Aug 3, 2019, 1:19 pm
Last edit by: WineCountryUA
GS Qualifying for 2020 Discussion
This will be a discussion thread, for discussing the needed qualifications and timing of notification.
2019 GS Timeline:
- First requalification notifications came out on 6 Dec 2018
- First-time notifications started about 3 Jan 2019
- Numerous reports that all regular notifications will be out by 11 Jan 2019
- Initial successful reconsideration appeals reported 15 Jan 2019
- First reports of challanges15 Jan 2019
If you have received notification about your 2020 GS status, please post in
Global Services 2020 Notifications (ONLY) -- "no discussion" (and as title suggests, this is just for notifications, use this thread for discussions / queries
and
Form Link to collect this years qualification (or rejection) information
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...rm?usp=sf_link
You can view the results: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...it?usp=sharing
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...rm?usp=sf_link
You can view the results: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...it?usp=sharing
To find your PQDs if >than $12K
Go to
MileagePlus activity since my last statement and it is in the "Account summary" table at the top of the page.
Note this is not just the UA operated PQDs (which is commonly believed to be what matters for GS) but rather your total PQDs.
Definitions
BIS is actual scheduled flight distance (Great Circle Mileage Distance -- GCM) between airports with 500 mile minimum for elites. This is the standard used for Lifetime miles also. Those flying mostly sub-500 segments sometimes prefer to not use the minimum rule.
The definition for CPM is a bit vaguer, especially since CPM is used in multiple different situations.
Believe for the purpose of this thread, GS qualification, folks are using
PQD CPM = UA PQDs / UA BIS
Note there is no direct evidence UA uses this CPM number for GS Qualification but it is a number FTers like to use.
As for BIS, UA does not report this number your account and it needs to be manually tracked.
One way is to make use that PQMs are based on BIS but there may be a multiplier / bonus for high end fares. If always in 2x PQMs, you could divide by 2 to get BIS.
Last year's thread
GS Qualifying for 2019 Discussion / Questions
GS Qualifying for 2020 Discussion / Questions
Nov 24, 2019, 3:08 pm
#346
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: anywhere and everywhere
Programs: UA GS, AS MVP 100K, DL Diamond, Marriot Lifetime Titanium, AmEx Centurion
Posts: 5,528
Nov 24, 2019, 6:14 pm
#347
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,337
Nov 24, 2019, 9:10 pm
#348
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Francisco, California
Programs: Amex Centurion, United Global Services
Posts: 847
Nov 25, 2019, 1:59 pm
#349
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 156
I have been 1K for the past 5 years and have been plat, gold, silver in years before that. Have never hit GS before and if I am going to have a chance it will be this year. However, I'm not sure if it is worth it and would love some opinions, especially from those who already have GS.
Currently I am $43,779 PQD (about 80% on UA metal) with 185,774 PQM based in EWR. I have an upcoming trip to Jakarta and can fly EWR-NRT-CGK on UA/NH which would take me to about $54,000 PQD and 219,000 PQM. This seems to put me in running for GS based on what I see from other people's numbers. However, one of the NH legs is in Y (C sold out it seems); not the biggest deal, but also not a short flight.
Alternatively, I can fly on SQ EWR-SIN-CGK which has a slightly better schedule, slightly shorter overall duration, but most importantly a much better experience than UA and doesn't require a leg in Y. If I choose this I am sure I will miss GS.
What do you recommend?
Currently I am $43,779 PQD (about 80% on UA metal) with 185,774 PQM based in EWR. I have an upcoming trip to Jakarta and can fly EWR-NRT-CGK on UA/NH which would take me to about $54,000 PQD and 219,000 PQM. This seems to put me in running for GS based on what I see from other people's numbers. However, one of the NH legs is in Y (C sold out it seems); not the biggest deal, but also not a short flight.
Alternatively, I can fly on SQ EWR-SIN-CGK which has a slightly better schedule, slightly shorter overall duration, but most importantly a much better experience than UA and doesn't require a leg in Y. If I choose this I am sure I will miss GS.
What do you recommend?
Nov 25, 2019, 2:12 pm
#350
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Francisco, California
Programs: Amex Centurion, United Global Services
Posts: 847
I have been 1K for the past 5 years and have been plat, gold, silver in years before that. Have never hit GS before and if I am going to have a chance it will be this year. However, I'm not sure if it is worth it and would love some opinions, especially from those who already have GS
What do you recommend?
What do you recommend?
I travel to Asia a bunch and there have been epic lines at the gates for the gate passport inspection. I’m talking hundreds of people. They pull the GS people out of the line and walk you right to the front. When I had an ORD connection with my elderly mom, they were waiting at the jetway with the United Mercedes to whisk is to our next gate.. The agent at SFO GS check in noted she was a slow walker and arranged it unprompted.
Doesn’t sound like a big deal but it’s a bunch of little things that add up. I say go for it!
Nov 25, 2019, 2:15 pm
#351
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Washington DC
Programs: United 1MM, Marriott Titanium (Lifetime Platinum)
Posts: 320
It's really a question of what you value more. No question that the flight routing on SQ all in C will be much more comfortable and better than the UA routing that gets you the additional UA PQD. That said, if you will be traveling a lot next year and the GS is worth that much to you, it might be worth a few hours of pain for a year of GS. One thing i would look at very closely is exactly what your UA PQD is. Given that the UA routing only gets you to $54K PQD and you said that your $43.7K PWD is about 80% on United, the routing might not get you to over $50K UA PQD.
Was I you I would do the following:
1. Go through my records and figure out how many UA PQD I had in 2017 and 2018.
2. Figure out what my UA PQD to date for 2019 is.
3. Figure out what my UA PQD will be for 2019 if I take the Y class UA routing.
4. Figure out if (a) will i be over $50K UA PQD for 2019 and (b) what my 3 year UA PQD total is.
If the revised routing does NOT get you over $50K PQD, it is likely a moot point and not worth it since you would do that and probably not get GS. If the revised routing puts you just over $50K and your 3 year total is under $100K, you may be in the same boat. If the revised routing is OVER $50K UA PQD and your 3 year total is OVER $100K, then you need to answer the question you asked in your post, but it really comes down to what your actual numbers are. You are so borderline that I would want to figure out exactly what my numbers are before deciding as I'd hate to go for it only to end up falling short because my estimate was wrong.
Just my two cents' worth...
Was I you I would do the following:
1. Go through my records and figure out how many UA PQD I had in 2017 and 2018.
2. Figure out what my UA PQD to date for 2019 is.
3. Figure out what my UA PQD will be for 2019 if I take the Y class UA routing.
4. Figure out if (a) will i be over $50K UA PQD for 2019 and (b) what my 3 year UA PQD total is.
If the revised routing does NOT get you over $50K PQD, it is likely a moot point and not worth it since you would do that and probably not get GS. If the revised routing puts you just over $50K and your 3 year total is under $100K, you may be in the same boat. If the revised routing is OVER $50K UA PQD and your 3 year total is OVER $100K, then you need to answer the question you asked in your post, but it really comes down to what your actual numbers are. You are so borderline that I would want to figure out exactly what my numbers are before deciding as I'd hate to go for it only to end up falling short because my estimate was wrong.
Just my two cents' worth...
Nov 25, 2019, 2:16 pm
#352
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Westchester NY
Programs: UA GS 4+ MM
Posts: 373
I have been 1K for the past 5 years and have been plat, gold, silver in years before that. Have never hit GS before and if I am going to have a chance it will be this year. However, I'm not sure if it is worth it and would love some opinions, especially from those who already have GS.
Currently I am $43,779 PQD (about 80% on UA metal) with 185,774 PQM based in EWR. I have an upcoming trip to Jakarta and can fly EWR-NRT-CGK on UA/NH which would take me to about $54,000 PQD and 219,000 PQM. This seems to put me in running for GS based on what I see from other people's numbers. However, one of the NH legs is in Y (C sold out it seems); not the biggest deal, but also not a short flight.
Alternatively, I can fly on SQ EWR-SIN-CGK which has a slightly better schedule, slightly shorter overall duration, but most importantly a much better experience than UA and doesn't require a leg in Y. If I choose this I am sure I will miss GS.
What do you recommend?
Currently I am $43,779 PQD (about 80% on UA metal) with 185,774 PQM based in EWR. I have an upcoming trip to Jakarta and can fly EWR-NRT-CGK on UA/NH which would take me to about $54,000 PQD and 219,000 PQM. This seems to put me in running for GS based on what I see from other people's numbers. However, one of the NH legs is in Y (C sold out it seems); not the biggest deal, but also not a short flight.
Alternatively, I can fly on SQ EWR-SIN-CGK which has a slightly better schedule, slightly shorter overall duration, but most importantly a much better experience than UA and doesn't require a leg in Y. If I choose this I am sure I will miss GS.
What do you recommend?
Nov 25, 2019, 2:27 pm
#353
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA 1K MM, Marriott Life Plat, various others of little note
Posts: 2,763
Nov 25, 2019, 2:41 pm
#354
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 156
It's really a question of what you value more. No question that the flight routing on SQ all in C will be much more comfortable and better than the UA routing that gets you the additional UA PQD. That said, if you will be traveling a lot next year and the GS is worth that much to you, it might be worth a few hours of pain for a year of GS. One thing i would look at very closely is exactly what your UA PQD is. Given that the UA routing only gets you to $54K PQD and you said that your $43.7K PWD is about 80% on United, the routing might not get you to over $50K UA PQD.
Was I you I would do the following:
1. Go through my records and figure out how many UA PQD I had in 2017 and 2018.
2. Figure out what my UA PQD to date for 2019 is.
3. Figure out what my UA PQD will be for 2019 if I take the Y class UA routing.
4. Figure out if (a) will i be over $50K UA PQD for 2019 and (b) what my 3 year UA PQD total is.
If the revised routing does NOT get you over $50K PQD, it is likely a moot point and not worth it since you would do that and probably not get GS. If the revised routing puts you just over $50K and your 3 year total is under $100K, you may be in the same boat. If the revised routing is OVER $50K UA PQD and your 3 year total is OVER $100K, then you need to answer the question you asked in your post, but it really comes down to what your actual numbers are. You are so borderline that I would want to figure out exactly what my numbers are before deciding as I'd hate to go for it only to end up falling short because my estimate was wrong.
Just my two cents' worth...
Was I you I would do the following:
1. Go through my records and figure out how many UA PQD I had in 2017 and 2018.
2. Figure out what my UA PQD to date for 2019 is.
3. Figure out what my UA PQD will be for 2019 if I take the Y class UA routing.
4. Figure out if (a) will i be over $50K UA PQD for 2019 and (b) what my 3 year UA PQD total is.
If the revised routing does NOT get you over $50K PQD, it is likely a moot point and not worth it since you would do that and probably not get GS. If the revised routing puts you just over $50K and your 3 year total is under $100K, you may be in the same boat. If the revised routing is OVER $50K UA PQD and your 3 year total is OVER $100K, then you need to answer the question you asked in your post, but it really comes down to what your actual numbers are. You are so borderline that I would want to figure out exactly what my numbers are before deciding as I'd hate to go for it only to end up falling short because my estimate was wrong.
Just my two cents' worth...
I think I will go for it.
Nov 25, 2019, 2:53 pm
#355
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: anywhere and everywhere
Programs: UA GS, AS MVP 100K, DL Diamond, Marriot Lifetime Titanium, AmEx Centurion
Posts: 5,528
That said, I'm going to be $50.5 myself with about $80 the last three years so I'm also going to be in the "hoping" boat. (If we knew CPM counted I'd probably book a DCA-ORD-DCA in full J to push me over, lol
Nov 25, 2019, 4:33 pm
#358
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: anywhere and everywhere
Programs: UA GS, AS MVP 100K, DL Diamond, Marriot Lifetime Titanium, AmEx Centurion
Posts: 5,528
I'm sure you know this, but for US-CGK that's an insane biz fare. EWR-SIN-EWR prices out in P around $4,000 these days...maybe split things?
Nov 25, 2019, 4:48 pm
#359
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 156
Yes, it is insane. But I certainly cannot find anything remotely close to what you're suggesting. My dates are 12/8 - 12/13. I just looked EWR-SIN-EWR on UA for those dates and they want $17k (yes seventeen thousand). laugh out loud
Nov 26, 2019, 12:06 am
#360
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 20
2009-2017: 1K every year, PQD in the $20-$40k. Never qualified for GS
2018: 226K PQM, $48,849 PQD ($46k on United metal). Didn't qualify. Requested review, declined. No challenge offered.
1.3m United lifetime miles.
2019 so far: PQM - 300K, PQD: $61,732. All United metal - 3 international J. Rest domestic first. Three remaining domestic trips for 2019 - about 18k PQM and $2.5k PQD. Based out of ORD.
2018: 226K PQM, $48,849 PQD ($46k on United metal). Didn't qualify. Requested review, declined. No challenge offered.
1.3m United lifetime miles.
2019 so far: PQM - 300K, PQD: $61,732. All United metal - 3 international J. Rest domestic first. Three remaining domestic trips for 2019 - about 18k PQM and $2.5k PQD. Based out of ORD.