights.
(3) Did you have any particular difficulties in maintaining or increasing your 2014 status for 2015?
We didn't try. We flew 30,000+ UA miles and will continue to book UA if and when its fares are competitive for a particular destination. We received a generous status match from AS and are enjoying flying and travel in general.
Last edited by Fredd; Feb 20, 2015 at 11:35 pm Reason: [edited on request for additional details]
Feb 2, 2015 | 10:13 am
#38
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: WAS-ish
Programs: UA 1K-MM + UC, Marriott Plat, National Exec
Posts: 1,343
Stayed the same: 1K to 1K.
Getting over 100K PQM required me to buy some vacation travel that I would otherwise have used miles for, but I had $2000 in VDB/downgrade vouchers to blow. And I got good value out of 1K last year, so it was worth the stretch. Next year... dunno yet.
Getting over 100K PQM required me to buy some vacation travel that I would otherwise have used miles for, but I had $2000 in VDB/downgrade vouchers to blow. And I got good value out of 1K last year, so it was worth the stretch. Next year... dunno yet.
Feb 2, 2015 | 10:24 am
#41
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: UA Gold/1MM
Posts: 661
1K to Silver
I dont think I will be alive in 2105 but in 2015 I went from 1K to Silver. Would have been 1K to General but post thanksgiving there was enough business travel to go over the Silver threshold. Was 10K miles and $1000 short of Gold and decided not to go for it. I am at 900K BIS so the only incentive I have to become MM hopefully this year.
Feb 2, 2015 | 10:28 am
#42
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: NYC/ISP
Programs: UA-Plat, United Club
Posts: 486
Post Feb 1, 2015: Did your Premier Status Increase, Decrease or remain the same?
1K to Plat, finished with about 85k pqm, but decided to travel on a few other carriers since i wasn't going to chase the pqd (wife went from 1K to barely gold) and burned through a big chunk of miles on 2J rewards to Africa and 2F rewards to asia (pre-deval)
Feb 2, 2015 | 10:41 am
#43
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA -1MM, SPG - Lifetime Gold
Posts: 197
Maintained my 1K status by doing a dollars run in mid-December. Hadn't anticipated going for it but several international trips got me close enough to try - my PQD for last year was $10,014.
I'm solely a leisure traveler so with the higher PQD requirements I won't be going for 1K again.
My goal for 2015 is to hit Lifetime Gold (or at least get very close) and be able to leave all thoughts of PQDs behind me.
My main reason for wanting Lifetime Gold is to always be able to select E+ seats at booking.
In general, I am pleased with the service I get on board. Sure, some crews are better than others, but I can't really complain. I was extremely fortunate and only had one IRROPS trip result in an overnight. Even though it was weather, I got a free hotel room since I'm 1K.
I only flew AA once last year (no good way to get to Florida from DC on *A)
I'm solely a leisure traveler so with the higher PQD requirements I won't be going for 1K again.
My goal for 2015 is to hit Lifetime Gold (or at least get very close) and be able to leave all thoughts of PQDs behind me.
My main reason for wanting Lifetime Gold is to always be able to select E+ seats at booking.
In general, I am pleased with the service I get on board. Sure, some crews are better than others, but I can't really complain. I was extremely fortunate and only had one IRROPS trip result in an overnight. Even though it was weather, I got a free hotel room since I'm 1K.
I only flew AA once last year (no good way to get to Florida from DC on *A)
Last edited by mtbaker; Feb 26, 2015 at 10:31 am Reason: Adding additional info.