Jan 2, 2019, 4:33 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
See https://promotions.united.com/offers/premierstatus for your offer (NOW OPERATIONAL for 2019)
In recent years, in January (typically the second week or so), UA has offered status-buy programs. Generally, UA has limited to no more than an additional 15K PQMs or 15 PQSs ( and similar limits for PQDs).
Past year programs
January 2013 17 Jan 2013
January 2014 13 Jan 2014
January 2015 12 Jan 2015
January 2016 19 Jan 2016
2017 UA MP elite status buy-up offers (for higher status than earned in 2016) 20 Jan 2017
2018 UA MP elite status buy-up offers (for higher status than earned in 2017) 24 Jan 2018,
2019 -- 11 Jan 2019
Buy up ≈ MAX(rounded PQM gap fee, rounded PQD gap)
Those rules seem to work >90% of the reported cases. (at least in 2017,2016,2015)
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]
In recent years, in January (typically the second week or so), UA has offered status-buy programs. Generally, UA has limited to no more than an additional 15K PQMs or 15 PQSs ( and similar limits for PQDs).
Past year programs
January 2013 17 Jan 2013
January 2014 13 Jan 2014
January 2015 12 Jan 2015
January 2016 19 Jan 2016
2017 UA MP elite status buy-up offers (for higher status than earned in 2016) 20 Jan 2017
2018 UA MP elite status buy-up offers (for higher status than earned in 2017) 24 Jan 2018,
2019 -- 11 Jan 2019
Buy up ≈ MAX(rounded PQM gap fee, rounded PQD gap)
Those rules seem to work >90% of the reported cases. (at least in 2017,2016,2015)
Code:
PQM gap chart for earlier years
to Silver to Gold to Plat to 1K
1K $199 $299 $349 N/A
2K $349 $499 $649 $999
3K $499 $649 $849 $1,399
4K $649 $799 $999 $1,699
5K $799 $949 $1,149 $1,949
6K $949 $1,099 $1,299 $2,199
7K $1,099 $1,249 $1,449 $2,449
8K $1,249 $1,399 $1,599 $2,699
9K $1,399 $1,549 $1,749 $2,949
10K $1,549 $1,699 $1,899 $3,149
11K $1,699 $1,849 $2,049 $3,349
12K $1,849 $1,999 $2,199 $3,549
13K $1,999 $2,149 $2,349 $3,749
14K $2,149 $2,299 $2,499 $3,949
15K $2,299 $2,449 $2,649 $4,149
1K $199 $299 $349 N/A
2K $349 $499 $649 $999
3K $499 $649 $849 $1,399
4K $649 $799 $999 $1,699
5K $799 $949 $1,149 $1,949
6K $949 $1,099 $1,299 $2,199
7K $1,099 $1,249 $1,449 $2,449
8K $1,249 $1,399 $1,599 $2,699
9K $1,399 $1,549 $1,749 $2,949
10K $1,549 $1,699 $1,899 $3,149
11K $1,699 $1,849 $2,049 $3,349
12K $1,849 $1,999 $2,199 $3,549
13K $1,999 $2,149 $2,349 $3,749
14K $2,149 $2,299 $2,499 $3,949
15K $2,299 $2,449 $2,649 $4,149
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]
2019 UA MP elite status buy-up offers(for higher status than earned in 2018)
Jan 16, 2019, 6:39 pm
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Denver, CO, USA
Programs: Sometimes known as [ARG:6 UNDEFINED]
Posts: 26,704
2018 Total PQM balance: 28,654
2018 Total PQS balance: 30
2018 Total PQD balance: $2,449
Buy up to Silver: $600
The offer is an absolute slap in the face (especially considering the guy above me was significantly further away from all qualifiers and got the offer for only 200 more). Sadly though I am considering paying it. I don't know why.
2018 Total PQS balance: 30
2018 Total PQD balance: $2,449
Buy up to Silver: $600
The offer is an absolute slap in the face (especially considering the guy above me was significantly further away from all qualifiers and got the offer for only 200 more). Sadly though I am considering paying it. I don't know why.
Jan 16, 2019, 6:42 pm
#47
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: BOS
Programs: UA Silver, DL, AA
Posts: 164
I have an offer for $1,699, but I reached PQM for Silver and spent enough to get the waiver. Does this offer mean that something's wrong with my PQD waiver? Or do these offers get autogenerated while those waivers are still processing?
Jan 16, 2019, 7:05 pm
#48
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: SNA
Programs: UA 1k, AS MVP
Posts: 30
https://puu.sh/CxS3q.png
Jan 16, 2019, 7:12 pm
#49
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: EAU
Programs: UA 1K, CO Plat, NW Plat, Marriott Premiere Plat, SPG Plat, Priority Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,712
If you made the PQD, they offer you about $0.30/mile for 1K, $0.20 for Plat and it seems $0.10 for Gold/Silver.
If you were short both, it's somewhere between the least of the two and the total of both.
Jan 16, 2019, 8:08 pm
#50
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: 66,856
Jan 16, 2019, 9:35 pm
#51
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Melbourne MEL Calgary YYC
Programs: UA1K, QF Plat, *A & Marriot Gold, OW Emerald, Hyatt Hertz PC CanPass Nexus APEC Global Entry
Posts: 468
2018 Total PQM balance: 90,959
2018 Total PQS balance: 98
2018 Total PQD balance: $14,346
Premier 1K status for 2019: $2,839
Seems a bit high. Would have got it if it was around the $1000 mark. Will be ok with Premier Platinum for 2019 and will probably aim for 1K this year.
2018 Total PQS balance: 98
2018 Total PQD balance: $14,346
Premier 1K status for 2019: $2,839
Seems a bit high. Would have got it if it was around the $1000 mark. Will be ok with Premier Platinum for 2019 and will probably aim for 1K this year.
if you need to trans pacific a GPU is usually worth $1000 at time of booking so for lax-Mel you would double your investment, if you don’t go trans pacific $3k is a big number
Jan 17, 2019, 2:34 am
#52
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: MUC
Programs: UA 1mm/1K
Posts: 22
Total PQM balance: 92,xxx
2018 Total PQS balance: 56
2018 Total PQD balance: $13,xxx
Premier 1K status for 2019 $3,3xx
Would have spent $1000 and will consider MR in December if fall short again.
2018 Total PQS balance: 56
2018 Total PQD balance: $13,xxx
Premier 1K status for 2019 $3,3xx
Would have spent $1000 and will consider MR in December if fall short again.
Jan 17, 2019, 10:34 am
#53
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 211
Total PQM balance: 48,xxx
2018 Total PQS balance: ~20
2018 Total PQD balance: $13,xxx
Premier Gold status for 2019 $6xx
Hard to see how it would make sense to take it... all my international travel is paid business and domestic flights are rare and short hops (~1 hour) or trans-continental where the chance of an upgrade at premier gold is ~zero. Am I missing anything? Would anyone take it at that price? I thought with my spend levels they might give me a soft landing... oh well...
2018 Total PQS balance: ~20
2018 Total PQD balance: $13,xxx
Premier Gold status for 2019 $6xx
Hard to see how it would make sense to take it... all my international travel is paid business and domestic flights are rare and short hops (~1 hour) or trans-continental where the chance of an upgrade at premier gold is ~zero. Am I missing anything? Would anyone take it at that price? I thought with my spend levels they might give me a soft landing... oh well...
Jan 17, 2019, 7:53 pm
#54
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: EAU
Programs: UA 1K, CO Plat, NW Plat, Marriott Premiere Plat, SPG Plat, Priority Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,712
Other things gold gets you that may be valuable to your travel patterns:
- Free Same Day Change / Stand-By (Instead of $75)
- Economy plus seats at purchase for your trans-cons (at silver you can't pick seats until check-in, hello middles!)
- 2 checked bags instead of 1 on your domestic flights
- Slightly cheaper award ticket fees
Jan 17, 2019, 9:59 pm
#55
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 622
Pardon the ordering, I downloaded it from United and some of the flights got jumbled
https://puu.sh/CxS3q.png
https://puu.sh/CxS3q.png
Jan 18, 2019, 7:44 am
#56
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: SNA
Programs: UA 1k, AS MVP
Posts: 30
would be more difficult to achieve in lets say 2019.
Jan 18, 2019, 7:50 am
#57
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Copenhagen - CPH
Programs: KrisFlyer Gold, MileagePlus Gold, Marriott Gold Elite, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 41
2018 Total PQM balance: 92,491
Qualified level for 2019: Premier Platinum
Premier 1K status for 2019 - $2,699
I have a couple of really long FRA-SFO flights coming up in Q1 and some others possibly later this year.
I'm tempted primarily for the 6 GPUs. This would value them at ~$450 each, which isn't too far off from reality I guess
Qualified level for 2019: Premier Platinum
Premier 1K status for 2019 - $2,699
I have a couple of really long FRA-SFO flights coming up in Q1 and some others possibly later this year.
I'm tempted primarily for the 6 GPUs. This would value them at ~$450 each, which isn't too far off from reality I guess
Jan 18, 2019, 1:20 pm
#58
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: DEN / SEA
Programs: UA Silver
Posts: 132
It seems if you made the PQM, the offer is basically for the PQD you're short.
If you made the PQD, they offer you about $0.30/mile for 1K, $0.20 for Plat and it seems $0.10 for Gold/Silver.
If you were short both, it's somewhere between the least of the two and the total of both.
If you made the PQD, they offer you about $0.30/mile for 1K, $0.20 for Plat and it seems $0.10 for Gold/Silver.
If you were short both, it's somewhere between the least of the two and the total of both.
I think charging whatever I'm short of PQD makes good sense.
I don't know why PQM matters as much (flame suit on).
Since 2014 UA made it clear that dollars spent on a ticket is more important than how far we fly with them.
Jan 18, 2019, 1:45 pm
#59
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: EAU
Programs: UA 1K, CO Plat, NW Plat, Marriott Premiere Plat, SPG Plat, Priority Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 4,712
And if you're making your PQD before you're making your PQM, you're exactly the kind of high-value flyer they DON'T want to be able to book other airlines until you get the PQM for your status.
That's also why they hand out more GPUs the more miles you fly, and why lifetime tiers exist - all incentives to keep you on UA even if you've made your status.
Jan 21, 2019, 9:27 am
#60
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Iowa City, IA
Posts: 337
The part where if I had hit PQD then United would have had to provide a service (i.e. flying me somewhere) for the $550. I understand the qualifications of the program, but if they are going offer these buy-up offers they should at least make them appealing. Judging by some of the others offers posted on here, they aren't exactly uniform. United could have easily split the difference and offered $300.