JeremyGSW

So I'm looking at a trip round trip from PIT to PVG. The departure date of this trip is in December 2017 and returning date is in January 2018. I'm currently at Silver Status and I will be a Gold status only if I complete this trip in 2017. So I wonder how likely is it to ask United for an exception to make my return trip count toward 2017. Or is there anything else I can do. The departure date and returning date are not flexible. Would really appreciate if someone can help out.

WineCountryUA

Welcome to FT!, JeremyGSW

Sorry but there is zero chance of that happening.

Either arrange a short trip over some free time to earn the needed PQMs in this calendar year -- this is called a "status run" / "mileage run"

or

Purchase the PQMs via a program like http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...questions.html
or
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ed-2017-a.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unite...ut-flying.html

EmailKid

UA is pretty non negotiable in calendar years.

You can buy EQMs, you can take another flight to earn PQMs, and you can ask UA, but they will say NO.

BTW, do you have enough PQD to make Gold? That is most common downfall @:-)

spin88

As others have answered, there is no chance that UA will modify/bend, etc their rules. It is calendar year. Delta has roll-over miles, which sort of helps with these things in some cases (qualifying miles are not wasted) but UA does not.

If you have other business travel you will/can swing UA's way, there are really two useful and major benefits of Gold vs. Silver. The first is *G lounge access. If you were gold you could use the UC (or better yet other *A lounges which are usually much nicer see e.g. ANA, TK, LH lounges). If you travel internationally, it is IMHO a big +. That said, if you don't and this is the one off black swan overseas trip, well don't worry about it, the benefit will be dead to you.

The other is E+ access at purchase (this is better than DL which only gives it at PLT level). Since upgrades don't happen with UA doing cheap upgrade sales close in and lots of cheap F seats, E+ is the real benifit and being able to book it at purchase will allow you to have a better seat most of the time, not just when it is available at 24 hours.

This said, I don't think it is worth paying for the miles/status credit, which is very expensive. Ditto doing a "status run" unless you have time to kill and are very close. I think you are better saving that money and just adding it to a Y ticket to get into First on a cheap fare.

BTB, welcome to FT!!!

Dublin_rfk

Is it worth returning early for gold over silver? Eh, as a overprivileged 1K NO! Pull a MR there a several that can be had cheep. I'm always looking looking for MR type flights and even if I don't need them I do them for the experience.

TravelToNom

Agree with others there is no chance UA will count your return trip toward 2017. You will have to do a pqm/pqd run or buy PQM accelerator.
Whether or not gold is worth getting really depends on how much you will be traveling in 2018 to use the benefits and how much extra time and $ you need to spend to get to gold. Everyone's opinion will differ on the matter though!
I did run for gold a few years back and did not regret it because I knew I would be traveling a lot the next year. E+ seats, *Gold lounges with international travel, and the free same day changes were worth the extra $100 or so I spent on a status run.
Good luck!

drowelf

UA not going to be flexible on 2017 vs 2018 travel is pretty clear. They don't do it.

In my opinion, if you need a small MR to get to gold for next year, DO IT!

Gold gets you

• E+ at boking
• *G Lounge Access or International
• 2 Free Bags (up to 70lbs)
• Free SDC

As my business travel really tapered off this year, I've been doing some TPAC MRs this year to get to 1MM, so I'll have Lifetime Gold and can actually stop worrying about PQM/PQDs.

Be sure to do your diligence and be sure that you'll get both the PQD/PQM requirements met.

I had to do a small MR last year to get the last $34 PQD I needed to maintain my Gold Status.

ft1984

Have to love those credit card waivers if you have em.

PsiFighter37

Definitely stretch for Gold over Silver. That said, I wouldn't push my end-of-year travels ahead just for that...there must be a way to do a cheap mileage run instead!

eeflyer

Sadly about 12,000 miles and $1,200 short of Gold for this year. No additional business travel that I can add to help out, and spending this much on personal travel doesn't seem like the smart thing to do at this point

slivrflyr

Snag the United club card for the current 50k miles promo and you gain some gold benefits. 2 bags. Lounge access.

EmailKid

That seems very expensive for 50K miles and some benefits.

habejo

Hi all,

I'm a UA gold member. Had my first baby in February and it cut my flying down significantly for about 5 months.

Any suggestions for trying to achieve gold again this year? I'm only at 12,000 PQMs and 13 PQS. I have a trip to London yet to take that will give me 8k more miles and at least 5 small round trips left for the year (will be about 5k miles) to bring me to a 25k gap (yikes). My hunch is it would be easier to try to make the PQMs than the PQS. Not worried about the PQDs.

Is it even worth it to try? Willing to do a MR or fly another airline if there are tricks/suggestions.

I am not savvy and am hoping for some expert input!

Thanks!

eeflyer

Considering it, but that's still a lot to pay for a few more benefits. I'm also eligible for the first year waiver, so I may go down that route instead.

goodeats21

Not any real "tricks" to get where you need to be. If you are not concerned about the money, you could upfare your existing trips to Business Class / Domestic First. That yields double the PQMs.

But I am not sure that the extra spend would be worth the benefits that Gold gives. Anything in particular about the status that you would miss as a silver?