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 28, 2018, 11:48 am
#16
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: UA 1K MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 380
The P fare change doesn't hurt me, but my company requires me to book the cheapest Y ticket. Most years I barely get to $12K spend. $15K will be very difficult. So 2018-2019 is probably going to be my last year as a 1K. It was a good run while it lasted.
Sep 28, 2018, 11:48 am
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: West
Programs: UA MP
Posts: 221
Sep 28, 2018, 11:49 am
#18
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,219
So already 79 for 2020 and likely will be 78! (Loved the atomic number reference)
Sep 28, 2018, 11:50 am
#19
Moderator: Midwest, Las Vegas & Dining Buzz
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posts: 17,976
Will GS have the same "enhancement" with resect to earning RPUs and GPUs?
Sep 28, 2018, 11:50 am
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: West
Programs: UA MP
Posts: 221
Sep 28, 2018, 11:53 am
#21
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,355
"Give them an inch and take a mile away."
Also, regarding mileageplusupdates.com:"FAQs about upgrades
.... Premier status benefits continue to lead the industry in this regard as Premier members can earn unlimited upgrades."
One can maybe earn unlimited upgrades, however, the ability of them being successfully applied is very MUCH limited!
Sep 28, 2018, 11:53 am
#22
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 9,005
At least UA didn’t have the nerve to try and brand these as ‘enhancements’. 
So 1Ks get to board faster to earn less while flying and less chance to requalify. Great changes! /sarcasm
So 1Ks get to board faster to earn less while flying and less chance to requalify. Great changes! /sarcasm
Sep 28, 2018, 11:56 am
#23
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Washington DC
Programs: Former 1k, Lifetime UA Gold, Starwood Gold; Avis Preferred; Hertz Gold
Posts: 1,732
I'm not sure I'm going to make it this year yet but 15K for 2019 is very likely to be a bridge too far for me.
Sep 28, 2018, 12:01 pm
#24
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: Million Miler, 1K - Basically spend a lot of time on planes
Posts: 2,202
Can someone confirm the domestic economy baggage allowance for 1K members. One of the posts I read said “I cannot believe that United 1K members will no longer get 2 free bags when flying economy domestically”, but I cannot see that in the notes, The baggage note doesn’t seem to list what 1K members get.
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.
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.
Sep 28, 2018, 12:02 pm
#25
Join Date: May 2001
Location: RDU
Programs: UA Plat 2MM, Delta Gold, Hilton Gold, Marriott cardboard
Posts: 1,699
Very unlikely to spend $15K and now that P fares won't earn 2x, 100K PQM is a tough deal too.
I'll make 2MM in 2019 or 20 and will deal with lifetime plat. No incentive to go out of my way to book UA unless the P fare is low or the schedule is good.
I'll make 2MM in 2019 or 20 and will deal with lifetime plat. No incentive to go out of my way to book UA unless the P fare is low or the schedule is good.
Sep 28, 2018, 12:04 pm
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,023
"Premier qualification dollar (PQD) requirement for Premier 1K status will be raised from $12,000 to $15,000"
Who could've predicted this?
Does look like UA is putting some gap between 1K and other premiers (spend requirement, food/booze in coach, pre-boardng). Definitely appears "good news" boarding policy was implemented purposely just ahead of the "bad news" increased spend requirement that is going to affect marginal 1Ks.
If one is a marginal 1K now struggling to meet $12K, the math is getting bad in terms of benefits. An extra $3000 to pre-board isn't much value.
Who could've predicted this?
Does look like UA is putting some gap between 1K and other premiers (spend requirement, food/booze in coach, pre-boardng). Definitely appears "good news" boarding policy was implemented purposely just ahead of the "bad news" increased spend requirement that is going to affect marginal 1Ks.
If one is a marginal 1K now struggling to meet $12K, the math is getting bad in terms of benefits. An extra $3000 to pre-board isn't much value.
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Sep 28, 2018 at 12:12 pm
Sep 28, 2018, 12:07 pm
#27
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Bay Area - East Bay
Programs: UA 1k, AS 75k, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 641
The baggage changes eliminate yet another (albeit small) difference between Plat and Gold. I wonder if they're thinking of phasing out Plat?
Sep 28, 2018, 12:07 pm
#28
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
How about requiring those with overseas address to hit PQD targets just like your core customer base are required?
AA and DL doesn’t waive spend requirements for overseas customers.
AA and DL doesn’t waive spend requirements for overseas customers.
Sep 28, 2018, 12:08 pm
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,023
Can someone confirm the domestic economy baggage allowance for 1K members. One of the posts I read said “I cannot believe that United 1K members will no longer get 2 free bags when flying economy domestically”, but I cannot see that in the notes, The baggage note doesn’t seem to list what 1K members get...
Sep 28, 2018, 12:10 pm
#30
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,355