MichaelLoveEarth

Hi all ~ I'm an absolute newbie here.. (Can't imagine this "mileage run" term does exist since I have been deterred from earning status by thinking of that elite status costs a tons of $$.)

I Will be going to fly a lot next year around Oct/2018 - Feb/ 2019. So I decided to earn an elite by that time. Have couple questions before mileage run:

How long does MP elite status (silver/ gold/ platinum/ 1K) last? The UA/MP website says "Once you qualify for a Premier status, the status is valid from the date when you qualified through the end of the following Program year."
So in case of I reach an elite status in Jun 2017; Would I have my status from Jun 2017 all the way through the end of Dec 2018? Or just Jun 2017 to Jun 2018?

Keep searching for answer but just can't find it throughout the forum. Thanks in advance!

emcampbe

status earned by flying in the year 2017 is valid from the date you earn it (well...it takes a couple to a few days to hit the system, but you get the drift) through January 31, 2019. So you could have earned it from January flying, and that would be valid for all of 2017 and '18 (and Jan. '19).

just a note about earning status, though, since you specify you are planning on earning from flying both before and after the new year - the status earning period is by calendar year, so premier qualifying miles earned in Oct. - Dec. 18 will qualify you for status through jan. 2020, but on jan. 1 2019, PQM will go back to 0, and then you'll need to re-earn the status during calendar year '19 to qualify for benefits through Jan. '21. So if you want to be an elite, you can't count on the combined miles earned from Oct. '18 - Feb. 19 to make it, you have to have enough from Oct. - Dec. '18, and then from Jan - Feb (or really, Dec.) '19 for the next year.

Different from redeemable miles, which will always be available to you to use, assuming you have activity once every 18 months.

rittenhousesq

The MP calendar runs from January until January. If you qualify for elite status in June of 2017, you will have that status until January 31st, 2019.

MichaelLoveEarth

Wow! I knew I came to the right place!! Never knew these rules before... Thanks a lot guys!
Really appreciate that.. I'm literally taking notes

username

You should really read up on the rules and get a comprehensive understanding of the program to maximize your benefits. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ster-wiki.html is a good place to start.

eng3

I don't know if they still do this but you can call and request a challenge. Basically your requirements can be lower the first year. Or they give you the status early

MichaelLoveEarth

Thanks username, will keep reading the posts

xliioper

UA (like DL) has a Status Match Challenge. You need to have existing status in another airline in order to sign up for it.

https://www.united.com/web/en-US/app...omoCode=TB8230

Billionare

I was very confident that any EQMs earned in a calendar was used for your Elite Status for the "Following Year" ending Jan 31st after that program calendar year. However, I called UA MP and asked the question, "if I qualify for Gold in January 2018 and do not fly again in 2018, when is my Premier Gold status good until?" She was quite adamant that it would end January 2019. I fell it should end January 2020. Am I wrong?

aacharya

You are right. If you qualify for Gold that quickly, it's good for the rest of that year and the year after, plus January.

kirkwoodj

No, if you flew all the requirements starting from zero on Jan 1st.

Billionare

Thanks. The only reason I second guessed myself is their site (United MP Elite Requirements), the agent (on the phone) and further up this thread, all used June as a cut-off reference. And the Challenge offers use June, (which is correct I believe). Thank you again for your affirmation. I will make my runs in January to Asia as planned.

garykung

MP status challenge works different from earning the status in the hard way.

Basically, status challenge is more restrictive. So normal rule does not usually apply.