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
Dec 22, 2019, 1:10 pm
#751
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Cape Cod MA
Programs: GS, 3 MM, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 752
My stats are nearly identical to UA_Flyer's partner except I'm only at $53K and no invite this year.
Dec 22, 2019, 3:44 pm
#752
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Cleveland, OH
Programs: UA-GS 1MM), Hertz Pres Circle, Starriott Titanium)
Posts: 1,966
If I recall my first year qualifying out of CLE was somewhere between 48k-52k. That was after multiple years of spending roughly the same but lots of partner flights. Once I figured out I had to fly only United Metal I made GS.
Dec 22, 2019, 5:08 pm
#753
formerly FrequentFlyKid
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Programs: United Global Services, Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador, National Executive Elite
Posts: 981
I am hoping this year is enough to qualify. All of my flights/spend have been on United metal. I am stuck with the million dollar question of whether or not to go on a PQD "run" to hit $50K.
Dec 22, 2019, 5:13 pm
#754
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,115
about $800 short of $50k this year
nit taking extra time from home during the holidays chasing an imaginary number. If I go on a run to get $50k then don’t get it...I’m gonna be pissed off. Does $800 really make a difference? Who knows. I’m going to find out
Dec 22, 2019, 5:26 pm
#755
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: DYKWIA, But I'm a "Diamond Guest" UA 1K/2MM
Posts: 2,250
I think it is just speculation, which has gotten repeated enough that people take it as gospel -- kind of like the "CPM" thing that everybody was touting a few years ago. The only difference is that there were many, many counter-examples that disproved the CPM thesis. I haven't seen too many that disprove the 3-year rolling window thesis -- it's just not clear whether the number is $100K of $120K or something else.
Dec 22, 2019, 5:46 pm
#756
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
I think it is just speculation, which has gotten repeated enough that people take it as gospel -- kind of like the "CPM" thing that everybody was touting a few years ago. The only difference is that there were many, many counter-examples that disproved the CPM thesis. I haven't seen too many that disprove the 3-year rolling window thesis -- it's just not clear whether the number is $100K of $120K or something else.
A loyal elite doing 33 33 33 isn’t going to get it.
It just doesn’t make much sense.
Dec 22, 2019, 5:53 pm
#757
formerly FrequentFlyKid
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Programs: United Global Services, Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador, National Executive Elite
Posts: 981
I think our situations are different with you being a current GS. I do get your point and that's what I am debating: is the time and spend worth it? If I do it and still don't make it, I would probably be very annoyed. Not sure it's worth that.
Dec 22, 2019, 5:58 pm
#758
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 6
I’m in the same position as you. My wife and I have no problems with me taking a day to do an out and back, so there’s that.
Dec 22, 2019, 5:59 pm
#759
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,731
Always very likely the first flyer generated as much or more "profit" in one year as the 3-year flyer did over 3 years but consuming more resources.
Dec 22, 2019, 6:04 pm
#760
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: London
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,438
Makes sense to me, as who is more likely to spend the most in the coming year. If I were UA, I would bet on the first flyer. Clearly not a certainty but seems a reasonable projection.
Always very likely the first flyer generated as much or more "profit" in one year as the 3-year flyer did over 3 years but consuming more resources.
Always very likely the first flyer generated as much or more "profit" in one year as the 3-year flyer did over 3 years but consuming more resources.
Dec 22, 2019, 6:04 pm
#761
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: UA GS 1MM / Hilton Diamond / Bonvoy Gold / Hertz PC
Posts: 395
I think it makes a lot of sense. One can guess that the consistent $33k flier is likely to do just that. The $75k flyer did over double that. While one can never guess if that will be repeat business, it’s absolutely worth it if they can put their best foot forward to keep that business. That flyer could do in two years what it would take the other flyer about half a decade.
Dec 22, 2019, 6:23 pm
#762
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,731
Yes bigger single year spenders are a no brainer but a rising spend over multiple years should attract some visibility. Additionally, you want some hysteresis in the program to allow for year to year variations.
If we reshape your original example -- a first, single-year $50K vs $40K-$40K-$40K 3-year pattern, the later might make more sense to get the nod first or at least equal consideration.
Suspect the GS selection is not a one-dimensional process and a number of factors are consisted, of which one could be a trailing years spend.
UA is trying to select and reward those that UA hopes will have the most impact of UA's up coming year.
Dec 22, 2019, 8:29 pm
#763
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Orange County, CA
Programs: United GS, MM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 598
I’m $42 short of $50k. Previous years have always been right around 50 give or take a few thousand. I’m hoping to requal again. Took lots of vacations this year with award miles, but pretty much had flights every week of the year.
Last edited by Chukiechz; Dec 23, 2019 at 8:40 am
Dec 22, 2019, 9:04 pm
#764
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: DL Gold, UA nothing (ex-GS), Marriott lifetime Plat, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 920
Yeah I think it’s safe to say margin plays some role. $40k on B fares is way more likely to qualify than $40k on T fares.
Dec 23, 2019, 5:44 am
#765
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Somewhere in EWR
Programs: UA GS, HH Diamond
Posts: 858
That was me and my letter was posted in the 2018 thread. They did indeed say they considered 'multiple years' and when we totaled my 16, 17 and 18 spend it was under $100k.
