Flyer1M

100% agree with the above statement.
Now you can buy the status when you need it. Personally, I went from 1k to PE to MM Gold. Even with the Gold status, I struggle to get to 25K on United not that it matters. It took a while to accept the new freedom but happy I bit the bullet. United wanted to be a biz airline upfront and a LCC in coach. You can't be all things to all people.

WakeTurbulence

True. MP CC's only allow premiers who would otherwise be eligible for CPU on a revenue ticket to be added to the upgrade list on an award which is prioritized after all paid fares within their own status level.

Even if the CC provided an upgrade benefit to GM's traveling on award tickets, it would still be after all paid fares at the GM level. Since almost everyone on board has either status or a CC (judging by the length of BG1/2) I can say with confidence you would probably be #125 or higher on the waitlist

Karl-MDW

I agree 100%.

It also took awhile for me to get used to the fact that I was a loyal customer, but one who usually flew on discounted fares. United wanted/wants high paying customers.

UA is still my first choice, but now I also look elsewhere, and if I I buy a ticket on another airline, I purchase the services I want.

TominLazybrook

For me, the only thing I get anymore is premium economy on international flights and a free bag. And UA cheapest fare is frequently much more expensive than just buying a prem economy seat and paying for a bag.

I'm still silver but it was a barely, barely last year.

If I can make it to Star Alliance Gold lifetime, that would be nice. I'm about 100,000 miles away. But I strongly suspect UA will screw me on that too either by making it *Silver (which is pretty much worthless on partners) or just getting rid of the perks of the program.

I still, barely, have a preference for UA. But its a slight one. If I'm in your shoes next year, I'll be fine with that.

---

I've flown La Compaigne to Europe (apparently I'm lucky with that airline - others have had bad experiences) and have chosen to fly Spirit and pay for a big front seat domestically from time to time.

I was willing to pay more and significantly so on UA and CO. But what's the point nowadays? There's no real benefit anymore to flying UA as an elite vs simply paying LESS to fly in a better seat on another airline.

---

From Silver to nothing....there really isn't much benefit there. Gold still has some useable benefits.

caseminole

I see you are a Hilton Diamond, do you have Platinum status w/Marriott?

I missed Silver for the first time in 20+ years, but didnt worry about it because my Platinum on Marriott qualified me for United Silver!

cblaisd

No, don't have Plat with Marriott.

But maybe I'll see if a status match is possible!

caseminole

that would be an awesome test of "the system".

I didnt even know about RewardsPlus, even with the Platinum on Marriott. I found out about it here.

If you get it, link your accounts right away and keep us posted!

cblaisd

I DID have it for a year (via a no-fee signup) and canceled it six months before the PQD requirements and PP waiver were announced. Kicked myself. Tried to get it reinstated, but no joy.

Aw, thanks. :blush:

I'll be curious too. Often scratched my head at some of my time-of-booking offers as a Plat/Gold: E.g., COS-DEN-SEA, offer was $169 for the DEN-SEA leg and $269 for the COS-DEN leg!

Mostly AS. Did more DL and AA last year, particularly on routes where the buy-up to 100% AS-mile earning fares were cheap (not all routes, but some seem often to be). Of course the DL option ends May 1.

You're right. My bad.

Judging from the reports at statusmatcher.com I'm not even going to try to get a status match to Marriott Platinum from my Hilton Diamond; looks like they only do challenges.

CMK10

I'm with you. I held United status constantly from 2004-2014, lost status in 2014, got it back in 2015 and held it through 2016 but now I'm back to no status. It's increasingly hard to make United work living in the Southeast when Delta and American are so strong here. Last year the only time United would make any sense was when they had fare sales to Chicago and of course you can't easily keep status these days flying $139 round trips

hookthem

Congrats! It is liberating, huh? I'm 1K this year but am proactively booking other airlines solely based on the product and price. I'm hoping to be in your position next year. Will still probably burn a Gold or Plat nomination on myself since it probably wouldn't go to anyone else (and I love the SDC).

cblaisd

I do really miss, though, the free SDC.

aacharya

If I were that close to MM and had the PQM, I would spend the 25K on Chase to waive PQD. One could even manufacture spend.