Sep 24, 19, 8:33 am
Last edit by: economyplusfan
Quick Summary
Starting on December 4, 2019 all existing and future upgrade instruments (RPU and GPU) will be changed into PlusPoints. There will be a straight equivalence: each RPU is 20 points and each GPU is 40 points. There will be no actual changes to the earning rates or expiration dates for Premiers, including Million Milers and bonus instruments (now points) for multiples of 25,000 PQM beyond the 1K requirements.
More from United: Upgrade Types: PlusPoints
Earning Rates
Premier Platinum: 40 points
Premier 1K: 320 points (includes the 40 points earned for reaching Platinum)
Premier 1K in 2019, earned for every 25,000 PQM beyond the 100,000-mile minimum (or every 30 PQS in excess of 120): 40 points
Premier 1K in 2020, earned for every 3,000 PQP beyond the 18,000 PQP minimum: 20 points
Upgrade Options
Short-haul flights (all non-Polaris marketed flights), Economy (all fare classes) to Premium Plus, Business, or First: 20 points
Short-haul flights, Premium Plus to Business or First: 10 points
Long-haul flights, Economy (all fare classes) to Premium Plus: 20 points
Long-haul flights, Economy (Y, B, M, E, U, H, Q, V, or W class) to Polaris: 40 points
Long-haul flights, Economy (S, T, L, K, or G class) to Polaris: 80 points
Long-haul flights, Premium Plus (all fare classes) to Polaris: 30 points
Long-haul flights, Economy (Y, B, M, E, U, H, Q, V, or W class) or Premium Plus (all classes) to Polaris ("skip the waitlist"): ?? points (must be Premier 1K or GS and 30+ days in advance, expected to be a dynamic price, details still TBA)
Economy or Premium Economy to Business, or Business to First on LH, NH, or CM: 40 points
Basic Economy (fare class N and -LGT TATL fares in N/S/T/L/K/G classes as of current writing) tickets are never eligible for any upgrade of any kind.
Changes from Current Program
Generally speaking, all current uses of RPUs and GPUs will be the same as before (same inventory requirements, costs, and procedures) except that 20 or 40 points will be used instead of an RPU or GPU. However, there are some additional options and prices:
Weve heard from MileagePlus Premier members that theyre interested in an upgrade program thats more customizable and with fewer restrictions. Introducing PlusPoints flexible points that can be used for upgrades anywhere we fly. Starting in December, the new program gives MileagePlus Platinum members and above a bank of points that they can use to upgrade on U.S. domestic and international flights where they previously would have used Regional Premier Upgrades (RPUs) and Global Premier Upgrades (GPUs). Complimentary Premier Upgrades wont change, so you will still get free upgrades on select flights when available.
FAQ with UA Insider (direct quotes in "quotes")
Will Global Services members have the same cost structure (in points) as 1K and Platinum? (link)
Yes.
How will the pricing of "Skip Waitlist" work? (link)
It is expected to be dynamic. "Availability and pricing ... will vary based on a number of factors."
Will 1K members still be able to extend 2 GPUs (or 80 PlusPoints) until April 30 of the following year, subject to re-qualification? (link)
Reports now show that you can extend up to 80 points, but only if you've requalified for 1K/GS and those 80 points were previously 2 GPUs. They know the difference and there are mixed reports of success extending former RPU points (but highly unlikely).
Will it still be possible to optionally list for both Premium Plus and Polaris (on an Economy fare)? (link)
"You will still be able to waitlist for both cabins. However, if you only clear into Premium Plus youll ultimately only pay for the highest upgrade you receive which in this example would be Premium Plus (20 PlusPoints). Keep in mind well deduct the full request price, equal to the highest price upgrade requested, whenever any upgrade clears and youll receive any difference in PlusPoints due back to you when landing at your destination."
What happens if only part of your itinerary is upgraded? (link)
You will be charged for the upgrade you received: "If you dont receive the highest-priced PlusPoints upgrade you requested, ... youll be due for a credit ... equal to the difference between the PlusPoints request price and the highest-priced PlusPoints upgrade you received."
You will not be able to cancel PlusPoints requests that have received upgrades. (link) Essentially burning 20 points in the event that only the domestic portion of your request clears.
If I don't want to risk a short connection clearing but not the long haul, can I request only the long haul? Can I add the short haul later?
Yes, you can limit the request to a specific segment.
But once a all or a portion or all the request has cleared, you can not change it to add another segment.
Will I get a refund if only the short segment clears but not the long haul / Polaris segment?
No, that is a change from the GPU days (but still true for mileage upgrades). But you will only be charged the amount for the cleared segment(s).
Is {anything else} changing? (link)
No, not really. "Million milers will receive the equivalent of what they receive today in PlusPoints. Classes of availability for upgrades are not changing. PlusPoints can be sponsored to other travelers in the same way GPUs and RPUs could be. For Skip Waitlist upgrades, the account holder must also be traveling."
I see PlusPoints for sale on Craigslist or eBay. May I buy them and use them?
We do not recommend this. If UA determines the PlusPoints was sold, you risk having your M+ account terminated and loss of your miles, status, lifetime miles, etc.
Do the fare class restrictions apply to domestic flights?
No, you can use a PlusPoints on any fare on any domestic/ any CPU eligible flight.
For non-CPU flights, the standard 40 PlusPoints is needs for W or higher. For lower fares it takes 80 PlusPoints.
Is there a maximum layover between segments of a journey?
Unclear. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/20453548-post221.html is an example of 38 hours, where the 1K desk applied it on behalf of the customer. What is interesting about this case is that 38 hours is well beyond a layover, which implies that in some cases, one PlusPoints can be used for two journeys on the same ticket even if the two journeys are beyond 12 hours apart (12 hours being the pmUA rule 4 hours for North American / domestic only flights).
Lots of uncertain still exists on this issue.
What is the relative waitlist priority of PlusPoints vs Miles
The use of PlusPoints vs Miles has no impact on the waitlist priority, they have the same priority as a supported upgrade
May I cross two oceans with the same set of PlusPoints?
Yes if the entire journey is on one confirmation number and the max layover rule (above) is met.
My PlusPoints ares still valid/unexpired, but my journey starts after the PlusPoints expires. Can I use them for that journey?
No.
Can I use my PlusPoints for another traveler? Do I have to be traveling with them?
You can use your PlusPoints for another traveler. If on the same PNR, it will be done as you do yourself. When on a common PNR, you can only request upgrades for everyone, not just some -- to do that you need to split the PNR.
If the other traveler is on a separate PNR, you pull up their PNR in your account (via My Trips), you will need their PNR id and their bass name as on the reservation. Then go to the upgrade tab and proceed as if it was your reservation
When on a common PNR, the other travelers will have the same waitlist priority as you (this should continue even if the PNR is split after requesting the upgrade).
When on a separate PNR, they will be prioritized based on their status.
If my status changes, will I lose my PlusPoints?
No, PlusPoints, once granted, are good until they expire. You could conceivably drop to general member and maintain your PlusPoints. When you use the PlusPoints, you'll be prioritized based on your present status.
The prior GPU thread is now archived
Starting on December 4, 2019 all existing and future upgrade instruments (RPU and GPU) will be changed into PlusPoints. There will be a straight equivalence: each RPU is 20 points and each GPU is 40 points. There will be no actual changes to the earning rates or expiration dates for Premiers, including Million Milers and bonus instruments (now points) for multiples of 25,000 PQM beyond the 1K requirements.
More from United: Upgrade Types: PlusPoints
Earning Rates
Premier Platinum: 40 points
Premier 1K: 320 points (includes the 40 points earned for reaching Platinum)
Premier 1K in 2019, earned for every 25,000 PQM beyond the 100,000-mile minimum (or every 30 PQS in excess of 120): 40 points
Premier 1K in 2020, earned for every 3,000 PQP beyond the 18,000 PQP minimum: 20 points
Upgrade Options
Short-haul flights (all non-Polaris marketed flights), Economy (all fare classes) to Premium Plus, Business, or First: 20 points
Short-haul flights, Premium Plus to Business or First: 10 points
Long-haul flights, Economy (all fare classes) to Premium Plus: 20 points
Long-haul flights, Economy (Y, B, M, E, U, H, Q, V, or W class) to Polaris: 40 points
Long-haul flights, Economy (S, T, L, K, or G class) to Polaris: 80 points
Long-haul flights, Premium Plus (all fare classes) to Polaris: 30 points
Long-haul flights, Economy (Y, B, M, E, U, H, Q, V, or W class) or Premium Plus (all classes) to Polaris ("skip the waitlist"): ?? points (must be Premier 1K or GS and 30+ days in advance, expected to be a dynamic price, details still TBA)
Economy or Premium Economy to Business, or Business to First on LH, NH, or CM: 40 points
Basic Economy (fare class N and -LGT TATL fares in N/S/T/L/K/G classes as of current writing) tickets are never eligible for any upgrade of any kind.
Changes from Current Program
Generally speaking, all current uses of RPUs and GPUs will be the same as before (same inventory requirements, costs, and procedures) except that 20 or 40 points will be used instead of an RPU or GPU. However, there are some additional options and prices:
- A short-haul (formerly RPU-eligible) upgrade is now 20 points (always) -- there is no concept of using a GPU on a domestic route since there is no concept of a GPU as a distinct instrument. So a 1K could choose to effectively use all 320 points for 16 RPUs.
- BOG, UIO, HNL-GUM, and HNL-MAJ are now effectively RPU-eligible and require only 20 points.
- Upgrading from Economy to Premium Economy ("Premium Plus") is now 20 points (from any fare class), which is an RPU-equivalent instead of a GPU-equivalent before.
- Upgrading from Premium Economy to Business ("Premium Plus" to "Polaris") is now 30 points (from any fare class), which is a new price level and less than the GPU-equivalent before.
- You may upgrade a previously ineligible deep discount Economy fare (classes S, T, L, K, or G) to Polaris for 80 points (2x GPU equivalent). (Upgrading a W or higher Economy fare is still 40 points, as before.)
- Premier 1K members will have the opportunity to pay additional points to confirm an upgrade even if the requisite class (PZ/PN) is not available via "SkipWaitlist". This carries a 30-day advance requirement, will be available "from time to time", and further details are TBA.
- Points are not deducted when you list for the upgrade, only when some part of the upgrade clears. You can request an unlimited number of upgrades in parallel, and remaining (uncleared) requests will be canceled if your points are exhausted.
- E.g., if you waitlist for PZ (or PN) and for RN, and later RN clears from the waitlist, the full total for PZ will be deducted at that time.
- Changes to how partial clearance of upgrades works. You have two options:
- List all segments. If at least one segment clears, you will ultimately be charged for the highest single cost among all cleared segments. Thus, you will "spend an RPU" (20 points) if only a domestic connector to a Polaris-marketed segment clears (previously there was no cost).
- List only the Polaris-marketed segments (or any subset you wish). You can add more segments back in after the Polaris-marketed segment clears - but this will be considered a new upgrade request (and cost extra points).
You can no longer cancel and redeposit a confirmed upgrade, even if your fare class is available(or maybe not - see post, which would imply no change here). If still waitlisted, it can be withdrawn. If withdrawn within 24 hrs of flight you will have to call UA to have ticket cancelled and reissued, as withdrawals can no longer be automatically processed within this window. (You can probably still SDC to another flight and back if your fare class is available and get the points back.)- No change to
- Expiration. Instruments expiring 31-Jan-2020 will become points expiring 31-Jan-2020, and ditto for 31-Jan-2021. (UA Insider separated the 2 GPU extension practice from this announcement)
- Use of instruments on partners (LH, NH, etc). Points will be deducted at application, like before (unlike UA flights which are changing). (Except CM, which will now be billed as a 40-point upgrade per segment.)
- Pretty much anything else not covered above.
- PlusPoints upgrades can be requested all the way until the cut-off time to check in for your flight. Previously, UA only accepted new waitlist requests for Global Premier Upgrades and Regional Premier Upgrades up to 24 hours before departure. Waitlists for MileagePlus Upgrade Awards will continue to be accepted until 24 hours before departure.
Weve heard from MileagePlus Premier members that theyre interested in an upgrade program thats more customizable and with fewer restrictions. Introducing PlusPoints flexible points that can be used for upgrades anywhere we fly. Starting in December, the new program gives MileagePlus Platinum members and above a bank of points that they can use to upgrade on U.S. domestic and international flights where they previously would have used Regional Premier Upgrades (RPUs) and Global Premier Upgrades (GPUs). Complimentary Premier Upgrades wont change, so you will still get free upgrades on select flights when available.
FAQ with UA Insider (direct quotes in "quotes")
Will Global Services members have the same cost structure (in points) as 1K and Platinum? (link)
Yes.
How will the pricing of "Skip Waitlist" work? (link)
It is expected to be dynamic. "Availability and pricing ... will vary based on a number of factors."
Will 1K members still be able to extend 2 GPUs (or 80 PlusPoints) until April 30 of the following year, subject to re-qualification? (link)
Reports now show that you can extend up to 80 points, but only if you've requalified for 1K/GS and those 80 points were previously 2 GPUs. They know the difference and there are mixed reports of success extending former RPU points (but highly unlikely).
Will it still be possible to optionally list for both Premium Plus and Polaris (on an Economy fare)? (link)
"You will still be able to waitlist for both cabins. However, if you only clear into Premium Plus youll ultimately only pay for the highest upgrade you receive which in this example would be Premium Plus (20 PlusPoints). Keep in mind well deduct the full request price, equal to the highest price upgrade requested, whenever any upgrade clears and youll receive any difference in PlusPoints due back to you when landing at your destination."
What happens if only part of your itinerary is upgraded? (link)
You will be charged for the upgrade you received: "If you dont receive the highest-priced PlusPoints upgrade you requested, ... youll be due for a credit ... equal to the difference between the PlusPoints request price and the highest-priced PlusPoints upgrade you received."
You will not be able to cancel PlusPoints requests that have received upgrades. (link) Essentially burning 20 points in the event that only the domestic portion of your request clears.
If I don't want to risk a short connection clearing but not the long haul, can I request only the long haul? Can I add the short haul later?
Yes, you can limit the request to a specific segment.
But once a all or a portion or all the request has cleared, you can not change it to add another segment.
Will I get a refund if only the short segment clears but not the long haul / Polaris segment?
No, that is a change from the GPU days (but still true for mileage upgrades). But you will only be charged the amount for the cleared segment(s).
Is {anything else} changing? (link)
No, not really. "Million milers will receive the equivalent of what they receive today in PlusPoints. Classes of availability for upgrades are not changing. PlusPoints can be sponsored to other travelers in the same way GPUs and RPUs could be. For Skip Waitlist upgrades, the account holder must also be traveling."
I see PlusPoints for sale on Craigslist or eBay. May I buy them and use them?
We do not recommend this. If UA determines the PlusPoints was sold, you risk having your M+ account terminated and loss of your miles, status, lifetime miles, etc.
Do the fare class restrictions apply to domestic flights?
No, you can use a PlusPoints on any fare on any domestic/ any CPU eligible flight.
For non-CPU flights, the standard 40 PlusPoints is needs for W or higher. For lower fares it takes 80 PlusPoints.
Is there a maximum layover between segments of a journey?
Unclear. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/20453548-post221.html is an example of 38 hours, where the 1K desk applied it on behalf of the customer. What is interesting about this case is that 38 hours is well beyond a layover, which implies that in some cases, one PlusPoints can be used for two journeys on the same ticket even if the two journeys are beyond 12 hours apart (12 hours being the pmUA rule 4 hours for North American / domestic only flights).
Lots of uncertain still exists on this issue.
What is the relative waitlist priority of PlusPoints vs Miles
The use of PlusPoints vs Miles has no impact on the waitlist priority, they have the same priority as a supported upgrade
May I cross two oceans with the same set of PlusPoints?
Yes if the entire journey is on one confirmation number and the max layover rule (above) is met.
My PlusPoints ares still valid/unexpired, but my journey starts after the PlusPoints expires. Can I use them for that journey?
No.
Can I use my PlusPoints for another traveler? Do I have to be traveling with them?
You can use your PlusPoints for another traveler. If on the same PNR, it will be done as you do yourself. When on a common PNR, you can only request upgrades for everyone, not just some -- to do that you need to split the PNR.
If the other traveler is on a separate PNR, you pull up their PNR in your account (via My Trips), you will need their PNR id and their bass name as on the reservation. Then go to the upgrade tab and proceed as if it was your reservation
When on a common PNR, the other travelers will have the same waitlist priority as you (this should continue even if the PNR is split after requesting the upgrade).
When on a separate PNR, they will be prioritized based on their status.
If my status changes, will I lose my PlusPoints?
No, PlusPoints, once granted, are good until they expire. You could conceivably drop to general member and maintain your PlusPoints. When you use the PlusPoints, you'll be prioritized based on your present status.
The prior GPU thread is now archived
Consolidated UA PlusPoints Question & Answer Thread
Sep 24, 19, 8:39 am
#46
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1P-1MM, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 3,892
Overall, it will be interesting to see how this plays out. I'm just an observer as I won't be getting any PlusPoints. I could see two things happening: First, a portion of people that currently have GPUs expire due to lack of international travel will now be able to use those on domestic legs, making CPUs even harder to get on some routes (although, I'm not sure that anyone will really notice), and second, that people may elect to use more points to get international upgrades, potentially freeing up an occasional upgrade for someone that in the past would not have gotten one. In the second case, we will again never really know for sure if this is the case.
Based on the connecting flight clearing (e.g. DEN-ORD-FRA), it seems that we will have to go back to the old strategy of requesting the long-haul upgrade, then, if it clears, call to see if you can add the domestic leg.
It does seem that they are already working towards dynamic pricing, especially when they say that there are times when there could be cheaper upgrades. This almost always means that there will be times that will require more PlusPoints.
Sep 24, 19, 8:46 am
#47
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: None - previously UA
Posts: 4,740
Sep 24, 19, 8:47 am
#48
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 13,896
A few thoughts from a full read-through...
Overall: As implemented today, I think this is a huge value-add for elites who get the new PlusPoints. Massively increased flexibility and upgrade count of your desired type - a 1K could get 10 annual upgrades from R class and a spare "RPU" to boot, or 4 upgrades from lowest Economy (to J), etc. I do agree, however, that this opens the door to dynamic pricing and will probably get cut sooner rather than later (10 points from Y, 20 points from M, 40 points from Q, 60 points from W, and so on, anyone?).
Biggest value-add: Flexibility. This solidly beats Delta's "choice benefits" in the upgrade department and lets elites choose the style of upgrade they want. I think this is excellent, and a direct implementation of the long suggested "2x RPU = GPU, 2x GPU = upgrade from K, 2x GPU = skip the waitlist" suggestion that has been kicking around on FT for a while. We don't know how 1K's "Skip Waitlist" will work, but my guess is it will be something like double the points to confirm into ZN (it did say "select flights" but what's the point if inventory is almost as tight as PZ). The 30-day AP requirement seems like an obvious guard to prevent cannibalizing business sales and stop business-traveling 1Ks from using "Skip Waitlist".
Biggest cut: You need chips on the table to upgrade domestic connectors now. You can use one GPU of value to upgrade your whole journey, but will be debited the RPU (20 points) if only the domestic sector clears (even if only say LAX-SFO clears). You also cannot backfill the upgrade from a confirmed Polaris sector - this counts as a new upgrade request:
Biggest change: You can now request an unlimited number of upgrades in parallel and confirm them on a first-available basis until your points are used up. This is copying how DL charges certificates and will definitely tweak bookkeeping. Interestingly, they will "hold" the full value of a partially-cleared upgrade as soon as any segment clears.
Overall: As implemented today, I think this is a huge value-add for elites who get the new PlusPoints. Massively increased flexibility and upgrade count of your desired type - a 1K could get 10 annual upgrades from R class and a spare "RPU" to boot, or 4 upgrades from lowest Economy (to J), etc. I do agree, however, that this opens the door to dynamic pricing and will probably get cut sooner rather than later (10 points from Y, 20 points from M, 40 points from Q, 60 points from W, and so on, anyone?).
Biggest value-add: Flexibility. This solidly beats Delta's "choice benefits" in the upgrade department and lets elites choose the style of upgrade they want. I think this is excellent, and a direct implementation of the long suggested "2x RPU = GPU, 2x GPU = upgrade from K, 2x GPU = skip the waitlist" suggestion that has been kicking around on FT for a while. We don't know how 1K's "Skip Waitlist" will work, but my guess is it will be something like double the points to confirm into ZN (it did say "select flights" but what's the point if inventory is almost as tight as PZ). The 30-day AP requirement seems like an obvious guard to prevent cannibalizing business sales and stop business-traveling 1Ks from using "Skip Waitlist".
Biggest cut: You need chips on the table to upgrade domestic connectors now. You can use one GPU of value to upgrade your whole journey, but will be debited the RPU (20 points) if only the domestic sector clears (even if only say LAX-SFO clears). You also cannot backfill the upgrade from a confirmed Polaris sector - this counts as a new upgrade request:
Remember: It is not possible to add segments to an upgrade request after it has been placed. Additional upgrade requests would require additional PlusPoints.
Biggest change: You can now request an unlimited number of upgrades in parallel and confirm them on a first-available basis until your points are used up. This is copying how DL charges certificates and will definitely tweak bookkeeping. Interestingly, they will "hold" the full value of a partially-cleared upgrade as soon as any segment clears.
Sep 24, 19, 8:48 am
#49
FlyerTalk Evangelist & Ambassador: China
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: DL DM/MM, UA 1K, AA Exp, HH Dia, WOH Glob, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, NA EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 17,394
Bingo. When DL rolled out tiered awards (first two, then three, then five, then dynamic) it was all hyped as more consumer choice. What happened was less low level availability. My prediction is less ability to clear via PZ and PN thus forcing devaluation via skip waitlist. Heck, anyone else remember when using UG instruments was easy???
Sep 24, 19, 8:52 am
#51
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: San Francisco/Tel Aviv/YYZ
Programs: CO 1K-MM
Posts: 10,742
could be promising; I'm understandably quite curious how the skip waitlist actually works (I can only assume we're going to get some info on what availability is required to confirm them).
Now that points are more cashlike, it would be good to see united price domestic upgrades reasonably, and with reasonable availability in terms of MP miles..
Now that points are more cashlike, it would be good to see united price domestic upgrades reasonably, and with reasonable availability in terms of MP miles..
Sep 24, 19, 8:52 am
#52
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 652
Don't think anyone has mentioned one good thing to come out of this is the ability to use the United app to request upgrades. Always thought it was terrible design to force people to use the mobile website to request upgrades.
Sep 24, 19, 8:54 am
#53
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Jersey Shore/YYZ
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC
Posts: 12,494
I think the lack of G fares noted is pretty simple - they don't sell G fares internationally, only domestically. One might see a G fare for domestic feeding routes, but in theory, one does not upgrade to Premium Plus or Polaris from a G fare, ever.
*Eligible fare classes include O, A, and R (for United Premium Plus to United Polaris business); Fare classes Y, B, M, E, U, H, Q, V, W (for Economy to United Polaris business); Fare classes Y, B, M, E, U, H, Q, V, W, S, T, L, K, (for Economy to United Premium Plus).As for the skip waitlist, I'm now curious what fare class that will be mapped to.
Sep 24, 19, 8:56 am
#54
FlyerTalk Evangelist & Ambassador: China
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: DEN
Programs: DL DM/MM, UA 1K, AA Exp, HH Dia, WOH Glob, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, NA EE, Hertz PC
Posts: 17,394
After reading more as others have pointed out the big deval is multi segments. Say you have a domestic portion plus international where UG space doesnt exist on the international (fairly common IME). Now you have to only WL the international portion and miss the domestic while waiting, IR have to pony up more.
Sep 24, 19, 8:58 am
#56
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: Million Miler, 1K - Basically spend a lot of time on planes
Posts: 2,202
What are your guesses ?
Sep 24, 19, 8:59 am
#57
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: PIT
Programs: OZ Diamond, UA Gold
Posts: 9,637
Good question.
After reading more as others have pointed out the big deval is multi segments. Say you have a domestic portion plus international where UG space doesnt exist on the international (fairly common IME). Now you have to only WL the international portion and miss the domestic while waiting, IR have to pony up more.
After reading more as others have pointed out the big deval is multi segments. Say you have a domestic portion plus international where UG space doesnt exist on the international (fairly common IME). Now you have to only WL the international portion and miss the domestic while waiting, IR have to pony up more.
Sep 24, 19, 9:00 am
#58
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 652
While this could be a devaluation if they moved to more dynamic pricing, it would be the first innovative feature of a united credit card that I've seen in a while. Particularly this would be huge for low status flyers with tons of credit card spend.
Sep 24, 19, 9:01 am
#59
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: Million Miler, 1K - Basically spend a lot of time on planes
Posts: 2,202
A few thoughts from a full read-through...
Overall: As implemented today, I think this is a huge value-add for elites who get the new PlusPoints. Massively increased flexibility and upgrade count of your desired type - a 1K could get 10 annual upgrades from R class and a spare "RPU" to boot, or 4 upgrades from lowest Economy (to J), etc. I do agree, however, that this opens the door to dynamic pricing and will probably get cut sooner rather than later (10 points from Y, 20 points from M, 40 points from Q, 60 points from W, and so on, anyone?).
Overall: As implemented today, I think this is a huge value-add for elites who get the new PlusPoints. Massively increased flexibility and upgrade count of your desired type - a 1K could get 10 annual upgrades from R class and a spare "RPU" to boot, or 4 upgrades from lowest Economy (to J), etc. I do agree, however, that this opens the door to dynamic pricing and will probably get cut sooner rather than later (10 points from Y, 20 points from M, 40 points from Q, 60 points from W, and so on, anyone?).
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Sep 24, 19 at 12:17 pm Reason: repaired quote
Sep 24, 19, 9:02 am
#60
Moderator: United MileagePlus
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Clinging to the edifices of a decadent past from the biggest city in America nobody really cares about.
Programs: (ಠ_ಠ)
Posts: 9,077
There is some precedent for allowing 1Ks/GSs to extent an unused GPU a few months beyond the 1/31/201x expiration date. Would UA consider giving members who've re-qual'd a few months of grace to use otherwise orphaned or expiring PlusPoints?
Wonder what co-branded card changes are in store to win Plat/1K/GSs back from the Sapphire Reserve. Somehow a free checked bag just does not seem to sell the current UA Chase cards to this crowd.
Last edited by J.Edward; Sep 24, 19 at 9:09 am
