Aug 29, 2018, 12:57 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Major differences between Gold and Silver A summary of differences is available here: Premier benefits chart
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[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 thread(s)
Is it worth it to stretch for Gold (over Silver)? [2017 Consolidated]
Is it worth it to stretch for Gold (over Silver)? [2016 Consolidated]
- Use *G lounges on international trips
- Use *G lounges on domestic flights when departing from select US airports
- 2 bags @ 70 lbs (vs 1 @ 70lbs -Silver increased from 50lbs 28 Sept 2018)
- Boarding Group 1
- Lower award booking and change fees
- E+ at time of booking for yourself + 1.
- Free Same Day Change (SDC)
- Higher earning rate for RDMs (8 vs 7)
- Higher on the upgrade list
- Eligible for Marriott Gold Status via RewardsPlus
Related threads
[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 thread(s)
Is it worth it to stretch for Gold (over Silver)? [2017 Consolidated]
Is it worth it to stretch for Gold (over Silver)? [2016 Consolidated]
Is it worth it to stretch for Gold (over Silver)? [2018 Consolidated]
Aug 31, 2018, 4:31 pm
#31
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2018
Programs: Marriott Ambassador/United 1K
Posts: 68
James, really appreciate the summary there.
Sounds like upgrades outside of GS aren't likely on United, and the only way to earn the clout is spend a lot on United or fly a lot on United or both. Will try to up my game
Sounds like upgrades outside of GS aren't likely on United, and the only way to earn the clout is spend a lot on United or fly a lot on United or both. Will try to up my game
Aug 31, 2018, 4:39 pm
#32
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: 66,857
That is a bit of an over statement. Regularly being upgraded on hub-to-hub flights, that's tough but not unknown for 1Ks to occasional score. Lower elites it is much rarer.
Getting away from hub-to-hub and things can get better. But still best never to have an expectation of an upgrade, but they do happen -- off-peak, non-hub-to-hub.
Getting away from hub-to-hub and things can get better. But still best never to have an expectation of an upgrade, but they do happen -- off-peak, non-hub-to-hub.
So it depends on your travel patterns and depends on your expectations --- and higher status will make a difference.
And when not upgraded, E+ helps IMHO.
Aug 31, 2018, 5:22 pm
#33
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,421
That is a bit of an over statement. Regularly being upgraded on hub-to-hub flights, that's tough but not unknown for 1Ks to occasional score. Lower elites it is much rarer.
Getting away from hub-to-hub and things can get better. But still best never to have an expectation of an upgrade, but they do happen -- off-peak, non-hub-to-hub.
Getting away from hub-to-hub and things can get better. But still best never to have an expectation of an upgrade, but they do happen -- off-peak, non-hub-to-hub.
That statistic is very misleading though, since I buy F when I want to sit up front and don't think I can get the upgrade. More like 15% of my flights are CPUed, and most of the rest I would not have been upgraded if I were in Y. As a 1K, I think the perspective is there are routes and times which are guaranteed CPUs (unless it's an Airbus, I always CPU on SFO-MSP and vv and it's not even close), there are many routes where you have a fighting chance, and if you're flying SFO-DCA or SFO-ORD on a Sunday then just admit the front cabin is 24/24 paid and no amount of status will get you a free upgrade.
Sep 18, 2018, 5:54 pm
#34
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 26
Once you hit gold, can you choose Economy Plus seats on existing reservations? I assume yes, and it is not just bookings after you hit the status. Trying to decide if I should take a short trip to get to Gold (only 180 miles shy) so that my next long-haul, which is already booked, is at Gold status.
Sep 19, 2018, 5:09 am
#36
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: BOM
Programs: UK Silver, UA Gold
Posts: 164
Unfortunately i am stuck at 49166 PQM this week & have a bunch of international/US travel coming up starting Sunday - I wanted to take a couple of short flights on AI out of my home airport BOM this week but work schedule has been terrible and doesnt look like it will happen - besides AI flights take ages to post on my UA account. How long would UA take to update my status to Gold after my BOM-EWR-IAH flight this Sunday?
Sep 19, 2018, 5:33 am
#37
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
Unfortunately i am stuck at 49166 PQM this week & have a bunch of international/US travel coming up starting Sunday - I wanted to take a couple of short flights on AI out of my home airport BOM this week but work schedule has been terrible and doesnt look like it will happen - besides AI flights take ages to post on my UA account. How long would UA take to update my status to Gold after my BOM-EWR-IAH flight this Sunday?
Last edited by StuckinITH; Sep 19, 2018 at 7:29 am
Sep 19, 2018, 7:24 am
#38
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: EWR
Programs: UA 1.65M , Platinum, 1K Emeritus, UC Lifetime , HHonors Gold, Presidential Plus card holder
Posts: 697
BG1 for Gold is a nice change. As Platinum its a small step back with the 1Ks pre boarding, but as a MM who will not always be able to keep that status I like it.
Sep 21, 2018, 1:01 pm
#39
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Posts: 253
Lounge access for UA*G domestic passengers?
So airport lounge access when flying domestically might be a limited benefit for you based on where you're flying out of. The major airports in the US that allow UA domestic passengers to use lounge are IAD, LGA, LAX, DTW, BOS. The lounges at EWR and ORD can be accessed with some difficulty (i.e. terminal change and re-clearing security) ....
Sep 21, 2018, 1:06 pm
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
No. However, there are *A partner clubs in those airports that do allow access.
Sep 21, 2018, 1:32 pm
#41
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Boston, MA, USA
Posts: 253
Sep 21, 2018, 1:44 pm
#42
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Gold (.85 MM), HH Diamond, SPG Platinum (LT Gold), Hertz PC, National EE
Posts: 5,656
I personally wouldn’t chase any status beyond what naturally happens. Having done this in the past, and flying as much as I do, I can assure you that even If I was granted unlimited access to the Polaris lounge (been twice and loved it), I wouldn’t extend much beyond what I already fly.
Nov 5, 2018, 7:47 pm
#43
In Memoriam, FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL GM, UA Platinum, HH DIA, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Platinum, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 33,857
Managed to hit Gold last month in the middle of a RDU-PEK P fare. Yesterday was my first time flying a Y ticket as Gold, I was on a W Fare so I was curious to see where I'd end up on the upgrade list
- DTW-IAD CR7: #3 of 7
- IAD-RDU 319: #7 of 17
Woohoo single digits! After three years of Silver I forgot what those looked like!
- DTW-IAD CR7: #3 of 7
- IAD-RDU 319: #7 of 17
Woohoo single digits! After three years of Silver I forgot what those looked like!
Nov 5, 2018, 11:41 pm
#44
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,467
13 upgraded - 10 instruments, 3 CPU
13 paid premium cabin - at least 2 of these were buy-ups when it was obvious CPU wouldn't clear
2 single cabin aircraft
1 economy (SFO-SNA)
Nov 26, 2018, 5:10 pm
#45
Join Date: Dec 2015
Posts: 49
So it looks like I'm going to be about 8K PQM short of gold at the end of the year based on what I have scheduled for Christmas travel.
Does it make sens to do a mileage run in the next couple weeks to get the miles for gold? I fly maybe 4-5 times a year and when I do I typically buy or upgrade to J - mostly domestic.
This year I got a ton of miles for a paid J TPAC trip I took - not likely next year.
Does it make sens to do a mileage run in the next couple weeks to get the miles for gold? I fly maybe 4-5 times a year and when I do I typically buy or upgrade to J - mostly domestic.
This year I got a ton of miles for a paid J TPAC trip I took - not likely next year.