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 16, 2015, 5:17 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Costa Rica
Programs: UA Gold AA DL
Posts: 18
Does UA offer "soft status landings"?
Question:
I will make 75K miles for Pre Platinum in Dec 2015.
This will give me Pre Platinum for 2016
IF I don't make 50K miles in 2016 for Pre Gold in 2017?
Will UA reduce me to Pre Gold or Pre Silver status for 2017?
cyrious as my options..
Peace
PIDD
I will make 75K miles for Pre Platinum in Dec 2015.
This will give me Pre Platinum for 2016
IF I don't make 50K miles in 2016 for Pre Gold in 2017?
Will UA reduce me to Pre Gold or Pre Silver status for 2017?
cyrious as my options..
Peace
PIDD
Oct 16, 2015, 5:33 pm
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,459
Oct 17, 2015, 9:38 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Honolulu, HI
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA Exec Plat
Posts: 1,240
Downgrade from UA Platinun Status
They will downgrade you to the status you make in the previous year. If you only made silver then you will stay silver. If you flew no miles then you go back to being a general member.
Oct 17, 2015, 9:47 am
#4
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Redwood City, CA USA (SFO/SJC)
Programs: 1K 2010, 1P in 2011, Plat for 2012,13,14,15 & 2016. Gold in 17 & 18, Plat since
Posts: 8,826
If that's the question, no, there's not likely a soft landing. He's going to end up wherever his earnings land him. Exceptions are rare.
Oct 17, 2015, 9:51 am
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Costa Rica
Programs: UA Gold AA DL
Posts: 18
Thanks..
If I understand correctly... I am Gold in 2015 and fly over 75K PQM I will be Platinum in 2016..If I fly less than 50K PQMs in 2016 they will drop me to Gold in 2017 because I was Gold in 2015? or
If I fly less than 50K PQMs in 2016 as a Platinum they will drop me to Sliver in 2017?
thanks again..
PIDD
If I understand correctly... I am Gold in 2015 and fly over 75K PQM I will be Platinum in 2016..If I fly less than 50K PQMs in 2016 they will drop me to Gold in 2017 because I was Gold in 2015? or
If I fly less than 50K PQMs in 2016 as a Platinum they will drop me to Sliver in 2017?
thanks again..
PIDD
Oct 17, 2015, 9:54 am
#6
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Hiding under the trees in Denver, CO
Programs: UA 1K 2.5MM, Marriott Lifetime Titanium Elite, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 4,306
You'll get the status you earn. For instance, if you fly less than 50k PQMs in 2016, you will go to Silver for 2017, which is the status you earned by flying in 2016. There is no "soft landing" from Platinum, 1K, Gold, or whatever, to the next-lowest status level, unless the airline decides to give it to you.
Oct 17, 2015, 9:59 am
#7
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: PHL, EWR
Programs: UA Gold; AA; Amtrak Select Plus;HH Diamond;Hyatt Disc;Hertz PC; Total Wine Grand Reserve!
Posts: 2,401
Thanks..
If I understand correctly... I am Gold in 2015 and fly over 75K PQM I will be Platinum in 2016..If I fly less than 50K PQMs in 2016 they will drop me to Gold in 2017 because I was Gold in 2015? or
If I fly less than 50K PQMs in 2016 as a Platinum they will drop me to Sliver in 2017?
thanks again..
PIDD
If I understand correctly... I am Gold in 2015 and fly over 75K PQM I will be Platinum in 2016..If I fly less than 50K PQMs in 2016 they will drop me to Gold in 2017 because I was Gold in 2015? or
If I fly less than 50K PQMs in 2016 as a Platinum they will drop me to Sliver in 2017?
thanks again..
PIDD
Of course you can regain your status if you fly enough miles in 2017; once you hit the miles and spend requirements (if applicable) then your status changes right away.
Oct 17, 2015, 3:57 pm
#9
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: SYD
Programs: UA 1K, SPG LT Gold
Posts: 36
And whilst the "no soft landings" policy is clear, historically exceptions have been made. Some by request, and others just happened. I have had friends who have been 1K and soft landed to Platinum, and at the same time my son was shy of Silver by a couple thousand miles and was given Silver. YMMV
Oct 17, 2015, 6:26 pm
#10
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Redwood City, CA USA (SFO/SJC)
Programs: 1K 2010, 1P in 2011, Plat for 2012,13,14,15 & 2016. Gold in 17 & 18, Plat since
Posts: 8,826
And whilst the "no soft landings" policy is clear, historically exceptions have been made. Some by request, and others just happened. I have had friends who have been 1K and soft landed to Platinum, and at the same time my son was shy of Silver by a couple thousand miles and was given Silver. YMMV
Oct 18, 2015, 5:14 pm
#11
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: SYD
Programs: UA 1K, SPG LT Gold
Posts: 36
So your son who was gifted a few thousand miles to Silver status... was that before or after UA gave the opportunity to buy said status for a princely sum? Just wondering if there's really a method to the madness, an attempt to optimize immediate revenue (through selling PQMs) first.
Feb 7, 2017, 2:18 pm
#12
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 391
Platinum to silver status change
Hi,
A colleague of mine had a platinum status with United. Last year he had flown with them way less (used other alliances). I told him that from what I know (happened to me a few years ago), if you don't meet the platinum level criteria, you being downgraded one level each year.
For our surprise, his status was updated to silver (skipping gold).
It that a known thing in United nowadays? Or is it a mistake?
Thanks,
Joe
A colleague of mine had a platinum status with United. Last year he had flown with them way less (used other alliances). I told him that from what I know (happened to me a few years ago), if you don't meet the platinum level criteria, you being downgraded one level each year.
For our surprise, his status was updated to silver (skipping gold).
It that a known thing in United nowadays? Or is it a mistake?
Thanks,
Joe
Feb 7, 2017, 2:30 pm
#13
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
... A colleague of mine had a platinum status with United. Last year he had flown with them way less (used other alliances). I told him that from what I know (happened to me a few years ago), if you don't meet the platinum level criteria, you being downgraded one level each year.
For our surprise, his status was updated to silver (skipping gold).
It that a known thing in United nowadays? Or is it a mistake? ...
For our surprise, his status was updated to silver (skipping gold).
It that a known thing in United nowadays? Or is it a mistake? ...
Sometimes calling and providing an "appropriate" (such as health, family issues), if you can weave a good story, you might get an "one time exemption" to get Gold. Especially if you are willing to say your travel will return this year and your have had a multiple year history of the old status level.
Feb 7, 2017, 2:36 pm
#14
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: Continental OnePass
Posts: 856
I have never heard of the "only dropping down 1 level" thing. I have always followed the "you get what you earn" idea. So if you are 1K and then don't fly UA at all for a year, you will have no status the following year.