Oct 11, 2019, 5:20 am
Last edit by: SPN Lifer
tl;dr - PQMs/PQDs/PQS going away, replaced with PQPs. $1 = 1 PQP. See chart below for thresholds:
ex
New Status Measures
Premier Qualifying Points (PQP): Basically the same as PQD. Everything that was a PQD continues to count, plus:
Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF): Same as BIS segments (no class of service bonus) except Basic Economy and award tickets don't count.
PQP Earning on Partners
You can now earn PQP on non-016 tickets when flying eligible partners.
"Preferred" Partners (mostly JV partners): 1/5 of the RDM earned, excluding status bonuses (but including fare class) on AC AD AV CA CM EW LH LX NH NZ OS SN.
Others: 1/6 of the RDM earned, excluding status bonuses (but including fare class) on other airlines with MP earnings available.
Note: Because all partners earn RDM by distance when not on an 016-ticket, this effectively awards PQP by distance, from 40% in many JV First and Business cabins to 5% in things like LX K.
Preferred partners:
Bulk Tickets
Per UA Insider in this post: Yes you will now earn PQP on bulk tickets but not necessarily for the cash value since the price of the ticket is opaque. Bulk tickets will be equal to the award miles you earn for the ticket (excluding Premier bonus miles, if any) divided by 5.
Foreign Addresses
The PQD waiver for foreign MP addresses will no longer apply beginning in 2020.
Credit Card Holders
The PQD waivers and PQM earnings from all Chase cards are ending. Instead, Chase cards allow you to earn 500 PQP for every $12,000 of eligible spend, but only up to the following limits:
1,000 PQP / $24,000: MP Explorer, MP Club, MP Awards, and MP cards, plus their business equivalents (bonus PQP do not count for 1K)
3,000 PQP / $72,000: MP Select and MP Platinum cards
10,000 PQP / $240,000: Presidential Plus and PP Business cards
Existing Flexible PQM (FPQM) on eligible cards will become FPQP at a 5:1 ratio on 01-Apr-20 and will only be applicable through Platinum status.
ex
New Status Measures
Premier Qualifying Points (PQP): Basically the same as PQD. Everything that was a PQD continues to count, plus:
- Copay component of miles+copay upgrades
- Paid upgrades (TOD or "sticker-type")
- Travel on partner airlines on partner stock (awarded as a fraction of the distance, similar to DL)
Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF): Same as BIS segments (no class of service bonus) except Basic Economy and award tickets don't count.
PQP Earning on Partners
You can now earn PQP on non-016 tickets when flying eligible partners.
"Preferred" Partners (mostly JV partners): 1/5 of the RDM earned, excluding status bonuses (but including fare class) on AC AD AV CA CM EW LH LX NH NZ OS SN.
Others: 1/6 of the RDM earned, excluding status bonuses (but including fare class) on other airlines with MP earnings available.
Note: Because all partners earn RDM by distance when not on an 016-ticket, this effectively awards PQP by distance, from 40% in many JV First and Business cabins to 5% in things like LX K.
Preferred partners:
- Air Canada
- Air China
- Air New Zealand
- All Nippon Airways
- Austrian Airlines
- Avianca
- Azul Brazilian Airlines
- Brussels Airlines
- Copa Airlines
- Eurowings
- Lufthansa
- SWISS International Airlines
- Aegean Airlines
- Air Dolomiti
- Air India
- Asiana Airlines
- Croatia Airlines
- Edelweiss
- EgyptAir
- Ethiopian Airlines
- EVA Air
- Juneyao Air
- LOT Polish Airlines
- Olympic Air
- SAS
- Shenzhen Airlines
- Singapore Airlines
- South African Airways
- TAP Air Portugal
- Thai Airways International
- Turkish Airlines
Bulk Tickets
Per UA Insider in this post: Yes you will now earn PQP on bulk tickets but not necessarily for the cash value since the price of the ticket is opaque. Bulk tickets will be equal to the award miles you earn for the ticket (excluding Premier bonus miles, if any) divided by 5.
Foreign Addresses
The PQD waiver for foreign MP addresses will no longer apply beginning in 2020.
Credit Card Holders
The PQD waivers and PQM earnings from all Chase cards are ending. Instead, Chase cards allow you to earn 500 PQP for every $12,000 of eligible spend, but only up to the following limits:
1,000 PQP / $24,000: MP Explorer, MP Club, MP Awards, and MP cards, plus their business equivalents (bonus PQP do not count for 1K)
3,000 PQP / $72,000: MP Select and MP Platinum cards
10,000 PQP / $240,000: Presidential Plus and PP Business cards
Existing Flexible PQM (FPQM) on eligible cards will become FPQP at a 5:1 ratio on 01-Apr-20 and will only be applicable through Platinum status.
United is updating the way MileagePlus members qualify for Premier status in 2020 for the 2021 program year. We recognized that distance was not the best way for us to measure customer loyalty, which is why we are introducing a new qualification structure to better deliver Premier benefits to our most valued customers. In 2020, members will only need to account for two factors to earn status: number of flights taken (Premier Qualifying Flights) and value of tickets purchased (Premier Qualifying Points).
Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF): every flight, a takeoff and landing, will count as a PQF except Basic Economy and tickets booked using miles.
Premier Qualifying Points (PQP): 1 PQP = 1 U.S. dollar spent. You will earn PQPs on the base fare of your ticket (no taxes and fees), Economy Plus and Preferred seat purchases, and now on paid upgrades, MileagePlus upgrade award co-pays and credit for Star Alliance partner flights not ticketed or operated by United.
Qualification requirements for 2020
Here’s how members will qualify for each Premier status level starting January 1, 2020 for status in the 2021 program year:
United Cardmembers who are eligible for a PQD waiver, PQM, or Flexible PQM (FPQM) based on annual card spend will be offered new ways to earn Premier qualifying points (PQP) based on annual card spend. The ability to earn a PQD waiver, PQM, or FPQM on these cards will end on December 31, 2019.
Learn more: https://mileageplusupdates.com/milea...qualification/
Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF): every flight, a takeoff and landing, will count as a PQF except Basic Economy and tickets booked using miles.
Premier Qualifying Points (PQP): 1 PQP = 1 U.S. dollar spent. You will earn PQPs on the base fare of your ticket (no taxes and fees), Economy Plus and Preferred seat purchases, and now on paid upgrades, MileagePlus upgrade award co-pays and credit for Star Alliance partner flights not ticketed or operated by United.
Qualification requirements for 2020
Here’s how members will qualify for each Premier status level starting January 1, 2020 for status in the 2021 program year:
United Cardmembers who are eligible for a PQD waiver, PQM, or Flexible PQM (FPQM) based on annual card spend will be offered new ways to earn Premier qualifying points (PQP) based on annual card spend. The ability to earn a PQD waiver, PQM, or FPQM on these cards will end on December 31, 2019.
Learn more: https://mileageplusupdates.com/milea...qualification/
New Premier Qualification Requirements for 2020: Only Spend or Spend + Flight Sectors
Oct 26, 2019, 9:56 am
#2011
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,388
Oct 26, 2019, 10:15 am
#2012
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 77
How much profit do you think United earns from your 2 flights a year in economy on United metal and two or three partner flights?
Oct 26, 2019, 10:33 am
#2013
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,388
While I don’t disagree with your analysis, the strategy of purchasing a better business class product when it goes on sale can actually lead straight back to 1K if you restrict yourself to *A. (In LON, that admittedly means a lot of connections unless you fly frequently to *A hub cities). Discount PE can also lend itself fairly well to attaining 1K status. Note that you’d still need four UA segments. Note also that you can use your GPUs on LH...
The news is less sanguine for Economy travelers, unfortunately, due to the low number of miles that Economy earns on pretty much any partner airline.
Oct 26, 2019, 10:40 am
#2014
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 6,341
Oct 26, 2019, 10:56 am
#2015
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: UA MileagePlus (Premier Gold); Hilton HHonors (Gold); Chase Ultimate Rewards; Amex Plat
Posts: 6,667
For the last 5+ years, I have earned Silver, often coming up a little short of Gold. I have booked all of my travel on UA or partners with fares that credit—often paying more or choosing less convenient itineraries. I've similarly ensured that my wife and 3-year-old (!) have also earned Silver. I'm the definition of a loyal customer.
...
I get that this earns you some money in the short-term, but those travellers wouldn't stick with you if their company wasn't paying, while I have. Isn't my patronage (and that of millions of other 'ordinary' frequent flyers like me) worth something to United?
...
I get that this earns you some money in the short-term, but those travellers wouldn't stick with you if their company wasn't paying, while I have. Isn't my patronage (and that of millions of other 'ordinary' frequent flyers like me) worth something to United?
They'll deal with it when it happens.
Back in the early 00's when planes were empty, I got comped up to Premier Exec a few times without even asking when I was ~8-10K miles short.
Depending on the situation, they'll either update the program (it if looks long term) or find ways to encourage people to fly (e.g. double PQP, extra upgrade certs, etc).
Back in the early 00's when planes were empty, I got comped up to Premier Exec a few times without even asking when I was ~8-10K miles short.
Depending on the situation, they'll either update the program (it if looks long term) or find ways to encourage people to fly (e.g. double PQP, extra upgrade certs, etc).
Oct 26, 2019, 11:19 am
#2016
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,496
It's always been transactional. We live in a transactional world; loyalty has always been a marketing term.
Oct 26, 2019, 11:49 am
#2017
Join Date: Dec 2013
Programs: UA
Posts: 9
For example: first, only I had Silver status. But then, I encouraged my wife to get it. And this year, I made sure to have our 3-year-old fly enough to earn status. So I am directly responsible for all of their patronage of United. (And if my household total spending was combined, it would probably qualify for 1K status under the new 2020 rules next year!)
Regardless, there is certainly a way for UA to cut down on those taking advantage of cheap fares to rack up miles while also not completely disadvantaging non-business elite customers like me who live abroad.
Oct 26, 2019, 12:09 pm
#2018
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,015
... (And if my household total spending was combined, it would probably qualify for 1K status under the new 2020 rules next year!)
Regardless, there is certainly a way for UA to cut down on those taking advantage of cheap fares to rack up miles while also not completely disadvantaging non-business elite customers like me who live abroad.
Regardless, there is certainly a way for UA to cut down on those taking advantage of cheap fares to rack up miles while also not completely disadvantaging non-business elite customers like me who live abroad.
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Oct 26, 2019 at 12:38 pm
Oct 26, 2019, 12:10 pm
#2019
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,388
It shouldn’t be one’s goal to be a valued customer. That’s just another way to say “profit center.”
Oct 26, 2019, 12:40 pm
#2020
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
I can't find that iPhone emoji with the tears coming out of the eyes so this will have to do. Sorry, but UA is more interested in handing out 1K and GS to people who are a little less price sensitive. Makes sense to me.
Oct 26, 2019, 12:41 pm
#2021
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
The PQD exemption was to entice us foreigners from flying our home carriers. And we are not all low margin premium flyers. But I have Lifetime status in both AF/KL and UA (and nearly so with BA) so I have never been 100% loyal to any carrier. That said, there have been some years recently where I made a conscious effort to make 1K and renew. I will likely never do that again.
Oct 26, 2019, 12:43 pm
#2022
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,026
In the big scheme of things, not much. But there are two reasons why they should care: (1) there are many more flyers like me and as a whole we probably do count for a significant amount of revenue and (2) our customer loyalty matters—whether it's because we may end up flying more and aiming for higher tiers or because we will stick with UA even if we switch jobs.
For example: first, only I had Silver status. But then, I encouraged my wife to get it. And this year, I made sure to have our 3-year-old fly enough to earn status. So I am directly responsible for all of their patronage of United. (And if my household total spending was combined, it would probably qualify for 1K status under the new 2020 rules next year!)
Regardless, there is certainly a way for UA to cut down on those taking advantage of cheap fares to rack up miles while also not completely disadvantaging non-business elite customers like me who live abroad.
For example: first, only I had Silver status. But then, I encouraged my wife to get it. And this year, I made sure to have our 3-year-old fly enough to earn status. So I am directly responsible for all of their patronage of United. (And if my household total spending was combined, it would probably qualify for 1K status under the new 2020 rules next year!)
Regardless, there is certainly a way for UA to cut down on those taking advantage of cheap fares to rack up miles while also not completely disadvantaging non-business elite customers like me who live abroad.
Oct 26, 2019, 12:52 pm
#2023
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,388
The PQD exemption was to entice us foreigners from flying our home carriers. And we are not all low margin premium flyers. But I have Lifetime status in both AF/KL and UA (and nearly so with BA) so I have never been 100% loyal to any carrier. That said, there have been some years recently where I made a conscious effort to make 1K and renew. I will likely never do that again.
Oct 26, 2019, 12:53 pm
#2024
Join Date: Dec 2013
Programs: UA
Posts: 9
But multiply that across the many, many others who hold lower tiers of status. And of course, a family of silvers is worth something more than that family flying a different carrier ...
Again, I understand the desire to thin out the elite levels and the revenue considerations—but I also think it's a long-term mistake for UA (and this forum) to focus only on 1K.
Again, I understand the desire to thin out the elite levels and the revenue considerations—but I also think it's a long-term mistake for UA (and this forum) to focus only on 1K.
Oct 26, 2019, 12:54 pm
#2025
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,388
UA, who has this data, disagrees. And, there will still be plenty of Silver members; perhaps entire families. They may just be people who have no status today.