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
Oct 1, 2018, 2:15 pm
#346
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: UK
Programs: BA EC gold UA gold—MM Hilton Diamond Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 107
Technically they can do anything they want with MP benefits.
I would hope that UA backtracks on this point and grandfathers tickets purchased prior to the announcement. That's how this has consistently been handled in the past and I'm really surprised at how they're handling it this time. It may well be an IT limitation, but that's really no excuse.
I would hope that UA backtracks on this point and grandfathers tickets purchased prior to the announcement. That's how this has consistently been handled in the past and I'm really surprised at how they're handling it this time. It may well be an IT limitation, but that's really no excuse.
Oct 1, 2018, 2:17 pm
#347
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Fort Lauderdale
Programs: UA: 1K 1.5MM, DL: LTDM 3.5MM, JB: Mosaic4, LH: exSEN 1MM, Bonvoy LT Titanium Elite, Hertz PresC
Posts: 266
Good luck on finding flights where you can confirm the GPU at time of booking. RPU/GPU are useless since UA really has locked down on advanced confirmation of them. I still have 16 RPUs and 12 GPUs in my account and no use for them. Last weeks flights to and from Paris were all in eco since biz was full. Getting on 150% for P fares will hurt the most from where I am sitting
Last edited by Christefan; Oct 1, 2018 at 2:27 pm Reason: spelling error
Oct 1, 2018, 2:23 pm
#348
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,174
I think the fact that any 2019 P class tickets issued will have been paid for (so the money is already in the United bank ) is the worse feature of this change. It really calls into question whether anything this airline promises can be relied on. The ghost of Smisek lives on
Oct 1, 2018, 2:48 pm
#349
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
So, clearly, 1K is for people traveling in business first and foremost. What GPUs do for us? Not much. They were worth gold before, but if I was still in that situation I would be very sorry now and do everything I could to score at least premier Y if not cheap J. Sorry but cattle class has just become unlivable for long haul.
Oct 1, 2018, 3:12 pm
#350
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: UK
Programs: BA EC gold UA gold—MM Hilton Diamond Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 107
Yes clearly shown before and after purchase. Seems a pretty poor way of doing business particularly as they charge 200$ or 300$ to cancel. One rule for them another for us ordinary folk
Oct 1, 2018, 3:27 pm
#351
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Oakland CA
Programs: DL Gold, AS MVPG, Globalist
Posts: 1,008
Has this been confirmed? Just checked the Partner Airline pages for LH, LX, AC and ANA and they still reflect earning at 200% for P fares as of 10/1. I'd like to think they will remain at that level which will just give me even more incentive to book on partners rather than UA. Or, maybe those pages just haven't been updated!
I already have several international trips on partners in P fare class for 2019 and those PQMs look like they're unchanged, again as of midday 10/1...
I already have several international trips on partners in P fare class for 2019 and those PQMs look like they're unchanged, again as of midday 10/1...
Oct 1, 2018, 3:56 pm
#352
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DCA
Programs: UA LT 1K, AA EXP, Bonvoy LT Titan, Avis PC, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,658
Maybe this survey went to UA Club members, but it indicates that UA is considering making Polaris Lounge accessible for a fee. Maybe there are times it is not very crowded.
Oct 1, 2018, 4:05 pm
#353
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
There is zero chance that newly-purchased UA P fares will be 200% PQM next year. There is some chance that UA will change its mind and offer 200% on previously purchased itineraries; there's precedent for that.
For a bit of perspective, consider that Miles & More members earn 100% status miles for these same P fares.
Oct 1, 2018, 4:37 pm
#354
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: UK
Programs: BA EC gold UA gold—MM Hilton Diamond Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 107
You suggest some chance that UA will have a change of mind so far as tickets issued prior to the announcement are concerned. Do hope you are correct because the current position is really unacceptable
Oct 1, 2018, 5:22 pm
#355
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,455
Yes. Earnings of 125% or less on discount business class are the norm on most major carriers. Among the US legacies, DL gives 150%, AA 200%. I'd be surprised not to see AA follow UA and drop that to 150%.
Oct 1, 2018, 5:24 pm
#356
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP. Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,134
I think the fact that any 2019 P class tickets issued will have been paid for (so the money is already in the United bank ) is the worse feature of this change. It really calls into question whether anything this airline promises can be relied on. The ghost of Smisek lives on
Last edited by gmt4; Oct 1, 2018 at 5:41 pm Reason: spelling
Oct 1, 2018, 5:32 pm
#357
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: DAY
Programs: UA 1K 1MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Amex MR; Chase UR; Hertz PC; Global Entry
Posts: 10,159
Recently got a survey from UA on the lounges including Polaris lounge. Some of the questions focused on what features you would be willing to pay extra. One was Polaris lounge access - asking if you would be willing to pay a fee to get in the Polaris lounge. I took this to mean (obviously) when you would not be otherwise eligible.
Maybe this survey went to UA Club members, but it indicates that UA is considering making Polaris Lounge accessible for a fee. Maybe there are times it is not very crowded.
Maybe this survey went to UA Club members, but it indicates that UA is considering making Polaris Lounge accessible for a fee. Maybe there are times it is not very crowded.
Very unlikely they would introduce selling passes to Polaris Lounge.
Oct 1, 2018, 5:39 pm
#358
Join Date: Nov 2012
Programs: BA Bronze, United 1K, HH Gold, SPG Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 3,477
Oct 1, 2018, 6:51 pm
#359
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: DCA
Programs: UA LT 1K, AA EXP, Bonvoy LT Titan, Avis PC, Hilton Gold
Posts: 9,658
I look at it this way. Now only UA J and F customers get access to Polaris Lounge, but they get in for Free. A new ground based source of additional revenue would be to allows others in for a fee. Yes it would make the lounge more crowded, but UA went from only having the UA Club for their J customers. The cost per J customer to provide lounge services is now higher - so higher costs need to be offset with more revenue, and generating ground base revenue is a plus. Not many other options for air based revenue other than raising fares.
Oct 1, 2018, 7:09 pm
#360
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,022
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