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"
Dec 2, 2018, 12:52 pm
#182
Join Date: Dec 2018
Posts: 3
OMG I am SO GLAD I found this place. Y'all are total flight nerds. You are MY PEOPLE LOL the struggle is real and no one else understands me.
Anyway I should have mentioned I already have the credit card (priority boarding, lounge access, bag allowance). What I want is free E+ within 24 hours of departure. But maybe "threeoh" is right that buying E+ subscription (or outright on certain flights) makes more sense.
However, I have a friend in FRA so maybe I'll do that. Good to have options.
Thanks again everyone.
Anyway I should have mentioned I already have the credit card (priority boarding, lounge access, bag allowance). What I want is free E+ within 24 hours of departure. But maybe "threeoh" is right that buying E+ subscription (or outright on certain flights) makes more sense.
However, I have a friend in FRA so maybe I'll do that. Good to have options.
Thanks again everyone.
Dec 2, 2018, 1:42 pm
#183
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: San Francisco/Sydney
Programs: UA 1K/MM, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Something, IHG Gold, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 8,159
But with the benefit of being able to select E+ at time of booking, not just 24 hours before as with Silver status. As you've said, things like domestic/international mix could change what makes the most sense.
Dec 2, 2018, 4:27 pm
#184
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 10
How can I milk an additional 2K miles out of an itinerary PLANNED (not booked) for 6K?
Planning travel to Aspen or the vicinity around Christmas time from Washington, DC. If I route through LAX or SFO it puts me at about 6K, and I need an additional 2K for 1K.
I'm willing to spend a little extra cash to upfare my planned economy fare to a higher fare one way, but would like to understand the best dates to do this on.
I'm slightly flexible on the return and currently looking at 12/19/-/12/26 give or take a day or three at the end of the trip...
Planning travel to Aspen or the vicinity around Christmas time from Washington, DC. If I route through LAX or SFO it puts me at about 6K, and I need an additional 2K for 1K.
I'm willing to spend a little extra cash to upfare my planned economy fare to a higher fare one way, but would like to understand the best dates to do this on.
I'm slightly flexible on the return and currently looking at 12/19/-/12/26 give or take a day or three at the end of the trip...
Dec 3, 2018, 10:04 am
#188
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: Mileage Plus
Posts: 5
Need 212 PQM's - have old (better) MP Visa - ideas?
I am 212 PQM's short of platinum status on United. I either want to take the shortest, least expensive RT flight from DEN (sorry to sound like a novice - but is there a way to search for that versus randomly trying other cities to see what's best?) or, better yet, use my MP Visa card to eke out those last few miles. I earn PQM's for purchases on United.com, but I don't know if there is a limit to how many I can earn annually, and I can't find anyone at Chase Visa OR at Mileage Plus that understand or can share my cardmember agreement. It's pretty risky business to buy a ticket and hope for the best. I'd love any expertise or ideas that people could share.
Dec 3, 2018, 10:14 am
#189
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
Easiest may be to find an award accelerator purchase that may cost a bit more than a flight but save you the time.
If you want to look at flights, look on Google Flights for quick turns at low expense from Denver. Easiest are the small airports because you basically get back on the same plane. Select non-stop, star alliance, and choose dates (midweek likely best). the dots will show prices to cities and then you can drill down.
For example, I see a flight on 12/19 to Pueblo for $151 or Vernal (UT) for $117 or Moab (UT) for $142. Just make sure you don't get Basic Economy. Also, you'll get minimum 500 PQM for each segment because you're elite already (gold).
If you want to look at flights, look on Google Flights for quick turns at low expense from Denver. Easiest are the small airports because you basically get back on the same plane. Select non-stop, star alliance, and choose dates (midweek likely best). the dots will show prices to cities and then you can drill down.
For example, I see a flight on 12/19 to Pueblo for $151 or Vernal (UT) for $117 or Moab (UT) for $142. Just make sure you don't get Basic Economy. Also, you'll get minimum 500 PQM for each segment because you're elite already (gold).
Dec 3, 2018, 10:37 am
#190
Join Date: Dec 2018
Programs: Mileage Plus
Posts: 5
Thanks for the response! I'm not sure I understand your award accelerator comment - I thought I would have to buy a ticket to have the chance for an accelerator purchase? Or is it that I could buy the ticket (for non-2018 travel??) then buy the award accelerator miles and have them apply right then? I have never purchased miles of any sort.
Regarding the smaller airports - great suggestion. Thank you. I've been using Google Flights to search, but I hadn't thought to look at smaller airports. Those are great fares and would an easy day of travel, though frankly, I'd rather just buy the miles. Still hoping someone knows more about my Visa card than I do and that I'll have a magic answer there!
Regarding the smaller airports - great suggestion. Thank you. I've been using Google Flights to search, but I hadn't thought to look at smaller airports. Those are great fares and would an easy day of travel, though frankly, I'd rather just buy the miles. Still hoping someone knows more about my Visa card than I do and that I'll have a magic answer there!
Dec 3, 2018, 11:12 am
#191
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: CHI - LIS
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 453
I have the legacy Platinum Class MP Visa, which comes with an annual max 10K PQM (1 PQM per $1 of ual.com spend up to $5,000 and another 5K PQM at $35K cc spend). I don’t know what the terms of the legacy MP Select card are.
At this point in the year I would be concerned about the schedule by which the Chase PQM post to MP. I don’t know that 2018 purchases count for 2018 PQM if the statement date is January 2019, for instance.
I would just fly, and there are plenty of UAX destinations from DEN that would require a quick half day round trip. Keep in mind that at some stations you exit the arriving flight directly into the terminal, not into the sterile gate area—making tight connections tighter.
At this point in the year I would be concerned about the schedule by which the Chase PQM post to MP. I don’t know that 2018 purchases count for 2018 PQM if the statement date is January 2019, for instance.
I would just fly, and there are plenty of UAX destinations from DEN that would require a quick half day round trip. Keep in mind that at some stations you exit the arriving flight directly into the terminal, not into the sterile gate area—making tight connections tighter.
Last edited by jsl42; Dec 3, 2018 at 11:21 am
Dec 3, 2018, 11:13 am
#192
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
Thanks for the response! I'm not sure I understand your award accelerator comment - I thought I would have to buy a ticket to have the chance for an accelerator purchase? Or is it that I could buy the ticket (for non-2018 travel??) then buy the award accelerator miles and have them apply right then? I have never purchased miles of any sort.
Regarding the smaller airports - great suggestion. Thank you. I've been using Google Flights to search, but I hadn't thought to look at smaller airports. Those are great fares and would an easy day of travel, though frankly, I'd rather just buy the miles. Still hoping someone knows more about my Visa card than I do and that I'll have a magic answer there!
Regarding the smaller airports - great suggestion. Thank you. I've been using Google Flights to search, but I hadn't thought to look at smaller airports. Those are great fares and would an easy day of travel, though frankly, I'd rather just buy the miles. Still hoping someone knows more about my Visa card than I do and that I'll have a magic answer there!
Dec 3, 2018, 11:16 am
#193
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: DFW
Programs: UA peon (+decades 1K), AA Exec Plt
Posts: 1,117
Thanks for the response! I'm not sure I understand your award accelerator comment - I thought I would have to buy a ticket to have the chance for an accelerator purchase? Or is it that I could buy the ticket (for non-2018 travel??) then buy the award accelerator miles and have them apply right then? I have never purchased miles of any sort.
Regarding the smaller airports - great suggestion. Thank you. I've been using Google Flights to search, but I hadn't thought to look at smaller airports. Those are great fares and would an easy day of travel, though frankly, I'd rather just buy the miles. Still hoping someone knows more about my Visa card than I do and that I'll have a magic answer there!
Regarding the smaller airports - great suggestion. Thank you. I've been using Google Flights to search, but I hadn't thought to look at smaller airports. Those are great fares and would an easy day of travel, though frankly, I'd rather just buy the miles. Still hoping someone knows more about my Visa card than I do and that I'll have a magic answer there!
The miles are added to your RDM and PQM totals more or less instantly and are not refunded even if you cancel or fly next year.
The problem is you may be spending more than a RT to SFO in First for a day trip for lunch. Much more than such a trip in Couch.
Dec 3, 2018, 11:28 am
#194
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: 66,857
Look online at your Chase card account and look under Rewards Detail and then View Reward Program Rules and Regulations (PDF)
and see if there is any mention of PQM earning for united.com purchases.
Note there is a 5,000 PQM annual max for this benefit and if you have used the card before on United.com, you may have exhausted the benefit. You have to look at your United MP account an add up prior purchase PQMs. Any purchases made in the calendar year count regardless of when the trip is taken.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Dec 3, 2018 at 11:34 am Reason: calendar year