Seeking Gold - Relatively High Spend, low miles, low segs
Oct 11, 2017, 6:41 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 100
Seeking Gold - Relatively High Spend, low miles, low segs
Currently I sit at about $10,500 in PQD, 17,800 PQM and 29.5 PQS for the year. I'll probably end the year at about $15k+ in PQD on United, but I may log another 10k in PQM and 10-15 PQS.
I'm just wondering how likely they are to bump me up? I still plan to call next week once I cross the "silver" PQS threshold (which comes with my Marriott Platinum status anyway). Anyone heard of them doing something like this?
I'm just wondering how likely they are to bump me up? I still plan to call next week once I cross the "silver" PQS threshold (which comes with my Marriott Platinum status anyway). Anyone heard of them doing something like this?
Oct 11, 2017, 7:01 pm
#2
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: DL Gold, UA nothing (ex-GS), Marriott lifetime Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 920
It's unlikely you'll get bumped up unless you meet all of the requirements, unless your employer has a special arrangement with United and you have many employees with similar high-spend travel patterns.
I assume you know about the PQM multipliers for certain fare classes. Depending on your upcoming travel, might be worth springing for F instead of P/Z fare classes, which is generally a cheaper way to get PQM than to buy Premier Accelerator.
I assume you know about the PQM multipliers for certain fare classes. Depending on your upcoming travel, might be worth springing for F instead of P/Z fare classes, which is generally a cheaper way to get PQM than to buy Premier Accelerator.
Oct 11, 2017, 7:15 pm
#4
Join Date: May 2012
Programs: UA
Posts: 1,098
Just out of curiosity how are you getting such a high PQD with while averaging 600 miles per segment? You're pretty much at 50 cents per mile. If you're getting the premium + Y/B fare PQM bonus then you're really at an astonishing spend/PQM.
Seems like you're falling through the cracks of the system since you'll easily hit the 1K PQD requirement but barely hit the silver PQM. Usually its the other way around for most people.
Seems like you're falling through the cracks of the system since you'll easily hit the 1K PQD requirement but barely hit the silver PQM. Usually its the other way around for most people.
Oct 11, 2017, 7:19 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 100
First, sorry I missed this... not sure if this thread belongs in the wiki....Will UA Grant 2018 EliteStatus if I am XXX PQM/PQS/{PQD} Short of Qualifying in 2017?
So, my main trade routes are just barely over 500 base miles. At 50,000 miles needed, I'm roughly 22,000 miles short, I'll need about 8 Round trips in F (which isn't usually sold on my lil' regional jet). With 10-11 weeks left in the year, I won't take that many trips.
Sigh...I just want lounge access when I get dumped off my one or two award international C or F and fly united short haul F back to Denver. Yes, I know I can buy it, but why do it when it's free? That, and like gambling, I want my hope of ever getting an upgrade to go up, but I know it would virtually be impossible on the routes I fly.
So, my main trade routes are just barely over 500 base miles. At 50,000 miles needed, I'm roughly 22,000 miles short, I'll need about 8 Round trips in F (which isn't usually sold on my lil' regional jet). With 10-11 weeks left in the year, I won't take that many trips.
Sigh...I just want lounge access when I get dumped off my one or two award international C or F and fly united short haul F back to Denver. Yes, I know I can buy it, but why do it when it's free? That, and like gambling, I want my hope of ever getting an upgrade to go up, but I know it would virtually be impossible on the routes I fly.
Oct 11, 2017, 7:26 pm
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 100
Just out of curiosity how are you getting such a high PQD with while averaging 600 miles per segment? You're pretty much at 50 cents per mile. If you're getting the premium + Y/B fare PQM bonus then you're really at an astonishing spend/PQM.
Seems like you're falling through the cracks of the system since you'll easily hit the 1K PQD requirement but barely hit the silver PQM. Usually its the other way around for most people.
Seems like you're falling through the cracks of the system since you'll easily hit the 1K PQD requirement but barely hit the silver PQM. Usually its the other way around for most people.
I book DEN to DIK/MAF/IAH. Oilfield routes, and I typically book no more than a week out, often the day before or day of.
Oct 11, 2017, 7:27 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: LHR (sometimes CLE, SFO, BOS, LAX, SEA)
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 5,892
Oct 11, 2017, 7:49 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
Sigh...I just want lounge access when I get dumped off my one or two award international C or F and fly united short haul F back to Denver. Yes, I know I can buy it, but why do it when it's free? That, and like gambling, I want my hope of ever getting an upgrade to go up, but I know it would virtually be impossible on the routes I fly.
Oct 11, 2017, 7:57 pm
#9
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: UA, Starwood, Priority Club, Hertz, Starbucks Gold Card
Posts: 3,952
You have the classic profile of a "captive." My sympathies. IMO, a fairer FPP program would award status based on meeting at least 2 of four factors -- EQS, EQD, EQM, and a new one that I just made up, average $ per mile flown ("EQDPM"). It's just a thought, and I won't hold my breath expecting something like that to happen anytime soon.
Oct 11, 2017, 8:01 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 100
And I just realized my math above is incorrect, I would need 32,000 miles, not 22,000!
Oct 11, 2017, 8:06 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,369
Not to derail the thread too much beyond my $0.75/mi (yes, I just put it in a spreadsheet), but I have been denied access multiple times at SFO and at IAH with C or F int'l boarding pass in hand. Usually the frumpy ladies tell me it is for outbound only (which always works).
And I just realized my math above is incorrect, I would need 32,000 miles, not 22,000!
And I just realized my math above is incorrect, I would need 32,000 miles, not 22,000!
I think your 22K number was coming from incremental flying, beyond the 10K you expect to get organically.
UA is unlikely to bump you up. Your cheapest lounge option is going to be buying one-time passes for the dates when you want access. If you really want *G, you're likely to have to pay for it. You can get 20K+ PQMs via TPAC travel, even in Y. Of course, that's a lot of flying in Y...
Oct 11, 2017, 8:11 pm
#12
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
Not to derail the thread too much beyond my $0.75/mi (yes, I just put it in a spreadsheet), but I have been denied access multiple times at SFO and at IAH with C or F int'l boarding pass in hand. Usually the frumpy ladies tell me it is for outbound only (which always works).
And I just realized my math above is incorrect, I would need 32,000 miles, not 22,000!
And I just realized my math above is incorrect, I would need 32,000 miles, not 22,000!
I guess you must be flying the international portion on a Star Alliance flight not an United one.
Last edited by StuckinITH; Oct 11, 2017 at 8:23 pm Reason: My statement was wrong if OP is on a Star Alliance flight
Oct 11, 2017, 8:12 pm
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 100
If it's a UA flight, you should have access upon arrival. If it's a partner flight, you won't.
I think your 22K number was coming from incremental flying, beyond the 10K you expect to get organically.
UA is unlikely to bump you up. Your cheapest lounge option is going to be buying one-time passes for the dates when you want access. If you really want *G, you're likely to have to pay for it. You can get 20K+ PQMs via TPAC travel, even in Y. Of course, that's a lot of flying in Y...
I think your 22K number was coming from incremental flying, beyond the 10K you expect to get organically.
UA is unlikely to bump you up. Your cheapest lounge option is going to be buying one-time passes for the dates when you want access. If you really want *G, you're likely to have to pay for it. You can get 20K+ PQMs via TPAC travel, even in Y. Of course, that's a lot of flying in Y...
A few phone calls while sitting at the airport, I think might be worth the effort however.
Oct 11, 2017, 10:10 pm
#14
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: EWR, GVA
Programs: UA Gold
Posts: 78
they won't do anything if you call but you have to wait until January, that's when the marketing department or whatever the department, chooses people to bump up the status. i'd say you have a chance of getting bumped up. my wife had only about 65k PQM but $20k+ PQD and ended up with Premier 1k! and I had about 15k PQM and 7k PQD and got bumped to Silver.. def higher PQD helps!
Oct 12, 2017, 1:11 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: ORD, HKG
Programs: UA*G, AA Emerald, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt globalist
Posts: 10,272
Actually on top of you need to arrive on a UA flight, you also need to be UA*G to access UA club on arrival, as long as you are UA*G, it doesnt matter even you flew in Y. This rule has been used since UA club was RCC !