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, 3:42 pm
#2041
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,502
Both are pretty average. I would rate UA above CA on the hard product. Soft products for both are inconsistent. Overall for me, UA > CA.
Oct 26, 2019, 3:47 pm
#2042
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,020
I avoid China Air and Korean for cockpit staff issues. I don’t care how much better the comfort/service is. The best product disintegrates just as well as the worst.
Oct 26, 2019, 3:52 pm
#2043
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 6,349
Air China (CA) or China Airlines (CI)?
Can't recall any cockpit staff issues on CA, but haven't flown CI.
FAs on CA have always been good IME.
I totally agree with the last sentence! ^
Oct 26, 2019, 4:03 pm
#2044
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,020
China Air (Taiwan). My view is biased by their reputation 20 years ago. Korean pilots hitting parked planes in Anchorage, straying into Russian airspace and getting shot down, etc. China Air crashes at Nagoya (I witnessed the wreckage of that one) and Taiwan. All cockpit incompetence, not mechanical. Still don't trust 'em.
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Oct 26, 2019 at 4:57 pm
Oct 26, 2019, 4:06 pm
#2045
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,853
Comparing airlines is regular FT past time but does seem to be taking this thread -- on UA's MP program changes -- a bit off-topic.
Let's return to the titled topic.
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
Let's return to the titled topic.
WineCountryUA
UA coModerator
Oct 26, 2019, 6:14 pm
#2046
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
And it is clear that the PQD exemption did allow a lot of us to continue with 1K when they introduced PQD's. Otherwise they would not have gotten rid of it. I know a couple of years I make 1K even though I was just a thousand or two below the barrier. I don't purposely look for high fares! But sometimes you can't avoid them with last minute business travel requirements. When I can plan ahead, I look for cheap fares or buy C-RTW's.
Oct 26, 2019, 7:14 pm
#2047
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 77
United cares much more about how much profit you represent, rather than revenue. I'm sure there are lots of United flyers that generate as much or more profit as you do, and that's the problem. If everyone on United has status, then really no one has status. Moreover, your two flights a year + two partner flights may represent less than $100 of profit to United. How much elite status do you want for that?
Oct 26, 2019, 7:19 pm
#2048
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: United, American, Delta, Hyatt, Hilton, Hertz, Marriott
Posts: 14,803
I know from having 1.8MM with UA over the last 24 years. You can't help but pick up a few things over time. And while I have also learned a lot from Flyertalk, we should know that we represent a tiny, tiny percentage of UA elites here. Yet perhaps Flyertalk has a higher percentage of leisure travelers in our ranks.
And it is clear that the PQD exemption did allow a lot of us to continue with 1K when they introduced PQD's. Otherwise they would not have gotten rid of it. I know a couple of years I make 1K even though I was just a thousand or two below the barrier. I don't purposely look for high fares! But sometimes you can't avoid them with last minute business travel requirements. When I can plan ahead, I look for cheap fares or buy C-RTW's.
And it is clear that the PQD exemption did allow a lot of us to continue with 1K when they introduced PQD's. Otherwise they would not have gotten rid of it. I know a couple of years I make 1K even though I was just a thousand or two below the barrier. I don't purposely look for high fares! But sometimes you can't avoid them with last minute business travel requirements. When I can plan ahead, I look for cheap fares or buy C-RTW's.
Last edited by ContinentalFan; Oct 26, 2019 at 9:49 pm
Oct 26, 2019, 9:46 pm
#2049
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: northeast coast of Florida
Programs: UA 1K - 2MM, Lifetime Hilton Diamond, Lifetime Marriott Platinum Elite, Hertz President's Circle
Posts: 10,422
I believe UA is making the assumption that the seats that are currently being sold to 1Ks abroad will still be sold to someone if said 1K decides to take their business elsewhere. In the day and age of less airline programs where are the lower rev 1Ks going to go?
Oct 26, 2019, 10:13 pm
#2050
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: CLE
Programs: UA Gold, DL DM, UA 1K, MR PP
Posts: 352
What then would be the point of having 1K status on United when almost all your international travel is on other carriers? Is it for the occasional times such people fly domestic in the US? I don't see the point in having status on an airline you trying to avoid in most of your travel. Other than value of the FF program (assuming MP gives better value than other star alliance programs) there would be little unique value of your status with UA.
I care about UA status because my other 160 flights a year are domestic.
Oct 27, 2019, 7:32 am
#2051
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: IL
Programs: UA Gold, DL Silver, Hertz PC, Avis Pref+, Accor Silver
Posts: 1,107
I have made UA Gold or better for a decade or so, but there's no way I'll make it next year (bulk of my flying is discount economy TATL, but not the ~ 10 flights that will now be needed to make gold).
I don't have any strong feelings here (well, maybe annoyance would cover it..) - UA are a for-profit business and owe me nothing. If they think this model will increase profits, good luck to them. I myself will have to move to another program, but I somehow doubt they'll see huge numbers leaving MP.
I don't have any strong feelings here (well, maybe annoyance would cover it..) - UA are a for-profit business and owe me nothing. If they think this model will increase profits, good luck to them. I myself will have to move to another program, but I somehow doubt they'll see huge numbers leaving MP.
Oct 27, 2019, 8:16 am
#2052
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,595
I'm going to go to whichever airline gets me to where I need to be in the most relative comfort and a reasonable price. If UA is that airline, I'll fly them. If they aren't, I'll fly the competition. I started this practice almost 2 years ago, and UA hasn't been the winner of this evaluation for most of my flights.
Last edited by halls120; Oct 27, 2019 at 8:27 am
Oct 27, 2019, 11:07 am
#2053
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,455
I'm not sure what "lower rev" 1K means. As a 9 year 1K who has 100% discretion in choosing carriers and absolutely no interest in paying UA $24k for 2021 status, I can assure you I've had no problem finding premium cabin seats on other, better carriers for the same or lower cost than what UA offers.
Oct 27, 2019, 11:23 am
#2054
Join Date: May 2010
Location: AVP & PEK
Programs: UA 1K 1.8MM
Posts: 6,349
I'm not sure what "lower rev" 1K means. As a 9 year 1K who has 100% discretion in choosing carriers and absolutely no interest in paying UA $24k for 2021 status, I can assure you I've had no problem finding premium cabin seats on other, better carriers for the same or lower cost than what UA offers.
(Although, regrettably, and to United's unfortunate credit, all the other, better carriers achieve the flights I've booked with a one-stop flight, as opposed to United's non-stop)
Oct 27, 2019, 12:52 pm
#2055
Join Date: Jul 2019
Posts: 336
United's latest move finally provides me with the perfect motivation to try other airlines on long-haul(12 hours or longer) international flights.
loyalty is pointless... even when I was flying United 90% of the time, I wan't not doing it out of loyalty to United.
now that United doesn't value loyal any longer, I think I need to buy tickets on other international airlines based on product alone.
loyalty is pointless... even when I was flying United 90% of the time, I wan't not doing it out of loyalty to United.
now that United doesn't value loyal any longer, I think I need to buy tickets on other international airlines based on product alone.