Jul 6, 2016, 5:31 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Previous year's thread -- [Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQD's/PQMs in 2015 for Elite Status in 2016 ...
& [Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQD's/PQMs in 2014 for Elite Status in 2015
PQDs can only be earned by flying, but not all are subject to PQD requirements.
Non-USA registered MP members are exempt from PQD requirements.
Others can be exempt from PQDs up to the Premier Platinum by have a Chase PresidentalPlus credit card {not open to new members} or by annually spending $25,000 or more as a primary MP branded Chase credit cardholder.
PQMs can be earned by flying UA or various flight partners and by various bonuses related to flying (class or service, promos, ...)
PQMs can be purchased by Premier Accelerator purchases.
Certain legacy (not available to new customers) Chase MP credit cards earn PQMs or FPQMs
related threads
UA/Star Alliance: 2016 Consolidated Mileage/Status/Challenge Runs help needed
Premium Fare Deals
Poor man's MR planner
Google Flights enter a starting airport, leave the destination blank, select airlines - Star Alliance, set travel days and max cost and view the Map for options. Try multiple dates.
kayak.com/explore has similiar functionality
Will UA Grant 2017 Elite Status if I am XXX PQM/PQS/{PQD} Short of Qualifying in 2016?
Is it worth it to stretch for 1K (over Plat)? [2016 Consolidated]
Is it worth it to stretch for Plat (over Gold)? [2016 Consolidated]
Is it worth it to stretch for Gold (over Silver)? [2016 Consolidated]
Is it worth it making Premier Silver? [2016 Consolidated]
& [Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQD's/PQMs in 2014 for Elite Status in 2015
PQDs can only be earned by flying, but not all are subject to PQD requirements.
Non-USA registered MP members are exempt from PQD requirements.
Others can be exempt from PQDs up to the Premier Platinum by have a Chase PresidentalPlus credit card {not open to new members} or by annually spending $25,000 or more as a primary MP branded Chase credit cardholder.
PQMs can be earned by flying UA or various flight partners and by various bonuses related to flying (class or service, promos, ...)
PQMs can be purchased by Premier Accelerator purchases.
Certain legacy (not available to new customers) Chase MP credit cards earn PQMs or FPQMs
related threads
UA/Star Alliance: 2016 Consolidated Mileage/Status/Challenge Runs help needed
Premium Fare Deals
Poor man's MR planner
Google Flights enter a starting airport, leave the destination blank, select airlines - Star Alliance, set travel days and max cost and view the Map for options. Try multiple dates.
kayak.com/explore has similiar functionality
Will UA Grant 2017 Elite Status if I am XXX PQM/PQS/{PQD} Short of Qualifying in 2016?
Is it worth it to stretch for 1K (over Plat)? [2016 Consolidated]
Is it worth it to stretch for Plat (over Gold)? [2016 Consolidated]
Is it worth it to stretch for Gold (over Silver)? [2016 Consolidated]
Is it worth it making Premier Silver? [2016 Consolidated]
[Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQD's/PQMs in 2016 for Elite Status in 2017 ..
Jul 6, 2016, 7:21 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 34
[Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQD's/PQMs in 2016 for Elite Status in 2017 ..
I'm 45 miles shy of elite status. Are flying and Award Accelerator my only options to get those miles? Thanks.
Jul 6, 2016, 7:23 am
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: UA Plat 2MM. DL Plat, AS MVP
Posts: 12,751
Are you 45 short right now, or will you be 45 short at the end of the year?
Jul 6, 2016, 7:45 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,880
Flying is usually the most economical - depending on your location may be able to pick up a cheap, short OW segment to get you over the hump.
Also note that for silver, may not be worth it - most benefits (with the exception of upgrade eligibility and priority IRROPS handling) can be bought on a per trip basis.
Just to be clear, is it only miles you need? Don't forget - you also need 3,000 PQD if US-based (or $25,000 spend on a UA card) plus 4 UA-metal segments.
Jul 6, 2016, 8:05 am
#5
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: New Jersey, USA
Programs: UA-Gold, HH-Diamond
Posts: 152
This is worth a call to the MileagePlus service center. Plead your case and they might oblige you with a courtesy early elite status, especially if you have more travel booked.
-Goat
-Goat
Jul 6, 2016, 8:13 am
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
Short of having a CC that allows PQM earning (all of which are legacy cards no longer offered), you pretty much listed your options. Award accelerator probably isn't going to be economical - those typically are offered in 1000 mile increments so you'll need to buy more than you need..
OP is a general member - and buying something like PHL-IAD or ORD-MKE should do the trick.
Jul 6, 2016, 8:18 am
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 34
Thanks, everyone. I'll give MP a call. I have the Presidential Plus card, so I don't need to worry about PQDs or segments.
Jul 6, 2016, 8:37 am
#8
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,088
And some short hops from little served airports can cost a lot more than longer flights from major hubs with competition.
Jul 6, 2016, 8:49 am
#9
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,554
If the OP is near LAX as his handle suggests, there should be some cheap and time-efficient flight options to achieve the status.
Even then, I personally don't see how the math can work...there's nothing I'd get at the Silver level that is worth 3-4 hours of my time to fly to SFO or LAS and back.
If the status jump is to 1K and the very next planned flight (after this mini-mileage-run) is a good GPU candidate, then absolutely this could make total sense.
Even then, I personally don't see how the math can work...there's nothing I'd get at the Silver level that is worth 3-4 hours of my time to fly to SFO or LAS and back.
If the status jump is to 1K and the very next planned flight (after this mini-mileage-run) is a good GPU candidate, then absolutely this could make total sense.
Jul 6, 2016, 8:56 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
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I don't think you understand Award Accelerator then - as that's what I was responding to.
Jul 6, 2016, 8:56 am
#11
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,088
The OP didn't mention what's up next on his schedule. If it's a TATL it might be worth it to some in order to snag an E+ at T-24. But that doesn't make much sense, either. You can buy up to E+ for $150 each way, which would probably be cheaper than even a short hop RT mileage run, which is overkill for 45 miles.
He could also save that round trip airfare and purchase an E+ subscription that would allow him to snag an E+ seat at booking rather than at T-24.
If his appeal to a UA phone agent doesn't work (and he should not give up after one phone call), I'd suggest he just wait patiently for the next flight to hit Silver Status.
He could also save that round trip airfare and purchase an E+ subscription that would allow him to snag an E+ seat at booking rather than at T-24.
If his appeal to a UA phone agent doesn't work (and he should not give up after one phone call), I'd suggest he just wait patiently for the next flight to hit Silver Status.
Jul 6, 2016, 9:06 am
#13
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
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I'm skeptical that a phone agent manning the GM line is going to give a comp Silver bump in early July. I know this is Flyertalk and we all recommend to try, try, and try again, but I suspect this might be a frustrating endeavor with a lot of hold time for nothing.
Even if you managed to reach an onshore call center, escalate to a manager who has some degree of empowerment, and fully explain your case, I can easily see that manager saying "Dude, it's July. If you're 45 miles short on December 29th, call back and we'll talk."
Even if you managed to reach an onshore call center, escalate to a manager who has some degree of empowerment, and fully explain your case, I can easily see that manager saying "Dude, it's July. If you're 45 miles short on December 29th, call back and we'll talk."
Jul 6, 2016, 9:11 am
#14
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: 6km East of EPAYE
Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, AS & DL GM Marriott TE, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,582
Buy it or fly it!
Jul 6, 2016, 9:13 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,521
