Jan 22, 2018, 4:34 pm
Last edit by: PTahCha
Let's use this thread to report actually delivery of the packets and comments about the kit contents.
Please no "nothing yet" posts (at least until we get to mid-January (15 Jan 2017 is be more specific) when that mean there is an issue.
In the past, UA has used mystatus.united.com to report shipment status of the kits.
Past years
Have you received you 2017 Premier Kit-Post when you qualified and have received it
Receipt of 2016 MileagePlus Elite Card/Packets
Receipt of 2015 MileagePlus Elite Card/Packets
Receipt of 2014 MileagePlus Elite Card/Packets
Please no "nothing yet" posts (at least until we get to mid-January (15 Jan 2017 is be more specific) when that mean there is an issue.
If everything goes to plan, this is what you are supposed to get this year:
Global Services: Card, Luggage Tags, Drink Chits, Coasters, Global Service Perk, Luggage Wrap (request)
Premier 1K: Card, Luggage Tags, Drink Chits, Coasters, Luggage Wrap (request)
Premier Platinum: Card, Luggage Tags, Drink Chits
Premier Gold: Card (request), Luggage Tag
Premier Silver: Card (request), Luggage Tag
Global Services: Card, Luggage Tags, Drink Chits, Coasters, Global Service Perk, Luggage Wrap (request)
Premier 1K: Card, Luggage Tags, Drink Chits, Coasters, Luggage Wrap (request)
Premier Platinum: Card, Luggage Tags, Drink Chits
Premier Gold: Card (request), Luggage Tag
Premier Silver: Card (request), Luggage Tag
Past years
Have you received you 2017 Premier Kit-Post when you qualified and have received it
Receipt of 2016 MileagePlus Elite Card/Packets
Receipt of 2015 MileagePlus Elite Card/Packets
Receipt of 2014 MileagePlus Elite Card/Packets
2018 Premier Kits are Shipping - Have you received yours?
Feb 16, 2018, 12:52 pm
#556
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold (.85 MM), HH Diamond, SPG Platinum (LT Gold), Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 5,660
Granted, this is the first year I'm no longer 1K, now a Gold, but not once have I ever had to show a card. Not in Sydney, Melbourne, or in Detroit for the Lufthansa lounge. Complete non issue IMO. Munich was a non issue as well.
Feb 16, 2018, 12:54 pm
#557
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Verdi, NV, SFO & Olympic (aka Squaw )Valley.
Programs: Ikon Pass Full + AS Gold + Marriott Titanium + Hilton Gold. Recovering UA Plat. LT lounge AA+DL+UA
Posts: 3,823
As a Gold who has been denied lounge access with just a digital card this is a big deal for me. I've requested a physical card, and won't book a United flight until it arrives. So far this year I've done a lap to Hawaii on Virgin America, and 11 flights on WN. Should hit A-list before end of April.
As someone with an MBA, I totally get that one of my peers looked at the number of UA Golds, how much it costs UA for each *G lounge entry, and how often the cards were actually used. It might be that sending a kit with a card costs $10 and then increases lounge access by an average of 2x/year at $10. So sending a card costs $30, and using the app is "free." From my perspective, this is just not the type of cost management that will drive a revenue premium or loyalty.
As someone with an MBA, I totally get that one of my peers looked at the number of UA Golds, how much it costs UA for each *G lounge entry, and how often the cards were actually used. It might be that sending a kit with a card costs $10 and then increases lounge access by an average of 2x/year at $10. So sending a card costs $30, and using the app is "free." From my perspective, this is just not the type of cost management that will drive a revenue premium or loyalty.
Feb 16, 2018, 1:09 pm
#558
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
My guess is anyone who received a Gold card newly qualified in late 2017 when cards were still being sent or they are confused about which card they received or their status.
Also no reports yet THIS YEAR on a lounge denial for lack of a physical card. Now anything may happen but hoepfully will be very rare. My guess most people are reporting experiences from a year or two ago which may or may not reflect present practice.
Feb 16, 2018, 2:27 pm
#559
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: USA
Programs: UA (1K, 2MM), AA, Avis, National
Posts: 867
Unfortunately there are situations when a card is asked for. For example, I had a situation when my BPs were issued by a 3-rd party vendor at the departure airport and did not have my *G status printed on them. The first leg was with a UA partner and UA app did not show an electronic BP. The card was needed to verify my *G status. This kind of a situation does not come up often, but it does happen.
Feb 16, 2018, 3:25 pm
#560
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 506
Platinum here (qualified December), but I haven't gotten anything yet.
Feb 16, 2018, 4:04 pm
#562
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: UA, LH, BA
Posts: 294
Unfortunately there are situations when a card is asked for. For example, I had a situation when my BPs were issued by a 3-rd party vendor at the departure airport and did not have my *G status printed on them. The first leg was with a UA partner and UA app did not show an electronic BP. The card was needed to verify my *G status. This kind of a situation does not come up often, but it does happen.
Feb 16, 2018, 4:23 pm
#563
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: USA
Programs: UA (1K, 2MM), AA, Avis, National
Posts: 867
same here... that's how I got denied entry at least 3 times from Star Alliance lounges. They would not accept a screenshot of my gold card or the digital card on the United app displayed on my phone. They want to see the "real" card and since the lounges were packed, they had not time(or interest) in calling United for me. Almost got denied again 3 weeks ago, but the nice agent wasn't busy, so she actually called United to verify.
My 1K kit was waiting for me when I got back home, so I do have a current physical card now.
Feb 16, 2018, 4:47 pm
#564
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: UA, LH, BA
Posts: 294
I had better luck. My e-card was accepted in FRA. The agent said "today only" as this was on February 1 and the e-card has no expiration date (1/2018 disappeared, 1/2019 appeared on February 2).
My 1K kit was waiting for me when I got back home, so I do have a current physical card now.
My 1K kit was waiting for me when I got back home, so I do have a current physical card now.
she had really nice shinny red plastic-rim glasses. that's the one I encountered at FRA who called United and let me in after verifying my gold status.
Feb 17, 2018, 1:47 pm
#565
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 37
Wow, someone is on the ball at the MP service center email desk. Just got this. It has been since pmUA that I've heard anyone thanked for being MM:
"We’re always glad to hear from one of our most loyal customers. Not many can say they've flown more than a million miles! Thanks for your reply. I’ve requested your card and it should arrive within six weeks. "
Feb 17, 2018, 1:59 pm
#566
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: BUR / LAX
Programs: UA MM/Gold; WN A-list; HH something depending; Marriott Gold
Posts: 1,554
How long did it take for the email desk to respond to your request? I "emailed" them a couple days ago via the web interface but it the website never confirmed it was successfully sent or anything. After clicking submit a few times I figured it went through but haven't heard back yet.
Feb 17, 2018, 2:32 pm
#567
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Wherever
Programs: UA 1MM for a while now, AS for a minute, BAEC newly minted Gold
Posts: 1,172
deleted
Last edited by cyborg; Jun 2, 2018 at 3:34 pm Reason: Moving on from Flyertalk
Feb 17, 2018, 2:36 pm
#568
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
While not an apples to apples situation, yesterday I witnessed a gold *A member challenged by Thai Airways staff at BKK who was in the Business/Royal Silk Class/Star Gold priority boarding line for a flight. She asked to see his Gold Card and he tried to explain to the Gate Agent that he did not have it and his boarding pass did not show status. ...
Clearly a nuisance in that case but later boarding is not a tragedy.
Was the virtual card on the app refused?
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Feb 17, 2018 at 2:48 pm Reason: virtual card?
Feb 17, 2018, 3:27 pm
#569
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
I called into the MP Service Center today to request a replacement 1K kit. The agent seemed agreeable and said that I should get the kit in mid-March.
