Oct 10, 2018, 10:58 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
Previous years' thread -- [Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQD's/PQMs/PQSs in 2017 for Elite Status in 2018
[Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQD's/PQMs in 2016 for Elite Status in 2017
[Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQD's/PQMs in 2015 for Elite Status in 2016
& [Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQD's/PQMs in 2014 for Elite Status in 2015
PQDs are mostly earned by flying, but not all elites are subject to PQD requirements. PQDs can also be earned by Economy Plus purchases (by flight or subscription), although for anyone seeking to qualify for Gold or above an annual plan (min. $499) gets you nothing. There is no way to "pay" UA to fulfill PQD requirement in the qualifying year. There may be a status buy-up in January of the next year -- not cheap and does not come in small increments,
PQMs can be purchased by Premier Accelerator purchases.
related threads
UA/Star Alliance: 2017-2018 Consolidated Mileage/Status/Challenge Runs help needed
Mileage Run Discussion
Mileage Run Deals
Premium Fare Deals
Poor man's MR planner
Google Flights enter a starting airport, leave the destination blank, select airlines - Star Alliance, set travel days and max cost and view the Map for options. Try multiple dates.
kayak.com/explore has similar functionality
Will UA Grant 2019 Elite Status if I am XXX PQM/PQS/{PQD} Short of Qualifying in 2018?
and previously - Will UA Grant 2017 Elite Status if I am XXX PQM/PQS/{PQD} Short of Qualifying in 2016?
Is it worth it to stretch for 1K (over Plat)? [2018 Consolidated]
Is it worth it to stretch for Plat (over Gold)? [2018 Consolidated]
Is it worth it to stretch for Gold (over Silver)? [2018 Consolidated]
Is it worth it making Premier Silver? [2017 Consolidated]
Last year's last resort
2018 UA MP elite status buy-up offers (for higher status than earned in 2017)
[Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQD's/PQMs in 2016 for Elite Status in 2017
[Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQD's/PQMs in 2015 for Elite Status in 2016
& [Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQD's/PQMs in 2014 for Elite Status in 2015
PQDs are mostly earned by flying, but not all elites are subject to PQD requirements. PQDs can also be earned by Economy Plus purchases (by flight or subscription), although for anyone seeking to qualify for Gold or above an annual plan (min. $499) gets you nothing. There is no way to "pay" UA to fulfill PQD requirement in the qualifying year. There may be a status buy-up in January of the next year -- not cheap and does not come in small increments,
Non-USA registered MP members are exempt from PQD requirements.
Others can be exempt from PQDs up to the Premier Platinum level by having a Chase PresidentalPlus credit card {not open to new members} or by annually spending $25,000 or more as a primary MP branded Chase credit cardholder.
PQMs can be earned by flying UA or various flight partners and by various bonuses related to flying (class or service, promos, ...)Others can be exempt from PQDs up to the Premier Platinum level by having a Chase PresidentalPlus credit card {not open to new members} or by annually spending $25,000 or more as a primary MP branded Chase credit cardholder.
PQMs can be purchased by Premier Accelerator purchases.
Consolidated Award / Premier Accelerator questions
United Airlines Award/Premier Accelerator Rates [2018]
Certain legacy (not available to new customers) Chase MP credit cards earn PQMs or FPQMsUnited Airlines Award/Premier Accelerator Rates [2018]
related threads
UA/Star Alliance: 2017-2018 Consolidated Mileage/Status/Challenge Runs help needed
Mileage Run Discussion
Mileage Run Deals
Premium Fare Deals
Poor man's MR planner
Google Flights enter a starting airport, leave the destination blank, select airlines - Star Alliance, set travel days and max cost and view the Map for options. Try multiple dates.
kayak.com/explore has similar functionality
Will UA Grant 2019 Elite Status if I am XXX PQM/PQS/{PQD} Short of Qualifying in 2018?
and previously - Will UA Grant 2017 Elite Status if I am XXX PQM/PQS/{PQD} Short of Qualifying in 2016?
Is it worth it to stretch for 1K (over Plat)? [2018 Consolidated]
Is it worth it to stretch for Plat (over Gold)? [2018 Consolidated]
Is it worth it to stretch for Gold (over Silver)? [2018 Consolidated]
Is it worth it making Premier Silver? [2017 Consolidated]
Last year's last resort
2018 UA MP elite status buy-up offers (for higher status than earned in 2017)
[Consolidated] "I need XXX UA PQD's/PQMs/PQSs in 2018 for Elite Status in 2019"
Nov 25, 2018, 9:09 am
#151
Join Date: Feb 2012
Programs: United-1k, Marriott-Lifetime Plat
Posts: 111
I need some advice.
I have 146K miles. If I hit 150K I get another 2 RPU (Don't care about) and 2 more GPU. I fly internationally quite frequently.
Being that I am 4000 miles short I am trying to find a way to hit it from Denver. Any tips?
I have 146K miles. If I hit 150K I get another 2 RPU (Don't care about) and 2 more GPU. I fly internationally quite frequently.
Being that I am 4000 miles short I am trying to find a way to hit it from Denver. Any tips?
Nov 27, 2018, 8:32 am
#153
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
Nov 27, 2018, 8:37 am
#154
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,890
OP wants to get to 1K. Number 5 won’t help. Sounds like they’re already at plat, so number 2 and 3 may not even be possible (never mind that it’s kind of a waste of $ if they could) - at least # 4 your getting something for the spend.
Nov 27, 2018, 12:50 pm
#157
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
You have to weigh $330 plus costs to/from airport plus opportunity cost of eating up a whole afternoon (but with a potential trip to New York, if you're looking for that) vs. $499 without leaving your armchair.
Nov 27, 2018, 3:00 pm
#158
Join Date: Nov 2018
Programs: Mileage Plus
Posts: 1
I don't have status right now, but I'm over 25K PQM and I'm $51 short of meeting the PQD level for silver (counting my two upcoming flights). Everywhere I looked on the united website said that you can only achieve PQD through paying for flights or paying for economy plus. So I logged into united.com, went to "my trips" and for a flight next week, I upgraded my seat to an economy plus seat for $54. However, when I refresh my premier activity it did not add to my PQD. I noticed when I had previously purchased a flight, the premier activity updated fairly instantaneously. I did to back into my receipt for that flight on united.com and it still has the old seat number. I should expect the receipt to be updated and hopefully the ticket class to be changed, correct? Do I just need to be patient or did I just flush $54 down the toilet?
Last edited by ozzzie19; Nov 27, 2018 at 3:01 pm Reason: spelling
Nov 27, 2018, 3:01 pm
#159
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,419
Pick somewhere that you want to go that's doable as a same day turn and meet a friend for lunch or see an interesting sight. Get some value out of your day 
Nov 27, 2018, 3:10 pm
#160
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
The ticket class won't change, and the receipt probably won't change either. However, you should get the 54 additional PQD once you actually fly.
Nov 27, 2018, 3:29 pm
#161
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,419
The receipt should update if you "add e-mail and send receipt" but even if it doesn't I wouldn't worry. You have to fly the segment to get the PQD and stale receipts are more likely than any other bug.
Nov 28, 2018, 1:57 pm
#162
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
Nov 28, 2018, 2:57 pm
#163
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Bonvoy Amb
Posts: 38
Hi all, I need 10 segments by the end of the year to make Gold. Have easily surpassed PQDs and nowhere close when it comes to PQMs. Can start my travel from ORD or OKC. Any ideas? Would be grateful for your help. Thanks!
Nov 28, 2018, 3:01 pm
#164
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Plat Elite
Posts: 3
DEN -NYC-SFO or SEA or LAX and back to DEN should do it?
Nov 28, 2018, 3:16 pm
#165
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: DEN
Programs: UA Plat, Marriott Plat Elite
Posts: 3
I'm going to be about $2k short of the PQD and just barely over 100K in miles, so with the new $12k PQD, I won't make 1K (this is the closest I've ever been). I get the value of the GPUs as the big step from Plat to 1K, but my new company pays for business class on flights over 9 hours (which is basically anything out of DEN -- I go to Asia mainly, but LHR and FRA are both over 9 hours). Contemplating spending the $2k to get there, but struggling to see if it's truly worth it. Thoughts?