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
Jan 18, 2020, 2:18 pm
#2956
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,405
Jan 18, 2020, 2:19 pm
#2957
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: NYC
Programs: UA-1K MM, AA-Gold, DL-Silver, AS-MVP
Posts: 2,508
Yes, you will get PQP. PQP is calculated based on the fare calculated. Ecert vouchers are just a method of payment.
Jan 18, 2020, 3:03 pm
#2958
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA 1K 1MMer & LT UC (when flying UA); Hyatt Credit Cardist; HHonors Diamond; Marriott Gold via UA 1K
Posts: 6,956
As someone who does decide which airline I choose to fly, I have finally worked out my planned strategy. I had indicated I was going to become a free agent and I will in 2021 but for 2020 I will be a very loyal UA customer as I want to use my 1K benefits, which for me is the Plus Points. With that strategy my spend will not be nearly sufficient to make even Platinum. I will be Gold as I am a 1MM. Quite a drop!
Using my spreadsheet UA wants $333.33 for 54 PQF (i.e. $18,000) and my anticipated PQF of 35 is only yielding them $178.11 per PQF.
In 2021 I will fly *A for all my TPAC and TATL flights as I think I have worked out the number of flights I take will get me to the PQF and PQP requirements for 1K. So I will be 1K for the even years (well unless UA changes the rules again but once I no longer have 1K benefits the rule changes will not be such a sore point). I have a couple of *A flights this year which actually brings my PQF tally to 41 with average of $208.14 for the PQD but 4 of the PQF is on SQ in PE and am actually thinking of crediting the miles to a new AS account to get some kind of status on AS for 2021, especially for my domestic flights. I know number of 1K members were going to status match to DL/AA/AS but I want to use the 1K benefits in 2020 that I earned - I am very much a value flyer - best bang for my buck.
I cannot believe I will be the only 1K member who knows they will drop in status in 2021 who is thinking about this approach of rotating even years.
Using my spreadsheet UA wants $333.33 for 54 PQF (i.e. $18,000) and my anticipated PQF of 35 is only yielding them $178.11 per PQF.
In 2021 I will fly *A for all my TPAC and TATL flights as I think I have worked out the number of flights I take will get me to the PQF and PQP requirements for 1K. So I will be 1K for the even years (well unless UA changes the rules again but once I no longer have 1K benefits the rule changes will not be such a sore point). I have a couple of *A flights this year which actually brings my PQF tally to 41 with average of $208.14 for the PQD but 4 of the PQF is on SQ in PE and am actually thinking of crediting the miles to a new AS account to get some kind of status on AS for 2021, especially for my domestic flights. I know number of 1K members were going to status match to DL/AA/AS but I want to use the 1K benefits in 2020 that I earned - I am very much a value flyer - best bang for my buck.
I cannot believe I will be the only 1K member who knows they will drop in status in 2021 who is thinking about this approach of rotating even years.
The majority of my travel is completely discretionary, thank goodness. It enables me to keep every option open (including making fewer trips but all of them up front) until I make a decision.
Jan 18, 2020, 7:39 pm
#2959
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
On my fantasy airline, there’s no advantage to boarding the plane first, because there’s enough space for everyone’s roll-aboards, nobody is allowed to put two items in the overhead (except for bulkhead seats), and passengers in the back are not allowed to use the space in the front just to keep from having to wheel their bag another twenty feet. Then, J/F and Premier flyers can board last.
I like to board early because I like scotch, scotch is a sipping drink, and, yes, thank you, I'll have another if there's time.
Jan 18, 2020, 7:43 pm
#2960
Join Date: Jun 2014
Programs: UA MM
Posts: 4,125
How in the heck did I miss this article? https://onemileatatime.com/frequent-...ogram-changes/
Has the absolute best quote I have seen from an article assessing the changes to MP for 2020:
I think the author indeed hit the nail on the head. UA will be getting dollars from Apple employees regardless of whether it rewards them or not, because those folks have no choice. But every dollar I threw at UA up until the end of last year was discretionary and my choice.
Has the absolute best quote I have seen from an article assessing the changes to MP for 2020:
I think the author indeed hit the nail on the head. UA will be getting dollars from Apple employees regardless of whether it rewards them or not, because those folks have no choice. But every dollar I threw at UA up until the end of last year was discretionary and my choice.
This is an idea bound to fail.
Jan 18, 2020, 8:09 pm
#2961
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 171
I’ve flown two biz class TPACs this year and already above the Plat threshold. I’ll be 1K by mid February and have around 55k of miles flown.
My have times changed.
My have times changed.
Jan 18, 2020, 8:28 pm
#2962
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Melbourne MEL Calgary YYC
Programs: UA1K, QF Plat, *A & Marriot Gold, OW Emerald, Hyatt Hertz PC CanPass Nexus APEC Global Entry
Posts: 468
So just about to cross into 1K...... its going to be a long year at this rate
Jan 19, 2020, 7:32 am
#2964
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 171
likewise for me. I’m a million miler, my wife’s family is in Asia so that’s minimum of one TPAC alone.
In the past I religiously put my air travel to UA to Ensure my 1K and sometimes GS.
Now with the new requirements I have no incentive to fly UA.
The next two years I can fly biz class on my contract and after that I’m going to be semi retired consultant.
I can book PE flights to Asia and no longer need to worry about all the UA non sense.
Having to do multi variate analysis to figure out best way to keep airline status is just crazy.
We don’t know what UAs main objective was but they are close to the breaking point where people stop chasing it.
If not for the upgrades even 1K isn’t worth that much more than gold.
In the past I religiously put my air travel to UA to Ensure my 1K and sometimes GS.
Now with the new requirements I have no incentive to fly UA.
The next two years I can fly biz class on my contract and after that I’m going to be semi retired consultant.
I can book PE flights to Asia and no longer need to worry about all the UA non sense.
Having to do multi variate analysis to figure out best way to keep airline status is just crazy.
We don’t know what UAs main objective was but they are close to the breaking point where people stop chasing it.
If not for the upgrades even 1K isn’t worth that much more than gold.
I would think UA would hope this is not the case.
If UA makes status exceedingly difficult to obtain for people then the inevitable outcome is free agents. Between the MP devaluations and the ever increasing pressure to maintain status there simply is no other outcome. Now, some people (like ATL and DTW flyers) are stuck in hub captive environments. They may or may not change their habits but I am pretty sure most will not feel great about getting on a UA flight.
Put all that together and everyone becomes a carrier agnostic price sensitive flier. Sure, many will book F but only the cheapest F available. Same with E+. Why on earth would anyone remain loyal to UA when they clearly do not value that loyalty? We can engage in all sorts of wordy arguments and esoteric business discussions in the abstract, but the flier who went from 1k to platinum/gold because of these changes is going to take it personal. Maybe the flier does game the system with *A flights but really most people won't do that unless it REALLY matters. PE is not cheap, and AC being the best exchange has priced BE near discount F. Between the two, I would take discount F but only if I needed to make the flight. Is it worth an extra expenditure of 4-5k for 1k?
I am fortunate in that I travel to Asia about once a month in PE. That used to just get me 1k. Now it gets me diamond on DL and 1k on UA. I cannot fathom why UA would put me in a position to move revenue away and improve my standing at the same time, but there it is, they did. are they morons? Geniuses? Savants? Time will tell I guess. If their rate of growth accelerates from the industry average as a result of this then all the other carriers will do this too. I do know that if this was a netflix type mistake there is no undoing it. When people get out and see better products from other carriers it will be awful hard to woo them back with crappy upgrade prospects and surly employees.
If UA makes status exceedingly difficult to obtain for people then the inevitable outcome is free agents. Between the MP devaluations and the ever increasing pressure to maintain status there simply is no other outcome. Now, some people (like ATL and DTW flyers) are stuck in hub captive environments. They may or may not change their habits but I am pretty sure most will not feel great about getting on a UA flight.
Put all that together and everyone becomes a carrier agnostic price sensitive flier. Sure, many will book F but only the cheapest F available. Same with E+. Why on earth would anyone remain loyal to UA when they clearly do not value that loyalty? We can engage in all sorts of wordy arguments and esoteric business discussions in the abstract, but the flier who went from 1k to platinum/gold because of these changes is going to take it personal. Maybe the flier does game the system with *A flights but really most people won't do that unless it REALLY matters. PE is not cheap, and AC being the best exchange has priced BE near discount F. Between the two, I would take discount F but only if I needed to make the flight. Is it worth an extra expenditure of 4-5k for 1k?
I am fortunate in that I travel to Asia about once a month in PE. That used to just get me 1k. Now it gets me diamond on DL and 1k on UA. I cannot fathom why UA would put me in a position to move revenue away and improve my standing at the same time, but there it is, they did. are they morons? Geniuses? Savants? Time will tell I guess. If their rate of growth accelerates from the industry average as a result of this then all the other carriers will do this too. I do know that if this was a netflix type mistake there is no undoing it. When people get out and see better products from other carriers it will be awful hard to woo them back with crappy upgrade prospects and surly employees.
Jan 19, 2020, 9:15 am
#2965
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,413
Jan 19, 2020, 11:05 am
#2966
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,405
Jan 19, 2020, 12:08 pm
#2967
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 171
Not sure where I’ll end up on the spend. One of my flights is to FRA on LH so might get dinged as a result.
I qualified in the past in the Low 40s several years ago but was not based out of a HUB.
Doing 5 TPACs a year in biz got me GS for several years in a row. We shall see if that still holds true next January.
Last two years my travel has been half of what it used to be (by choice).
Point is, UA with their status requirements allows me to be a free agent as going after 1K is a stretch for many.
If the economy tanks UA will have to reverse course. I think they went to far this time raising the spend requirements but that’s just my opinion.
I qualified in the past in the Low 40s several years ago but was not based out of a HUB.
Doing 5 TPACs a year in biz got me GS for several years in a row. We shall see if that still holds true next January.
Last two years my travel has been half of what it used to be (by choice).
Point is, UA with their status requirements allows me to be a free agent as going after 1K is a stretch for many.
If the economy tanks UA will have to reverse course. I think they went to far this time raising the spend requirements but that’s just my opinion.
Jan 19, 2020, 12:59 pm
#2968
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: 6 year GS, now 2MM Jeff-ugee, *wood LTPlt, SkyPeso PLT
Posts: 6,526
People like certainty, and they don't usually have the bandwidth to understand and figure out the likely impact of major changes. For probably 95% of UA's elites, the all they will know is (a) I'm not getting upgraded, (b) service levels are falling, (c) my miles are becoming useless, and (d) United wants me to spent a lot more money to have "status" on them...
The package is not very appealing at this point.
Jan 19, 2020, 1:16 pm
#2969
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,405
The changes couldn’t be any clearer: “we want you to spend a lot of money with us.” Sure, if you care to optimize things, there are workarounds, but at its core, that’s what the change is.
Jan 19, 2020, 1:24 pm
#2970
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,454