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]
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
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.
#47
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 12,597
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.
I'll also second the value of IRROPS handling as a silver with another example. A few years ago I was flying DTW-LAX on an award ticket a few days after christmas and due to weather in DEN my aircraft for DTW-ORD was coming in too late to make my connection. I called the premier line from my mom's house as soon as the delay posted (it was obvious on flightaware 30 min before that) where I was staying and got a live person on the first ring (during IRROPS in DEN!). I asked if they had any alternates that evening. I was pretty sure they didn't, but they have better info. They said no, but booked me DTW-IAH-LAX for the next morning and changed the YN ticket to regular Y so I got an instant upgrade in the process. The plane the next morning went MX for over an hour, and while I sat in my comfy F seat drinking endless coffee watched as my chances of making my connection in IAH disappeared. On arrival at IAH, the app had already booked me for the evening, and the terminal was a nightmare of disrupted passengers. I deplaned right near the customer service desk that had a huge line for non-status people and not a single person in the premier line. I walked up, asked if they could put me on standby for a flight leaving in about 30 minutes without dropping me from the confirmed flight. "Sure", and it was done. When I looked at the standby list, I was number 1 out of about 50. I then cleared onto the flight in an E+ aisle seat (having lived a good clean life of niceness and generosity) and flew comfortably home. As a non-silver I'd have still been in the long line, waiting in tears as the flight left with someone else in that seat.
Also, be alert when buying E+ subscriptions online - the UA shopping cart had a very strange behavior last year where you could put E+ into the cart, but it would switch it to a club membership at checkout. It looks like it might finally be fixed, but be wary.
#48
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,854
But the subscription provides E+ access at booking vs at check-in. Not sure that is an easy trade-off of the raw irrop support difference.
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,414
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.
#50
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
Agreed; my point was just that it takes a lot of E+ purchases -- which can also be made at booking -- to reach $900. So, anyone who is considering that must be planning to fly quite a bit.
#51
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,169
RNE, surprised E+ subscriptions are so inexpensive.
#52
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 12,597
Domestic E+ seats seem to run $10-20 per hour of flight, depending on when you buy, and it takes about 50 hours of flight to get enough miles to make silver, at which point there's much less incentive to buy an E+ subscription. I think the only time I haven't gotten an E+ aisle or window seat as a silver was when the flight was being booked while I was driving to the airport. If the E+ subscription was priced at the high end there would be no real advantage over per-flight E+ purchases and some disadvantage, because the outlay is large and your travel patterns could change in a way that leaves you flying a lot less. So they sort of have to price it at the low end of what you'd pay if you just bought E+ seats on your way to silver.
#53
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Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
OK, yeah, I take it back. I knew E+ pricing had increased over the years but I hadn't realized it had gotten that bad. I've seen discount Y fares that aren't much more than that, so you're talking about a 100% premium for E+ in some cases. That's crazy.
#54
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$150 per segment is even pretty common on transcons. At that point I'm not really sure why you don't buy F, but to each their own.
#55
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: JZRO
Posts: 9,169
#56
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: BOS
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 194
+1 on IRROPS help...I've found much value in that over the years
500 PQM minimum on short segments...may not be big in the grand scheme but I've found it helpful for short connecting flights
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)
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jun 17, 2018 at 3:26 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
#57
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 12,597
Some travel policies only allow you to purchase Y cabin. Depending on how much I'm flying, I'll buy up to first afterward if it's on the order of $60/hour for flights over 3 hours. Shorter flights it matters a lot less.
#58
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX
Programs: 1K
Posts: 784
It makes you wonder, though. United will accept a ton of $99ish+ ToD upgrades. If they had loyal customers like me that would consistently pay $150, I would cover 1.5 ToD upgrades AND consistently purchase the fare throughout the entire year.
#59
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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The fare differential is $299. My perspective is that if I'm willing to offer up $150 for 4" more legroom, I'm sure willing to pay twice that to actually fly F. Obviously not everyone agrees, but I'm also driven by the fact that I find well over half the value in F to be the seat width as you're not rubbing shoulders with a stranger for six hours.
#60
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Washington DC
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Posts: 524
also remember in the next year or two when all UA long hauls been converted to Polaris and Premium Plus, the E+ section will be much smaller than before (roughly 50% of previous size). Having a subscription probably will help you getting a good E+ seat, however, i don't think silver and even gold will have a good shot at E+ anymore on international long haul (at least decent seats). but again, there will be times where you might be op-uped to PP directly at gate if they over sell regular economy.