Sep 28, 2018, 11:53 am
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Today we’re introducing a few updates for members with MileagePlus Premier® status — some of which are already in effect and some that will come later. These updates include added benefits related to boarding groups and baggage allowances, as well as adjustments to our upgrade structure and Premier 1K® status qualification requirements.
Better boarding
Effective on September 18, 2018
· Premier® 1K® members will be called to board during pre-boarding ahead of Group 1
· Premier Gold members will now board with Boarding Group1, previous in Group 2
Baggage allowance for Premier members
Effective on September 28, 2018:
All Premier® members, regardless of Premier status, will receive the same standard weight allowance for checked baggage: 70 lbs. (32 kg.)
Additionally:
· All Premier members flying in United Business®, United First®, or United Polaris® business class are allowed up to three bags with a maximum weight of 70 lbs. (32 kg) per bag.
· Premier Gold members flying in United Economy® between the U.S. and Europe are allowed three bags with a maximum weight of 70 lbs. (32 kg) per bag.
· Premier Silver members flying in United Economy between the U.S. and Europe are allowed two bags with a maximum weight of 70 lbs. (32 kg) per bag.
Premier qualification requirements
Effective on January 1, 2019:
· Premier qualification dollar (PQD) requirement for Premier 1K status will be raised from $12,000 to $15,000.
· P-class fares will earn 150% Premier qualifying miles (PQM), reduced from 200%.
Premier upgrades
Effective on January 1, 2019:
· The way a Premier 1K member earns additional upgrades will be changing. For every 25,000 Premier qualifying miles (PQM) or 30 Premier qualifying segments (PQS) after qualifying for Premier 1K status, we’ll add one Global Premier Upgrades into your account. No additional Regional Premier Upgrades can be earned after qualifying for Premier 1K status.
More details can be found here: www.mileageplusupdates.com
- UA Insider
Better boarding
Effective on September 18, 2018
· Premier® 1K® members will be called to board during pre-boarding ahead of Group 1
· Premier Gold members will now board with Boarding Group1, previous in Group 2
Baggage allowance for Premier members
Effective on September 28, 2018:
All Premier® members, regardless of Premier status, will receive the same standard weight allowance for checked baggage: 70 lbs. (32 kg.)
Additionally:
· All Premier members flying in United Business®, United First®, or United Polaris® business class are allowed up to three bags with a maximum weight of 70 lbs. (32 kg) per bag.
· Premier Gold members flying in United Economy® between the U.S. and Europe are allowed three bags with a maximum weight of 70 lbs. (32 kg) per bag.
· Premier Silver members flying in United Economy between the U.S. and Europe are allowed two bags with a maximum weight of 70 lbs. (32 kg) per bag.
Premier qualification requirements
Effective on January 1, 2019:
· Premier qualification dollar (PQD) requirement for Premier 1K status will be raised from $12,000 to $15,000.
· P-class fares will earn 150% Premier qualifying miles (PQM), reduced from 200%.
Premier upgrades
Effective on January 1, 2019:
· The way a Premier 1K member earns additional upgrades will be changing. For every 25,000 Premier qualifying miles (PQM) or 30 Premier qualifying segments (PQS) after qualifying for Premier 1K status, we’ll add one Global Premier Upgrades into your account. No additional Regional Premier Upgrades can be earned after qualifying for Premier 1K status.
More details can be found here: www.mileageplusupdates.com
- UA Insider
Good news! I got written confirmation from 1kvoice on the below:
We will honor 200% Premier Qualifying Mile (PQM) accrual for tickets purchased before September 28, 2018 for travel on/after January 1, 2019.
• A manual adjustment to 200% PQM accrual for P-fare flown segments can be made post-departure at the customer’s request.
• Any tickets purchased after September 28, 2018, for travel on/after January 1, 2019 are only eligible to receive 150% PQM accrual.
• A manual adjustment to 200% PQM accrual for P-fare flown segments can be made post-departure at the customer’s request.
• Any tickets purchased after September 28, 2018, for travel on/after January 1, 2019 are only eligible to receive 150% PQM accrual.
Related threads
United's New Boarding Process (with Wiki) [starting 18 Sep 2018]
Partner P fare earning after 1 Jan 2019
Updates to MP Premier Program -1K PQD $15K, P fare 150%, fewer RPU, Bag waiver & more
Sep 30, 2018, 9:13 am
#287
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 10,964
Right now, these are the Star Alliance common classes:
First F, A, O
Business C, D, I, R
Economy Y, B, M, H, Q, X, N, V, W
First F, A, O
Business C, D, I, R
Economy Y, B, M, H, Q, X, N, V, W
Last edited by username; Sep 30, 2018 at 9:26 am
Sep 30, 2018, 9:23 am
#290
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: YYZ
Programs: United 1K, AC 50K, Hyatt Globalist, Marriot Platinum
Posts: 684
I'm also wondering about this and am currently holding off booking a couple of flights until I get an answer to this question. I'm not sure why United wouldn't have made this clear when they made the announcement.
Sep 30, 2018, 9:29 am
#291
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,413
In a way I suspect that the renewed intensity of focus on 1K over the past year or so (snack box, preboarding, verbal recognition) was actually motivated by a desire to shift the qualification to 15k PQD. It seems sort of odd that it occurs in such a dyssynchronous fashion, but perhaps they needed to prove to themselves they could do it before committing to the PQD.
People keep saying this, but it's not really applicable for passengers who are already spending $15k. They don't have to spend any more than they already spend.
Sep 30, 2018, 9:31 am
#292
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: MFR
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,879
Wow ... a post by @UAInsider aka the bringer of bad news, as always! 
The previous post from them was 6 months ago (and before that, almost a year ago).
Why even bother if all you're going to do is repost press releases?
The previous post from them was 6 months ago (and before that, almost a year ago).
Why even bother if all you're going to do is repost press releases?
Sep 30, 2018, 9:40 am
#293
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,446
I'm less cynical about this move than others and actually see a consistency to the approach. My theory is that UA has recognized the value of its higher spending 1Ks, and is working to improve recognition and benefits. To make this move revenue neutral, it's raising the bar so that fewer 1Ks will qualify. This has the corresponding benefit of making the status slightly more "exclusive" which can be a psychic benefit for those who meet the new threshold.
People keep saying this, but it's not really applicable for passengers who are already spending $15k. They don't have to spend any more than they already spend.
People keep saying this, but it's not really applicable for passengers who are already spending $15k. They don't have to spend any more than they already spend.
We can each speak from our own perspective, though. 
Sep 30, 2018, 9:55 am
#294
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,100
I never bought the "thinning of the herd" argument when PQD were first introduced, then raised from $10k to $12k, and I'm not going to start endorsing it now.
That said, I do think there's been an uptick in R space and instrument upgrades within the past year, particularly on GPU only routes. It feels to me like UA has slightly loosened the algorithm (though not on ps nor the widebody Hawaii flights).
That said, I do think there's been an uptick in R space and instrument upgrades within the past year, particularly on GPU only routes. It feels to me like UA has slightly loosened the algorithm (though not on ps nor the widebody Hawaii flights).
I will welcome improved availability, but I'm not holding my breath that it will actually materialize.
Sep 30, 2018, 9:59 am
#295
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP. Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,129
For now it will, its inferred in the announcement. Who can say so about the future. The only constant in the loyalty program world is inevitable devaluation.
Sep 30, 2018, 10:28 am
#296
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Pikes Peak COS
Programs: 3 Month Delta Plat, UA PP 2.4mm, Marriott Lifetime Titanium, HH Lifetime Diamond, National EE
Posts: 426
UA is the most generous of the major carriers in awarding mid-tier Lifetime Gold at 1mm so a re-alignment seems logical. But I am “certain” UA would grandfather/mother existing LT Golds and not demote them to Silver. There are lots of retiring Boomers who have done a lot of flying over their careers so the 1mm ranks logically will expand.
Sep 30, 2018, 10:49 am
#297
Moderator: Hyatt; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: WAS
Programs: :rolleyes:, DL DM, Mlife Plat, Caesars Diam, Marriott Tit, UA Gold, Hyatt Glob, invol FT beta tester
Posts: 18,886
UA Insider's post #14 has a title on it (which replies *can* have but typically people don't bother adding titles to replies) which makes me think it was posted as a separate thread and then the two were merged together. So I'm inclined to be more charitable since they were only "scooped" by ~30 minutes
Sep 30, 2018, 11:21 am
#298
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
I used my 6 GPUs but I gave half to my wife.
Sep 30, 2018, 11:33 am
#299
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: SJC
Programs: MileagePlus AAdvantage Mileage Plan
Posts: 34
I too have wished there was a way to thin the herd in 1K.
When everybody is special then no one is.
Imagine my surprise when I discovered that I am part of the herd
Just when you think you are big enough to play with the big boys, you discover there is an even bigger boy game in town. ......
Although I have known for sometime that 100-110K each year is getting rather pedestrian.....
Most of the people with higher status achieved that by traveling with their companies work requirements and not through their own travel requirements. IMO
So maybe I need to look to my employer to purchase upgraded travel as part of my compensation package.
When everybody is special then no one is.
Imagine my surprise when I discovered that I am part of the herd
Just when you think you are big enough to play with the big boys, you discover there is an even bigger boy game in town. ......
Although I have known for sometime that 100-110K each year is getting rather pedestrian.....
Most of the people with higher status achieved that by traveling with their companies work requirements and not through their own travel requirements. IMO
So maybe I need to look to my employer to purchase upgraded travel as part of my compensation package.
Sep 30, 2018, 11:38 am
#300
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,502
As a former 1K, I’m not as optimistic as you are. From the merger until now, UA has systematically diluted the benefit of being 1K. Yes, they have recently improved the boarding process for 1K. Big deal. Until they do something more substantive for that group, like bringing back real 1K agents and improving UG availability, it’s just window dressing, IMHO.
