Jan 10, 2020, 12:10 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Generally, UA does not do soft landings
-- GS exception -- May times fallen GS will receive 1K status (no upgrade certs) for the first year
-- Special circumstances -- Elite status "holds/leave of absence" (adoption, pregnancy, illness, deployment, ...)
"Soft landing" is where an individual who did not qualify for their previous elite status level is still given a higher level than they actually earned. Such as a previously UA GA is given 1K status even though they only earned Gold.
-- GS exception -- May times fallen GS will receive 1K status (no upgrade certs) for the first year
-- Special circumstances -- Elite status "holds/leave of absence" (adoption, pregnancy, illness, deployment, ...)
"Soft landing" is where an individual who did not qualify for their previous elite status level is still given a higher level than they actually earned. Such as a previously UA GA is given 1K status even though they only earned Gold.
Does UA offer "soft status landings"?
Oct 25, 2018, 5:34 am
#46
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: UA GS ,QF Plat
Posts: 686
Hi all,
I have been Gold/Plat/1K (Plat this last year) for close to a decade but barely traveled at all this year due to having a new baby and staying close to home. I might manage to keep Gold, but even that is touch and go.
Would United ever cut someone in my position slack and either offer an extension or perhaps some sort of short-term challenge to keep my higher status? I am back traveling now but took almost 6 months off flying so was far below my usual this year.
It isn't the biggest deal in the world, just likely that I would shift more business to Delta (I am Delta Plat as well) when there isn't much difference, rather than try to save my United status. I have enjoyed my time with United so would prefer to keep it up.
Let me know if you have ever had any experience with this type of request.
Thanks
Canuck FlyerDad (x3)
I have been Gold/Plat/1K (Plat this last year) for close to a decade but barely traveled at all this year due to having a new baby and staying close to home. I might manage to keep Gold, but even that is touch and go.
Would United ever cut someone in my position slack and either offer an extension or perhaps some sort of short-term challenge to keep my higher status? I am back traveling now but took almost 6 months off flying so was far below my usual this year.
It isn't the biggest deal in the world, just likely that I would shift more business to Delta (I am Delta Plat as well) when there isn't much difference, rather than try to save my United status. I have enjoyed my time with United so would prefer to keep it up.
Let me know if you have ever had any experience with this type of request.
Thanks
Canuck FlyerDad (x3)
Oct 25, 2018, 5:34 am
#47
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: UA 1K, MM
Posts: 389
You should definitely write UA and explain your circumstances (1K email helps; I don't know what they have for Plats). I would ask nicely if they'd give you Platinum, since you will be returning to your previous flying patterns. I wouldn't hold your breath, but it's possible. They did something like that for me a few years ago when, after a decade as a 1K, I briefly didn't qualify. I asked if they'd give me a soft landing to platinum. (In fact, they gave me a soft landing to...1K! Albeit without any certs.) As I promised them, I have qualified for 1K every year since.
That said, based on what I recall from past Flyertalk threads, I wouldn't hold your breath. My guess is there isn't a consistent policy over time, and that it completely depends on the circumstances as assessed by whomever is looking at your file.
That said, based on what I recall from past Flyertalk threads, I wouldn't hold your breath. My guess is there isn't a consistent policy over time, and that it completely depends on the circumstances as assessed by whomever is looking at your file.
Last edited by lancelot21; Oct 25, 2018 at 5:37 am Reason: Clarification
Oct 25, 2018, 6:56 am
#48
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: DCA or IAD (originally DUB)
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM, Hertz PC, Marriott Platinum/Lifetime Gold
Posts: 7,657
Same question asked every year
Will UA Grant 2018 EliteStatus if I am XXX PQM/PQS/{PQD} Short of Qualifying in 2017?
Will UA Grant 2017 EliteStatus if I am XXX PQM/PQS/{PQD} Short of Qualifying in 2016?
Granted 2017 MP Elite Status even though short of PQM/PQS/PDQ [actual cases only pls]
Will UA Grant 2016 EliteStatus if I am XXX PQM/PQS/{PQD} Short of Qualifying in 2015?
Granted 2016 MP Elite Status even though short of PQM/PQS/PDQ [actual cases only pls]
Granted 2015 MP Elite Status even though short of PQM/PQS/PDQ [actual cases only pls]
Granted 2015 MP Elite Status even though short of PQM/PQS/PDQ [actual cases only pls]
[Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQD's/PQMs in 2014 for Elite Status in 2015
2014 MileagePlus Elite Status Granted Even Though Short of PQM/PQS?
2013 MileagePlus Elite Status Granted Even Though Short of PQM/PQS
Will UA Grant 2018 EliteStatus if I am XXX PQM/PQS/{PQD} Short of Qualifying in 2017?
Will UA Grant 2017 EliteStatus if I am XXX PQM/PQS/{PQD} Short of Qualifying in 2016?
Granted 2017 MP Elite Status even though short of PQM/PQS/PDQ [actual cases only pls]
Will UA Grant 2016 EliteStatus if I am XXX PQM/PQS/{PQD} Short of Qualifying in 2015?
Granted 2016 MP Elite Status even though short of PQM/PQS/PDQ [actual cases only pls]
Granted 2015 MP Elite Status even though short of PQM/PQS/PDQ [actual cases only pls]
Granted 2015 MP Elite Status even though short of PQM/PQS/PDQ [actual cases only pls]
[Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQD's/PQMs in 2014 for Elite Status in 2015
2014 MileagePlus Elite Status Granted Even Though Short of PQM/PQS?
2013 MileagePlus Elite Status Granted Even Though Short of PQM/PQS
Oct 25, 2018, 9:53 am
#49
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: UA GS (1MM), DL Gold, Marriott Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Avis CC
Posts: 526
When I was in the Navy, I was a 1K. In 2010, I was deployed 11/12 months and flew maybe one flight that year on UA. Wrote into MileagePlus with the situation and they happily extended me 1K into 2011 when I re-qualified again for 2012 
Oct 25, 2018, 9:59 am
#50
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,023
If you have indeed cleared a US-addressed PQD level for several years (and maybe w/o the mileage), I think that UA should consider that. But if you're not making either the mileage/$ goals we do in the States, extending status seems a bit overly-generous....
Oct 25, 2018, 10:00 am
#51
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Pacific Northwest
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, AS 75k, AA Plat, Bonvoyed Gold, Honors Dia, Hyatt Explorer, IHG Plat, ...
Posts: 16,850
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...ts/elite-leave
Oct 25, 2018, 11:21 am
#52
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,620
Hi all,
I have been Gold/Plat/1K (Plat this last year) for close to a decade but barely traveled at all this year due to having a new baby and staying close to home. I might manage to keep Gold, but even that is touch and go.
Would United ever cut someone in my position slack and either offer an extension or perhaps some sort of short-term challenge to keep my higher status? I am back traveling now but took almost 6 months off flying so was far below my usual this year.
It isn't the biggest deal in the world, just likely that I would shift more business to Delta (I am Delta Plat as well) when there isn't much difference, rather than try to save my United status. I have enjoyed my time with United so would prefer to keep it up.
Let me know if you have ever had any experience with this type of request.
Thanks
Canuck FlyerDad (x3)
I have been Gold/Plat/1K (Plat this last year) for close to a decade but barely traveled at all this year due to having a new baby and staying close to home. I might manage to keep Gold, but even that is touch and go.
Would United ever cut someone in my position slack and either offer an extension or perhaps some sort of short-term challenge to keep my higher status? I am back traveling now but took almost 6 months off flying so was far below my usual this year.
It isn't the biggest deal in the world, just likely that I would shift more business to Delta (I am Delta Plat as well) when there isn't much difference, rather than try to save my United status. I have enjoyed my time with United so would prefer to keep it up.
Let me know if you have ever had any experience with this type of request.
Thanks
Canuck FlyerDad (x3)
Oct 25, 2018, 11:28 am
#53
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,854
They use to always offer me a "buy-up" if I was close to hitting 1K for example. I have even pulled the trigger on the offer a couple of times depending on the price. As I recall they came at the end of the year of course. Not sure they still do that as I haven't need to "buy-up" in years but I am sure someone here will know if the program is still available.
Oct 25, 2018, 11:49 am
#54
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA MM Plat, UA 1MM, Hilton Lifetime Gold, Marriott Gold, Hertz Gold, CLEAR, AS MVP Gold
Posts: 3,620
Those buy-ups occur in January, the most recent 2018 UA MP elite status buy-up offers (for higher status than earned in 2017), there are not inexpensive and it is generally better to do the Premier Accelerator-- Consolidated Award / Premier Accelerator questions if that can work (does not work if PQDs is the issue)
Oct 25, 2018, 11:56 am
#55
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,854
January buyups for PQM can be in the 15-20+ cpm range and Premier Accelerator if done early enough is in the 10-12 cpm range. But all that is discussed in the above threads.
Oct 25, 2018, 12:30 pm
#56
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA GS 1MM, CM PP
Posts: 689
UA’s competitor AS introduced such a benefit a year or two ago:
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...ts/elite-leave
Oct 25, 2018, 1:02 pm
#57
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: WAS
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, IHG Silver, Hilton Silver, Hertz PC, National Exec Elite, Avis PC
Posts: 1,291
Both my spouse and I have had some exception made to our status since the merger.
-I was Platinum one year then only flew 55k but $10k PQDs. I asked for Plat the following year citing both a glitch in the app that show my status extended as well as having a baby and traveling less and they agreed.
-My wife was short ~500 PQDs the first year of the PQD requirement as a result of a flight (and therefore the entire short trip) being cancelled by UA. We called and she was told there would be "offers" at the end of the year but they ended up giving Gold to her anyways.
-I was Platinum one year then only flew 55k but $10k PQDs. I asked for Plat the following year citing both a glitch in the app that show my status extended as well as having a baby and traveling less and they agreed.
-My wife was short ~500 PQDs the first year of the PQD requirement as a result of a flight (and therefore the entire short trip) being cancelled by UA. We called and she was told there would be "offers" at the end of the year but they ended up giving Gold to her anyways.
Oct 25, 2018, 1:09 pm
#58
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriott Platinum Elite, National Executive, United Gold
Posts: 1,181
If you're a domestic road warrior, are soft landings a big deal anymore? With domestic premium cabin/E+ priced so competitively and PreCheck, it doesn't seem too painful to get back to status after a hiatus.
Oct 25, 2018, 4:23 pm
#59
Join Date: Dec 2014
Programs: UA GS ,QF Plat
Posts: 686
UA’s competitor AS introduced such a benefit a year or two ago:
https://www.alaskaair.com/content/mi...ts/elite-leave
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jul 21, 2019 at 9:39 pm Reason: repaired quote
Oct 28, 2018, 5:57 pm
#60
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Programs: UA Plat, Delta Plat, SPG Platinum/Life Gold
Posts: 76
Thanks for all the replies and views of your own experiences.
Will see what happens, it isn't the biggest deal, was just wondering what others had seen and now I know!
thanks
Canuck FlyerDad
Will see what happens, it isn't the biggest deal, was just wondering what others had seen and now I know!
thanks
Canuck FlyerDad