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 7, 2018, 11:09 am
#106
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CT/NY
Programs: UA 1K/1MM, AA EXP, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 6,020
EWR-SFO-SIN is probably the most straight forward way to do it, albeit it'll be in coach unless you have some leftover GPU to burn.
The other way to do it is look for discounted premium cabin fares to the west coast, or down to Mexico/South America. It's more expensive than $1200, but you'll at least be more comfortable.
The other way to do it is look for discounted premium cabin fares to the west coast, or down to Mexico/South America. It's more expensive than $1200, but you'll at least be more comfortable.
Nov 8, 2018, 11:11 pm
#108
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SBP
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 533
I have one trip left this year (SFO-IAH-POS/POS-IAH-SFO) and will end up 375 PQMs shy of 75,000. Is it safe to assume that I need to use a SDC to change my flight home (i.e. POS-IAH-LAX-SFO) in order to keep my status?
Nov 8, 2018, 11:42 pm
#110
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
Nov 9, 2018, 12:06 am
#111
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SBP
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 533
I recently flew HKG-GUM-HNL-LAX-SBP but because the LAX-SBP flight was delayed for many hours I had them cancel that segment and instead drove home. I tried to complain to United to get the 500PQMs I missed out on but they instead gave me a $250 voucher. While that's nice, it led me to fall just shy of the 75,000 PQMs I need.
Nov 9, 2018, 10:07 am
#112
Join Date: Mar 2018
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP. Hilton Diamond
Posts: 1,134
You could either do an SDC to gain extra miles or buy PQMs thru award accelerator now thru check-in. You can't buy only 375, it'll be in larger chunks like 5000, 10000, or some offer specific to you. The cheapest method is obviously some sort of SDC, but the caveat is you won't know availability or flight loads until day of. That's the risk with that- you may not end up with the LAX option you reference. LAX flights might be full or the schedule change may not work like you'd hope.
Nov 9, 2018, 10:44 am
#113
Join Date: Nov 2018
Programs: United
Posts: 3
Hello,
I will be 23000 PDM and about $3000 short of 1k this year, after booking all holiday trips. SFO based. Is it worthwhile to do a run? Are there other options?
if I were to do a run, is there a way to search tickets with these parameters? The United site crashes on me a lot when I search flight by flight.
Thank you for suggestions.
I will be 23000 PDM and about $3000 short of 1k this year, after booking all holiday trips. SFO based. Is it worthwhile to do a run? Are there other options?
if I were to do a run, is there a way to search tickets with these parameters? The United site crashes on me a lot when I search flight by flight.
Thank you for suggestions.
Nov 9, 2018, 11:52 am
#114
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
If not, write back again and specifically request Original Routing Credit for your itinerary, stressing that it was an involuntary change (the massive delay) that caused you to terminate your travel at LAX.
Nov 9, 2018, 12:58 pm
#115
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 10
Need advise on making PQM
PQD requirement waived based on my United Credit Card spend.
I have 2 future trips -
1st trip is on United EWR-BOM-EWR will get me to Silver (see image)
2nd trip is on Turkish JFK-IST-JED-IST ... checked with Airline it's booked under T fare class (not sure how many PQM I will be eligible for) IST-JFK is booked for next year.
Could you recommend any strategies so I can be Gold or Plat for 2019? Thanks in advance
I have 2 future trips -
1st trip is on United EWR-BOM-EWR will get me to Silver (see image)
2nd trip is on Turkish JFK-IST-JED-IST ... checked with Airline it's booked under T fare class (not sure how many PQM I will be eligible for) IST-JFK is booked for next year.
Could you recommend any strategies so I can be Gold or Plat for 2019? Thanks in advance
Nov 9, 2018, 1:03 pm
#116
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,413
Nov 9, 2018, 1:08 pm
#117
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SBP
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 533
You could either do an SDC to gain extra miles or buy PQMs thru award accelerator now thru check-in. You can't buy only 375, it'll be in larger chunks like 5000, 10000, or some offer specific to you. The cheapest method is obviously some sort of SDC, but the caveat is you won't know availability or flight loads until day of. That's the risk with that- you may not end up with the LAX option you reference. LAX flights might be full or the schedule change may not work like you'd hope.
Did you get a refund for the LAX-SBP fare? (Not the $250 voucher -- that's a "we're sorry" customer care item).
If not, write back again and specifically request Original Routing Credit for your itinerary, stressing that it was an involuntary change (the massive delay) that caused you to terminate your travel at LAX.
If not, write back again and specifically request Original Routing Credit for your itinerary, stressing that it was an involuntary change (the massive delay) that caused you to terminate your travel at LAX.
Nov 9, 2018, 1:36 pm
#118
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 2,531
Seems worth a try. Maybe try writing the MPSC instead of normal customer care? https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...countInfo.aspx or call 1-800-421-4655
Last edited by threeoh; Nov 9, 2018 at 1:41 pm Reason: added MPSC contact info
Nov 9, 2018, 1:37 pm
#119
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 10
T fares on Turkish earn 50% of the mileage flown for Premier qualification (you want the table at the bottom called "MileagePlus Premier qualification." JFK-IST-JED will earn about 3,238 PQM. (The miles for IST-JFK will count toward next year's qualification since they're after the new year). So, you're a little over 12,500 PQM short.
I forgot to mention on the first trip from EWR-BOM-EWR I am waitlisted for upgrade to Polaris Business with $600 + 25000 miles each way. Does this change the dynamics if I get upgraded?
Nov 9, 2018, 1:48 pm
#120
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SBP
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Titanium, Marriott Lifetime Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 533
Original Routing Credit (ORC) After Involuntary Re-Routing/Re-Booking (Merged)
Seems worth a try. Maybe try writing the MPSC instead of normal customer care? https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...countInfo.aspx or call 1-800-421-4655
Seems worth a try. Maybe try writing the MPSC instead of normal customer care? https://www.united.com/web/en-US/con...countInfo.aspx or call 1-800-421-4655