How are there so many 1K? PQD Impossible!
Sep 27, 2017, 7:11 am
#16
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: AA Plat, UA 1K>Plat>moving to Silver
Posts: 2,090
I think it would be pretty hard to be 1K from the US if you did not do 3 or more international business class trips (even heavily discounted, which is the only way I will do it) or lots of paid domestic first. I suspect that for most 1Ks it is the former, and it is business travel. And I also suspect that is the group UA is trying to target.
Sep 27, 2017, 7:28 am
#17
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
... Some of us grind it out the really hard way.
I’ll be requalified for next year by the first week in October, and I’ve done 0 international miles this year ... 100% domestic. It’s awful earning it, a few PQMs at a time.. EWR-CMH-EWR. EWR-ATL-EWR. EWR-DFW-EWR. EWR-MCO-EWR. Rinse & repeat ....
Ive said it before - I really wish there was a way to divide the 1K’s into domestic/int’l road warriors. Different privileges for each.
I.E. - give int’l 1K’s access to polaris lounges, plenty of GPUs (on any fare class!) and maybe some other privileges but not CPUs. Let the domestic 1Ks get CPU priority and maybe some other extra domestic privileges.
Something like that - haven’t fully thought it out - but things like GPUs don’t help me much. I’d trade them for GS-like CPU privileges any day of the week....
I’ll be requalified for next year by the first week in October, and I’ve done 0 international miles this year ... 100% domestic. It’s awful earning it, a few PQMs at a time.. EWR-CMH-EWR. EWR-ATL-EWR. EWR-DFW-EWR. EWR-MCO-EWR. Rinse & repeat ....
Ive said it before - I really wish there was a way to divide the 1K’s into domestic/int’l road warriors. Different privileges for each.
I.E. - give int’l 1K’s access to polaris lounges, plenty of GPUs (on any fare class!) and maybe some other privileges but not CPUs. Let the domestic 1Ks get CPU priority and maybe some other extra domestic privileges.
Something like that - haven’t fully thought it out - but things like GPUs don’t help me much. I’d trade them for GS-like CPU privileges any day of the week....
Sep 27, 2017, 7:52 am
#18
Join Date: Jan 2013
Programs: UA 1K | MR Platinum
Posts: 492
I think it would be pretty hard to be 1K from the US if you did not do 3 or more international business class trips (even heavily discounted, which is the only way I will do it) or lots of paid domestic first. I suspect that for most 1Ks it is the former, and it is business travel. And I also suspect that is the group UA is trying to target.
Sep 27, 2017, 7:56 am
#19
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,227
Ive said it before - I really wish there was a way to divide the 1K’s into domestic/int’l road warriors. Different privileges for each.
I.E. - give int’l 1K’s access to polaris lounges, plenty of GPUs on any fare class!) and maybe some other privileges but not CPUs. Let the domestic 1Ks get CPU priority and maybe some other extra domestic privileges.
Something like that - haven’t fully thought it out - but things like GPUs don’t help me much. I’d trade them for GS-like CPU privileges any day of the week....
I.E. - give int’l 1K’s access to polaris lounges, plenty of GPUs on any fare class!) and maybe some other privileges but not CPUs. Let the domestic 1Ks get CPU priority and maybe some other extra domestic privileges.
Something like that - haven’t fully thought it out - but things like GPUs don’t help me much. I’d trade them for GS-like CPU privileges any day of the week....
Sep 27, 2017, 8:21 am
#20
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Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,468
Even DL manages to give MQD on partner ticketed flights. The requirement of 016 ticket stock is is the biggest problem with UA's PQD scheme.
Sep 27, 2017, 8:38 am
#22
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: MRY - CNX - TXL
Programs: UA 1K / *G / Marriott PE / Expedia Gold+ / Hertz PC
Posts: 7,058
Next April you can get SFO-TPE-BKK rt for $1250 on Premium Economy on BR. I'm jumping on that because my flying in general is going way down. I'm just worrying about my PQDs to hit Gold which will be fine on the 2 TATL J tickets I buy. Being a leisure 1K for 4 years sure was fun!
Sep 27, 2017, 8:38 am
#23
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Haze gray and underway
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, HH Diamond, Marriott 'clink clink' Titanium
Posts: 1,784
Hello,
I just booked a $1400 ticket round trip Prem Economy class to Bangkok on Eva.
I just realized I will earn ZERO PQD!! My fault entirely.American and Delta offer fairly extensive PQD earnings for Premium Economy Class fares so I had no idea these flights literally will not count for status. Seems pretty ridiculous and takes all the fun out of it since United.com doesn't price even close to the competitor website and I did not see a Premium Economy. So this begs the questions, with on United tickets earning PQD, how do so many people achieve 1K!?
I just booked a $1400 ticket round trip Prem Economy class to Bangkok on Eva.
I just realized I will earn ZERO PQD!! My fault entirely.American and Delta offer fairly extensive PQD earnings for Premium Economy Class fares so I had no idea these flights literally will not count for status. Seems pretty ridiculous and takes all the fun out of it since United.com doesn't price even close to the competitor website and I did not see a Premium Economy. So this begs the questions, with on United tickets earning PQD, how do so many people achieve 1K!?
As for not being price competitive I have EWR-NRT-SGN-NRT-SFO-EWR (on 016 stock) this year for sub $700.00.
Sep 27, 2017, 8:59 am
#24
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: IND
Programs: UA Gold, MR Plat
Posts: 38
I think it would be pretty hard to be 1K from the US if you did not do 3 or more international business class trips (even heavily discounted, which is the only way I will do it) or lots of paid domestic first. I suspect that for most 1Ks it is the former, and it is business travel. And I also suspect that is the group UA is trying to target.
Sep 27, 2017, 9:10 am
#25
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1P-1MM, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 3,930
The last year I was a 1K (way back in 2006), I spent ~$12000 on airfare (pretty much PQD) on UA flights. That didn't include several LH flights that could have been on 016 stock. I don't see a problem with spending a lot more on flights given today's pricing.
The funny thing is, now that my flying is less (probably around 30K miles/year), I find that I wouldn't even qualify for silver based on PQD thresholds. Thank you MM status! Of course, I also don't stay on UA for all my flights for the same reason
The funny thing is, now that my flying is less (probably around 30K miles/year), I find that I wouldn't even qualify for silver based on PQD thresholds. Thank you MM status! Of course, I also don't stay on UA for all my flights for the same reason
Sep 27, 2017, 9:26 am
#27
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 1999
Location: Ewa Beach, Hawaii
Posts: 10,909
UA has a goal for how many 1K's there are. If there weren't enough they would ease the requirements. If they didn't have the current restrictions there would be too many.
looks like my account last year. I was at like $15k PQD and 59k PQM.
Sep 27, 2017, 9:42 am
#29
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
Sep 27, 2017, 10:00 am
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 19,510
But that scenario hardly makes any business sense. It's up to the airline to decide whether or not your "suggestion" has merit.