prometa

This year, looks like I'll end up with ~90,000 PQM and ~$25,000 PQD (~$7.5k UA metal, so I am way way far from GS qualification). A MR is not in my cards, as we have a newborn at home, so travel is only on a strictly essential basis this year. However, I could do premier accelerator to get the extra 10k PQM, or two Y-->Z RT upgrades would do it too, both at a total cost of ~$1000ish.

This year had 2 TATL trips in paid J, which is where all of the PQD came from. If I do travel internationally next year (not guaranteed), it will be again in paid J, so the GPUs are probably not super valuable except as replacements for RPU. For CPU, I am SFO based, flying to IAD most of the time, where employer will only pay for Y. I figure there's still only a small chance of CPU on that route even as 1K, but have never been 1K so am not sure. (Am currently gold, which is where I'll be again if no international travel occurs next year)

Given that calculation, would you say the $1000 OOP cost to make 1K is worth it? Obviously, if I could make good use of GPUs, or would often get CPUs, then yes, but otherwise seems like $1000 could buy more Y-->P paid upgrades than I would get CPU. If the GPUs work as RPUs, then I'd get my $1000 back, but I'm not sure those would clear. (and would almost never clear at booking)

findark

IMO if the $1,000 is upfaring two IAD trips to F, it's worth it on its own merits and 1K is just a nice side bonus

I would probably do it regardless for the soft benefits, but it is much more ymmv if you don't use the GPU. You can bum-ride the instruments for a long time on your IAD trips next year, and probably clear occasionally plus the free food and drink and better overall treatment is worth something.

Boraxo

See my calculations above. What is your current upgrade clearance rate at SFO? Pretty low I would bet. It won't be much better as a 1K, because the upgrades will still go to all the GS flyers.

As Plat this year I do miss some of the 1K perks like the free meals and drinks, and the pre-boarding. But IMO those are not worth $1K. And as UA miles are not an incentive anymore (due to massive deval in November) I often find myself flying other carriers when the fares (incl. E+) are lower.

If you can use the RPUs/GPUs for transcons or international flights then I say go for it. But if you're flying mostly hub-hub then don't count on the upgrades unless you have massive flexibility. Which is not likely the case if you want to maximize time with your family.

Kacee

I think that's right. I also agree with Boraxo it's not worth $1k new/extra spend if the GPU won't be used.

leng

Team,

I'm currently UA Gold with 55,500 PQM and $11,600 PDS spent. UA Club Card Holder.

I have 4 trips upcoming through EOY which will push me to 1K both in PQM and PDS. First time, so exciting for me.

I am based out of IAD and have the following trips scheduled:

Business trips:
1 Trans Con to SFO in L. - Sept

1 Trans Pac to ICN in B and R (Premium Plus) - October

1 Possible trip to BOG in Oct - TBD

1 Trans Con to SFO in E and L. - Nov


Personal trip w/ family
1 Trans Pac to TPE in B and A (Premium Plus) - December/Jan 2020

1. Is Platinum/1K 'worth it' with the above flights now via an accelerator purchase to utilize benefits with the remaining time in 2019? Obviously subjective based on CPM and what offers UA is presenting.
2. My return is in 2020, so PDM and PDS for the return will count toward 2021 qualification?

expressboy

1. I would not think so. The PQM will be 10+ cents per mile and this purchase will not give you PQDs. If you were going to qualify anyway for 1K, I wouldn't bother.
2. Yes.

eng3

Buying the PQM alone would not get you to 1K. You still would be short on PQD.
In any case, I think for most people, it typically is not worth throwing money at UA purely for status especially when you are only half way there.

drewguy

The ~$2000 you would spend for 20k PQM to get to Platinum a couple of months early would be much better spent towards upgrading your existing fares to a premium class (which is more certain than the merely better chances of a CPU or upgrade on those flights). You could also use it to purchase RDM if that's what you want (as compared to higher multiplier) or drinks, that platinum will get you 5 of free (using coupons) on domestic flights.

aacharya

Agree 100% with everything above. Since you have the baggage and E+ benefits with Gold, the only thing Platinum gets you is free E+ on personal trips, but you're already in PP for that leg.

Just make sure to make 1K on PQD/PQM. Does mystatus.united.com project that you will make it?

kale73

leng

Thanks everyone for your input. I agree that paying for the mileage is a waste, better off investing the money.

I just added a short flight to IND which will guarantee the PDS requirements.

prometa

My upgrade rate to any other UA hub is 0, and that's 95% of my flying. What would the chances of GPU--as--RPU clearing be? If I cleared 8 Y-->F segments over the course of the year, that'd be worth $1000.

findark

I wouldn't be surprised if you could crack 20% on instrument-supported upgrades, but much higher than that would be hard. SFO-IAD is a route where finding discounted inventory for paid F is increasingly difficult, let alone clearing an upgrade. In my final days as a regular on that route this year, I was often buying C fares.

I think a lot of the question comes down to what marginal dollar value you place on sitting in F instead of Y.

WineCountryUA

Depends on route, fare purchased and time & day of the week. Hub to Hub, discount fares, traveling peak elite times; chances are still low. Change the factors, your chances will improve

jsloan

How many times have you applied an RPU to your itinerary and finished first on the upgrade list? That's probably your best gauge. GPUs have no additional priority above RPUs; it's just a matter of status. The hub-hub routes from SFO are notoriously difficult to clear, especially on a business travel schedule.