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 3, 2018, 10:51 am
#421
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: AA LT Plat, UA 1k/1mm+, National EE, IC Plat, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,605
Since they changed what they show on the app, all my flights between AUS and EWR (with occasional stop in IAH) have had virtually zero upgrades inside 24 hours.
Oct 3, 2018, 11:04 am
#422
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,405
Not quite a hopeless optimist, but almost. 
I don't think there's any question about whether or not partner flights in P will go to 150%; it's just a matter of timing, as presumably UA has to update some sort of agreement with each airline. My expectation is that they'll finish it up by year's end, but it wouldn't be shocking if it spilled over until the end of January or something.
I highly, highly recommend that anyone planning 2019 travel expect that P fares currently listed at 200% will have been adjusted to 150% before your travel. That way, any possible surprise will be a good one.
I don't think there's any question about whether or not partner flights in P will go to 150%; it's just a matter of timing, as presumably UA has to update some sort of agreement with each airline. My expectation is that they'll finish it up by year's end, but it wouldn't be shocking if it spilled over until the end of January or something.
I highly, highly recommend that anyone planning 2019 travel expect that P fares currently listed at 200% will have been adjusted to 150% before your travel. That way, any possible surprise will be a good one.
Oct 3, 2018, 11:11 am
#423
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: UA 1K 2MM
Posts: 86
Glad someone is having success with GPU. I have only had 2 of 5 clear year so far. I have 5 more pending over 3 trips and am not hopefully of that rate improving.
Oct 3, 2018, 11:55 am
#424
Join Date: Feb 2016
Programs: United
Posts: 5
P Fare Value Question on already purchased fare
I have a couple of receipts from United showing PQM at the old 200% rate. According to the Wiki and United, that rate becomes 150% on Jan 1st. Does that mean they won't honor the 200% printed on the receipt? That doesn't seem right...
Oct 3, 2018, 11:55 am
#425
Join Date: Aug 2004
Programs: Continental OnePass
Posts: 856
FYI,
I emailed MileagePlus (I'm Plat) about whether they would honor 200% PQM for my January P fare that I booked in June. This is their response
"Yes, we will honor the 200% PQM for your ticket since purchased prior to 9/28/18 for travel after 1/1/19. You will need to contact us five days after travel for the correction. "
I emailed MileagePlus (I'm Plat) about whether they would honor 200% PQM for my January P fare that I booked in June. This is their response
"Yes, we will honor the 200% PQM for your ticket since purchased prior to 9/28/18 for travel after 1/1/19. You will need to contact us five days after travel for the correction. "
Oct 3, 2018, 12:41 pm
#426
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat; *A Gold; Marriott Gold
Posts: 351
FYI,
I emailed MileagePlus (I'm Plat) about whether they would honor 200% PQM for my January P fare that I booked in June. This is their response
"Yes, we will honor the 200% PQM for your ticket since purchased prior to 9/28/18 for travel after 1/1/19. You will need to contact us five days after travel for the correction. "
I emailed MileagePlus (I'm Plat) about whether they would honor 200% PQM for my January P fare that I booked in June. This is their response
"Yes, we will honor the 200% PQM for your ticket since purchased prior to 9/28/18 for travel after 1/1/19. You will need to contact us five days after travel for the correction. "
Oct 3, 2018, 1:40 pm
#427
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: UA MM Plat; AA MM Gold; HHonors Diamond
Posts: 15,866
After having thought this through, this will save me a ton of dough in 2019. Instead of buying FC tickets and only billing my client for coach I can snag Y tickets on a 752, grab 7A because I can book quite far in advance, and not worry about 1K or PQDs or PQMs (have the magic CC and a trove of Flex PQMs). I can make Plat for next to nothing compared to my current spend. As I always louse my way to the front of the G1 line anyway the lack of preboarding ain't gonna bother me. Pressure's off, baby. I'll make 1K in December by the skin of my teeth for the last time, I reckon.
Oct 3, 2018, 4:59 pm
#428
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,040
Oct 3, 2018, 5:03 pm
#429
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: 66,851
Oct 3, 2018, 5:13 pm
#430
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,040
So Lufthansa sets 100% qualifying miles earning for their own program and 200% for United? Really? I have it on pretty good authority that United sets PQM earnings ... not that it should matter too much to a partner airlines since they only pay United for the RDMs which of course they DO have a say on how much that is.
Oct 3, 2018, 5:51 pm
#431
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 5,577
Wrote to 1Kvoice about the "P" PQMs. Received a reply this morning stating that "... United is going to honor the 200% Premier Qualifying Mile accrual for tickets purchased before September 28, 2018 for travel on or after January 1, 2019. " and " ....you will need to contact MileagePlus for a manual adjustment for the difference." All is forgiven. Just kidding!
Oct 3, 2018, 6:19 pm
#432
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,412
Pretty sure PQM is unilaterally UA's decision. The variance is because UA wants to incentivize pax to fly airlines that get UA more money when chosen, hence why the JV partners earn way more than other partners.
Oct 3, 2018, 6:29 pm
#433
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: 66,851
So Lufthansa sets 100% qualifying miles earning for their own program and 200% for United? Really? I have it on pretty good authority that United sets PQM earnings ... not that it should matter too much to a partner airlines since they only pay United for the RDMs which of course they DO have a say on how much that is.
Oct 3, 2018, 7:20 pm
#434
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
Do FT sages think we should each write in to 1K voice regarding the 200% PQM earnings for P fares in 2019 booked pre-devaluation? Do they notate our files to enable/authorize this post-flight adjustment, or would it make no difference if we apply for post-flight credit without having obtained this feedback directly?
Oct 3, 2018, 7:22 pm
#435
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 5,577
Interestingly I received a second response that does not mention the need for manual adjustment :....Any tickets purchased in "p" class before 9/28/18 will still earn the 200% PQM" and ". ....were purchased before 9/28/18 so you will earn the 200% pqm.".
No "sage" here. But I would suggest to everyone to write in for their own account and keep the response on file. So that when it's time to request the adjustment there will be supporting documentation to justify the action for each individual and not just hear say. YMMW.
Do FT sages think we should each write in to 1K voice regarding the 200% PQM earnings for P fares in 2019 booked pre-devaluation? Do they notate our files to enable/authorize this post-flight adjustment, or would it make no difference if we apply for post-flight credit without having obtained this feedback directly?
Last edited by Exleftseat; Oct 4, 2018 at 2:19 am Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member