Jan 23, 2018, 3:24 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Offers started showingBuy up 24 Jan 2018, see https://promotions.united.com/offers/premierstatus for your offer (if eligible)
In recent years, in January (typically the second week or so), UA has offered status-buy programs. Generally, UA has limited to no more than an additional 15K PQMs or 15 PQSs ( and similar limits for PQDs).
Past year programs
January 2013
January 2014
January 2015
January 2016
2017 UA MP elite status buy-up offers (for higher status than earned in 2016) January 2017
Buy up ≈ MAX(rounded PQM gap fee, rounded PQD gap)
Those rules seem to work >90% of the reported cases. (at least in 2017,2016,2015)
Is it worth it to stretch for 1K (over Plat)? [2017 Consolidated]
Is it worth it to stretch for Plat (over Gold)? [2017 Consolidated]
Is it worth it to stretch for Gold (over Silver)? [2017 Consolidated]
Is it worth it making Premier Silver? [2017 Consolidated]
In recent years, in January (typically the second week or so), UA has offered status-buy programs. Generally, UA has limited to no more than an additional 15K PQMs or 15 PQSs ( and similar limits for PQDs).
Past year programs
January 2013
January 2014
January 2015
January 2016
2017 UA MP elite status buy-up offers (for higher status than earned in 2016) January 2017
Buy up ≈ MAX(rounded PQM gap fee, rounded PQD gap)
Those rules seem to work >90% of the reported cases. (at least in 2017,2016,2015)
Code:
PQM gap chart for earlier years to Sil to Gold to Plat to 1K 1K $199 $299 $349 N/A 2K $349 $499 $649 $999 3K $499 $649 $849 $1,399 4K $649 $799 $999 $1,699 5K $799 $949 $1,149 $1,949 6K $949 $1,099 $1,299 $2,199 7K $1,099 $1,249 $1,449 $2,449 8K $1,249 $1,399 $1,599 $2,699 9K $1,399 $1,549 $1,749 $2,949 10K $1,549 $1,699 $1,899 $3,149 11K $1,699 $1,849 $2,049 $3,349 12K $1,849 $1,999 $2,199 $3,549 13K $1,999 $2,149 $2,349 $3,749 14K $2,149 $2,299 $2,499 $3,949 15K $2,299 $2,449 $2,649 $4,149
Is it worth it to stretch for Plat (over Gold)? [2017 Consolidated]
Is it worth it to stretch for Gold (over Silver)? [2017 Consolidated]
Is it worth it making Premier Silver? [2017 Consolidated]
2018 UA MP elite status buy-up offers (for higher status than earned in 2017)
Feb 14, 2018, 8:24 am
#91
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat; *A Gold; Marriott Gold
Posts: 351
Just received an email offer last night:
Name: XXXX
MileagePlus number: XXXX
2017 Total PQM balance: 114,144
2017 Total PQS balance: 46.5
2017 Total PQD balance: $11,092
Qualified level for 2018: Premier Platinum
Premier 1K status for 2018: $1,000
I bit for $1K for 1K. The past few years I've consistently been Platinum as I've been over 100k on PQM but below the PQD requirement. Figured I'd see if 1K is worth the expense as earning it would require me to spend more personal money each year as I couldn't make it on business travel alone (all domestic coach).
Name: XXXX
MileagePlus number: XXXX
2017 Total PQM balance: 114,144
2017 Total PQS balance: 46.5
2017 Total PQD balance: $11,092
Qualified level for 2018: Premier Platinum
Premier 1K status for 2018: $1,000
I bit for $1K for 1K. The past few years I've consistently been Platinum as I've been over 100k on PQM but below the PQD requirement. Figured I'd see if 1K is worth the expense as earning it would require me to spend more personal money each year as I couldn't make it on business travel alone (all domestic coach).
Feb 15, 2018, 4:20 am
#92
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: LAX and LHR. UA lifetime Gold 1.9MM 1K , DL Gold Medallion, HHonors Gold, Marriott Gold, Avis President's Club
Posts: 3,592
My offer three weeks ago was $1,625 to move from Gold to Plat (I was still 1K at that time, but about to drop two levels). I had more than fulfilled the PQD for Plat but was 4,000 PQM short. Since as a 1MM I was effectively buying up for Mrs 1P as well as myself, I took the offer. The RPUs may or may not prove useful, but Plats have a better baggage allowance than Golds, which certainly has value.
Feb 22, 2018, 9:40 am
#93
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: San Francisco, CA (SFO)
Programs: UA 1K, UA .53 MM, Marriott Gold, Nexus, GE, TSA Pre, Hertz PC
Posts: 581
Targeted Promotion: Buy Up to Premier Gold
My girlfriend received a piece of mail from United (I'm still waiting for my 1K kit) offering up Gold Status for 2018.
As a data point, here are her 2017 numbers:
PQM: 45,569
PQS: 33
PQD: $4,698
- Visit united.com/status18
- Sign in to your MileagePlus account
- Purchase by February 28, 2018
As a data point, here are her 2017 numbers:
PQM: 45,569
PQS: 33
PQD: $4,698
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Feb 22, 2018 at 11:32 am Reason: merged into exisiting thread
Feb 22, 2018, 10:07 am
#94
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
That appears to be the typical offer for elite buy-up, based on a $2302 shortfall in PQD (but ~5k shortfall on PQM)
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Feb 22, 2018 at 11:32 am Reason: cleanup after merge; thans for the link
Feb 22, 2018, 10:12 am
#95
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: San Francisco, CA (SFO)
Programs: UA 1K, UA .53 MM, Marriott Gold, Nexus, GE, TSA Pre, Hertz PC
Posts: 581
Considering you were $1,590 short on PQD and 1,660 short on PQM the offer isn't that hilarious. Seems to be in line with what you would have had to spend in 2017 had you wanted Silver status anyways.
Feb 22, 2018, 10:21 am
#96
Join Date: Feb 2017
Programs: United Mileage Plus
Posts: 86
I recognizing that they are filling the gap which is fair enough. But considering how much I had spent to get those miles and having a JFK -> PEK -> NRT and back again not qualify for PQD due to flying on a non-016 ticket it's not worth paying the extra.
Feb 22, 2018, 10:38 am
#97
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: NJ
Posts: 107
Its hilarious to think giving UA $1700 without asking them to fly you somewhere in return is worth the incredible perks of Silver status, many of which can be obtained for $95/year with the first year waived in the form of the CC
Feb 22, 2018, 11:37 am
#98
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
My suspicion is that these offers are mainly aimed at people are are very close, and for whom it's not that expensive. But they add in the options for bigger shortfalls to avoid people complaining "why am I not eligible when I was *only* 5k short?" By going all the way out to 15k they can defend against even the most unreasonable of free bump requests.
Feb 22, 2018, 1:55 pm
#99
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: NJ
Posts: 107
And combined with an economy plus subscription you come in well below half of that.
My suspicion is that these offers are mainly aimed at people are are very close, and for whom it's not that expensive. But they add in the options for bigger shortfalls to avoid people complaining "why am I not eligible when I was *only* 5k short?" By going all the way out to 15k they can defend against even the most unreasonable of free bump requests.
My suspicion is that these offers are mainly aimed at people are are very close, and for whom it's not that expensive. But they add in the options for bigger shortfalls to avoid people complaining "why am I not eligible when I was *only* 5k short?" By going all the way out to 15k they can defend against even the most unreasonable of free bump requests.
Last edited by bizzarODog; Feb 23, 2018 at 7:19 am
Feb 22, 2018, 2:44 pm
#100
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: San Francisco, CA (SFO)
Programs: UA 1K, UA .53 MM, Marriott Gold, Nexus, GE, TSA Pre, Hertz PC
Posts: 581
Feb 28, 2018, 9:39 am
#101
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Chicago,IL
Programs: UA Plat, AA Plat, Marriot Gold, SPG Plat, Enterprise Silver, Hilton Silver
Posts: 49
is it worth it?
2017 Total PQM balance: 42,451
2017 Total PQS balance: 26.5
2017 Total PQD balance: $6,586
Qualified level for 2018: Premier Silver
offer is $1,399 to get to Gold?
2017 Total PQS balance: 26.5
2017 Total PQD balance: $6,586
Qualified level for 2018: Premier Silver
offer is $1,399 to get to Gold?
Feb 28, 2018, 2:11 pm
#102
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: 66,822
Feb 28, 2018, 2:13 pm
#103
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: United Plat 2MM, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,727
Feb 28, 2018, 3:53 pm
#104
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Chicago,IL
Programs: UA Plat, AA Plat, Marriot Gold, SPG Plat, Enterprise Silver, Hilton Silver
Posts: 49
Thanks @WineCountryUA yeah I don't see doing that many SDC if anything company would pay... hmmm
Feb 28, 2018, 5:46 pm
#105
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: United, American, Delta, Hyatt, Hilton, Hertz, Marriott
Posts: 14,797
The other side of the coin, but I wonder why United hasn’t implemented a PQM/PQS rollover at the end of each year, rolling over PQM/S in excess of a premier qualifying level. Delta started doing it years ago. United has yet to follow.