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, 12:13 pm
#31
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oregon
Programs: AA EXP, AS 75K, UA 1MM Gold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Explorist, IHG Plat, National EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 4,001
I'm ok with this change. Just with my DOMESTIC flying I hit $12k in July. I am more sad that I have hired a new employee to do a lot of my flying for me, and am moving the company to a town which is 40 minutes from Eugene - and between those two things I would be very hard pressed to see myself hitting 1K again. Would have liked to see what it's like after they thin the ranks a bit.
Sep 28, 2018, 12:13 pm
#32
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA 1K & 2MM, Bonvoy Titanium & LTP, HH Gold, Accor Silver, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 2,350
I've generally crossed $15K through my many years as a 1K, but only a couple of times by any substantial amount. I am certainly not sufficiently wealthy to spend my way to 1K. Knowing that my travel budget is likely to be reduced next year work-wise, I'm not sure I'll make 1K again, so this likely sucks for me.
That said, people have been moaning for a long time that 1K isn't as exclusive as it used to be (say 20 years ago). Well, that's likely about to change.
That said, people have been moaning for a long time that 1K isn't as exclusive as it used to be (say 20 years ago). Well, that's likely about to change.
Sep 28, 2018, 12:19 pm
#33
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
I guess that our RPU's are useless thread really caught the attention of UA's strategic planners. There should be a higher success rate in 2019.
Sep 28, 2018, 12:20 pm
#34
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: EWR-SEA-IAD
Programs: UA 1P MM, AS MVP G*, SPG Gold, Hyatt Plat, IHG Plat, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 977
Wait so I read this as 70lbs of luggage total regardless of number of bags for all premiers domestically?
Sep 28, 2018, 12:20 pm
#35
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: Million Miler, 1K - Basically spend a lot of time on planes
Posts: 2,202
To confirm, this will have absolutely zero impact on improving upgrade percentages. Upgrade percentages are not dictated by competing with other 1K members, you are only competing with the increasingly low buy up offers to more or less anyone that wants one. As reported and also witnessed by me, in FLL , the gate agents literally said, we have x number of GS/1K members on the upgrade list and only one open seat. If you want to bypass this list, you can come to the counter and purchase the buyup for $69.
Offensive to more or less everyone on the list that pays United tens of thousands of dollars per year that any person, status or not is more important to them for $69.
Of course this is United’s choice, but I’d recommend keeping this in mind when you are contemplating spending thousands more to achieve nothing more
Offensive to more or less everyone on the list that pays United tens of thousands of dollars per year that any person, status or not is more important to them for $69.
Of course this is United’s choice, but I’d recommend keeping this in mind when you are contemplating spending thousands more to achieve nothing more
Sep 28, 2018, 12:20 pm
#36
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,351
Well, that is unless I re-qualify, in which case it is GREAT news....for me!
Sep 28, 2018, 12:25 pm
#37
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: NYC (Primarily EWR)
Programs: UA 1K / *G, Marriott Bonvoy Gold; Avis PC
Posts: 9,005
It was fun being 1K while it lasted. 15K spend - as someone who travels mostly for leisure - is too high. Will enjoy making Platinum and nothing more from hereon out...
Sep 28, 2018, 12:25 pm
#38
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: AA LT Plat, UA 1k/1mm+, National EE, IC Plat, Bonvoy Gold
Posts: 2,605
Sep 28, 2018, 12:26 pm
#39
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Westchester NY
Programs: UA GS 4+ MM
Posts: 373
With my PQMs running well over 300K annually the last few years, this is a big hit. Seems like a direct shot at people like me, even though my spend qualifies as a GS. A loss of 16+ RPUs per year will mean not much joy for friends/family, where most of them are used. Oh well, nice while it lasted.
I suspect the number of RPUs in circulation will drop by well over 50% in 2020.
I suspect the number of RPUs in circulation will drop by well over 50% in 2020.
Last edited by dkc715; Sep 28, 2018 at 12:30 pm Reason: typo
Sep 28, 2018, 12:27 pm
#40
Moderator: Midwest, Las Vegas & Dining Buzz
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Posts: 17,976
You realize that the next "enhancement" coming will probably be the elimination of Platinum.
Sep 28, 2018, 12:28 pm
#41
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Washington DC
Programs: Former 1k, Lifetime UA Gold, Starwood Gold; Avis Preferred; Hertz Gold
Posts: 1,732
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.
If you are referring to to the post on View From the Wing at the end of the article - he deleted that sentence.
https://viewfromthewing.boardingarea...ge-allowances/
Sep 28, 2018, 12:29 pm
#42
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
Until then I suppose those who flies SIN-SFO 4x a year on $500 fares are equal to their USA based customers.
Sep 28, 2018, 12:29 pm
#43
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,203
I assume the P devaluation will hit partner tickets as well - while I can usually find Z for a small incremental upcharge over P domestic and make the decision after analyzing the math of cost vs extra PQM earned, the difference between P and Z on international tickets is substantial by the thousands. I guess instead of spending the gap between W+GPU and P, unless the incremental difference is very low due to a seat sale, I will stop buying P and go back to cheaper W fares where I can confirm the upgrade at booking.
No problem - United takes something away from me, I take something away from them.
No problem - United takes something away from me, I take something away from them.
Sep 28, 2018, 12:30 pm
#44
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.9MM
Posts: 6,351
"We’re adjusting qualification requirements for Premier 1K status with the goal of offering our most appealing program benefits to our most loyal customers and making these benefits, such as upgrades, more easily available."
I admit I am putting some -possibly misguided- hope in the bolded part of that statement
I admit I am putting some -possibly misguided- hope in the bolded part of that statement
Sep 28, 2018, 12:32 pm
#45
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: YYZ
Programs: UA1K MM, JL JMB SAPPHIRE, Marriott Titanium/LTP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,267
Could limit of RPUs earning hint RPU will become useful? Like able to RPU from Y to PE on international flights? One can always dream 