Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Significant Premier Silver Benefits
Related threads
United Silver Status - Experiences/Q&A
What would you pay to be Silver/Gold/Platinum/1k on UA
[Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQD's/PQMs/PQSs in 2018 for Elite Status in 2019
UA/Star Alliance: 2017-2018 Consolidated Mileage/Status/Challenge Runs help needed
Previous Threads
Is it worth it making Premier Silver? [2016 Consolidated]
Is Premier Silver worth it? [2014 - 2015]
- Free E+ access (and for companion) at check-in
- Eligible for Complimentary Premier Upgrade (including a companion)
- RDM earn rate a 7 x PQDs (vs GM @ 5x)
- 500 mile minimum PQM on UA operated flights and some partners
- Boarding Group 2 and priority check-in, priority security (also available to some credit card holders)
- Bag allowance – +1x70 lbs (increased from 50 lbs 28 Sept 2018) (also some credit card holders get +1 or +2 x50lbs))
- Reduced award change / cancellation fees
- Access to expanded economy saver award inventory (also available to some credit card holders)
- Instant upgrades on Y- or B-class full-fare economy tickets
- Eligible for CPU on award flights if primary cardholder (no companions) of select MP credit cards
Related threads
United Silver Status - Experiences/Q&A
What would you pay to be Silver/Gold/Platinum/1k on UA
[Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQD's/PQMs/PQSs in 2018 for Elite Status in 2019
UA/Star Alliance: 2017-2018 Consolidated Mileage/Status/Challenge Runs help needed
Previous Threads
Is it worth it making Premier Silver? [2016 Consolidated]
Is Premier Silver worth it? [2014 - 2015]
Is it worth it making Premier Silver? [2017-2019 Consolidated]
#31
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, Alaska MVP, Hyatt Discoverist, National Executive
Posts: 116
Not for Silver. And with your wife maintaining MVP Gold 75K (plus WN), might be hard to maintain another program, and better off being in one.
If, however, she wants UA, then the status match might be the way to go:
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/app...omoCode=TB8230
90 day window to fly, so might as well start in Jan, rather than this year.
For Silver, you might as well get the Mileage Plus Visa CC, gives you group 2 boarding and one free bag. Only thing you lose is E+ (only at checkin for Silver).
Good luck!
If, however, she wants UA, then the status match might be the way to go:
https://www.united.com/web/en-US/app...omoCode=TB8230
90 day window to fly, so might as well start in Jan, rather than this year.
For Silver, you might as well get the Mileage Plus Visa CC, gives you group 2 boarding and one free bag. Only thing you lose is E+ (only at checkin for Silver).
Good luck!
#32
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, Alaska MVP, Hyatt Discoverist, National Executive
Posts: 116
UA Silver on its own wouldn't be very valuable to us at all. Main attraction for us would be to attain a higher status like UA Gold where the benefits start making a bit more sense. Have had an easier time booking Star Alliance awards and since we're based in the Bay Area, thinking why not give our business to United / Alaska who are active in the Bay Area anyway.
#33
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,362
UA Silver on its own wouldn't be very valuable to us at all. Main attraction for us would be to attain a higher status like UA Gold where the benefits start making a bit more sense. Have had an easier time booking Star Alliance awards and since we're based in the Bay Area, thinking why not give our business to United / Alaska who are active in the Bay Area anyway.
#34
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Silver, AA Platinum, Alaska MVP, Hyatt Discoverist, National Executive
Posts: 116
Achieving UA Silver on its own will not help toward UA Gold status next year. UA doesn't offer rollover; everyone starts from 0 on January 1. So, your plan of getting the Explorer card and buying an E+ subscription -- or trying for a post-Jan 1 status match with Alaska -- probably make the most sense.
Will look to contribute to the forums as best I can.
#35
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: Mileage Plus
Posts: 3
11,000 miles from Silver - is there any reasonable way to qualify?
I'm about 11,000 miles from Silver status. I'm wondering if there is any reasonably cost efficient way of getting 11,000 miles?
Or maybe Silver status isn't worth that much?
Thanks
- Dave
Or maybe Silver status isn't worth that much?
Thanks
- Dave
#36
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,769
What would you vlaueSilver for?
You could purchase an E+ access for less and that provides access at booking
(Re-)Introducing Subscriptions for United Club, Economy Plus and More
You could get a credit card for early boarding and free first bag
Upgrades are rare for Silver
also
Purchase annual E+ access or get a Chase card -- which is better?
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 25, 2017 at 12:33 pm Reason: more links
#37
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: Mileage Plus
Posts: 3
I thought the Silver status also got you a higher mileage multiplier, 5 times I think, on ticket purchase mileage.
Not sure I want to spend the $499 for Economy Plus subscription, but it might be worth it.
I have the credit card and that is where most of miles come from, although Hertz rentals helped also this year.
Not sure I want to spend the $499 for Economy Plus subscription, but it might be worth it.
I have the credit card and that is where most of miles come from, although Hertz rentals helped also this year.
#38
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,769
If a Chase MP card, you get 1 bag and premier boarding.
#39
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Tel Aviv (TLV), Chicago (ORD)
Programs: United Premier 1K, Starwood/Marriott Gold
Posts: 248
Just a data point: This year, I have flown 17 segments on United that had a first class cabin (so all of the segments on ERJ145/CRJ200 etc are not included in the figure). Out of the 17 segments, I have received a CPU on 7/17 of them. Granted, I usually fly smaller routes that are operated by Skywest ERJ175, but I have received some mainline upgrades, and even an op-up from C to F on a domestic 763. Silver may be worth it if you're flying in and out of more regional airports that have ERJ175 or CRJ700 service (like I do).
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 12,592
The differences are:
With silver:
you get E+ at T-24, so you have to check in right then to have a good chance of getting the seat you want (but my E+ subscription is good til march)
Better IRROPS handling
Premier security line (shorter line, regular TSA check) if you aren't precheck
7x multiplier for miles instead of 5x of general member
And not much else.
I've generally had very good luck at T-24 in getting E+ aisles with empty middles, and the price was the same, or maybe $100 less to go for silver, so I did that. I've also taken advantage of the IRROPS handling more than once during winter storms and it is definitely better than being a general member when there are people sleeping on the floor and big lines at the customer service desk.
I also started flying Alaska this year for my North/South travel up to the PNW, but started late in the year so I only made it halfway to MVP. Getting silver let me submit for a status match, so it's slightly better for me to do that than do Explorer and E+ subscription, but it's a close trade.
#41
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,169
I've read through the thread and seek an up-to-date perspective on this. To wit, my Warren-Buffet-sized stash of FPQMs finally ran out this year, and on February 1, 2019, I'll lose Premier status. I plan to keep some benefits via...
- Chase MP Explorer card: $95
- Waived Bag Fee
- Group 2 Boarding
- Better Award Bookings
- Economy Plus Subscription: $899
- Subscriber and companion (global)
#42
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Santa Barbara, CA
Posts: 1,277
I've read through the thread and seek an up-to-date perspective on this. To wit, my Warren-Buffet-sized stash of FPQMs finally ran out this year, and on February 1, 2019, I'll lose Premier status. I plan to keep some benefits via...
- Chase MP Explorer card: $95
- Waived Bag Fee
- Group 2 Boarding
- Better Award Bookings
- Economy Plus Subscription: $899
- Subscriber and companion (global)
None of that seems terribly important.
#43
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 622
I've read through the thread and seek an up-to-date perspective on this. To wit, my Warren-Buffet-sized stash of FPQMs finally ran out this year, and on February 1, 2019, I'll lose Premier status. I plan to keep some benefits via...
- Chase MP Explorer card: $95
- Waived Bag Fee
- Group 2 Boarding
- Better Award Bookings
- Economy Plus Subscription: $899
- Subscriber and companion (global)
- US-based premier desk and the ability to reach a knowledgeable agent within a minute of picking up the phone (usually)
- Much better IRROPS handling (which dovetails with the premier desk)
- Priority baggage handling
- Waived co-pay on domestic MUAs.
On that same trip, I was taking an EWR--SFO second leg that I bought up to business (P) day of. When I landed in EWR, my original flight was 3 hours delayed and the app offered a change to an earlier flight (also delayed, but still leaving much earlier). When I clicked confirm, I learned the hard way that voluntary changes cause upgrades to disappear. I called the premier desk, who looped in a supervisor and the web support team, who were able to see my prior transactions and force me into P on the new flight. Good luck getting the global regular UA customer service line to even figure out what you're asking in that circumstance.
Baggage handling and MUA co-pay waivers are little perks, but not worth much.
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,393
On that same trip, I was taking an EWR--SFO second leg that I bought up to business (P) day of. When I landed in EWR, my original flight was 3 hours delayed and the app offered a change to an earlier flight (also delayed, but still leaving much earlier). When I clicked confirm, I learned the hard way that voluntary changes cause upgrades to disappear. I called the premier desk, who looped in a supervisor and the web support team, who were able to see my prior transactions and force me into P on the new flight. Good luck getting the global regular UA customer service line to even figure out what you're asking in that circumstance.
#45
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,169
I guess the old saw goes something like this: "Silvers don't fly enough for that benefit to be worth the cost." Still, your point is well taken. I have not abandoned considering strategies to retain Silver status in 2019, but only if I can do so economically. Otherwise, it's "Bronze Premier" for me.