*G will be my primary goal but I will split my INTL flights to the EU across different carriers/alliance based on schedule/price and my domestic flights will be on DL. For the past six years I've gone out of my way to fly UA but I'll be mixing it up now. Gotta stick to *A for those difficult destinations as both ST/OW stink for a lot of my destinations.

Aegean has by far the easiest *G qualification in the alliance. Especially if you fly them once, but even if you don't.

“bland” is being kind. I know of no airline on your list that can’t manage to produce a flight specific wine line and the board those wines. Other that UA. Sad. Just sad.

This year, I have one RT flight remaining that will give me $23.5K PQD and 104.5K PQM so I will continue to be 1K for 2020. I have been very lucky to have used all my RPUs and GPUs for the last 6 years as a 1K. Mostly to TYO, LHR, GIG, SYD, EWR, HNL, ROR, FRA, etc. Very lucky!

In 2020, I anticipate the usual 3-4 LAX-TYO in discounted J (NH on UA stock seems to make most sense given the new rules), 1-2 TPAC LH premium economy, 1 LAX-SEL and 1 LAX-BJS deeply discounted J, 2-3 domestic RTs to EWR or MIA. Most of this is on OPM and it will put me close to the $24K PQP again.

I agree that there are too many uncertainties and 2020 will be a learning experience for me. If I fall short of 1K which is possible, then I will be a free agent conditional on getting at least a Gold status in some alliance, likely staying within the Star Alliance and aiming for TK Elite.

I'm relocating to Hong Kong April 2020. These new "changes you will like" makes the decision to switch to Cathay easier; however with 5x NYC-Hong Kong per year in paid business class, I probably would re-qualify under the new rules.

For CX F lounge access a no-brainer. Especially with the sad state of the *A lounges HKG.

Will continue to fly the airline that fits my schedule and needs best.

UA's flight schedule from my primary airports isn't ideal for all destinations and I will continue to split flights between UA/AA (and their international partners), plus WN where it makes sense.

But FWIW I will barely make AA Plat Pro and UA platinum this year, next year I will clear 1K like a freakin' gazelle.

Staying with UA to finish out my 1MM status...gotta hurry up.

I sure hope UA doesn't pull a Lucy on you and yank the football away at the last minute.

Not lost on me!

decisions,decisions..
as an asian based 1k for the last 10yrs -i understand that this change was done to shaft me.
not sure how to proceed -have 1mm -and could get up to plat if i used ac a couple of times-but whats the point of being plat or 1k if you have
to fly another carrier to get the benefits?
the biggest loss would be for me the free changes to award tkts which i use all the time...
that is a wonderful perk(untilthey tightened it recently you could not even take flights and still get the miles refunded afterwards-!)

so for that perk may be worth be going for plat..i will also miss the international upgrades for w fares..
but to tell the truth i recently took eva and ana international flights-the timing was much better (night flights) -that ua doesnt have to from japan-
and so it kind of felt liberating..
so not entirely sure what to do-maybe push on to 2mm.?
would like to leave but not entirely sure grass will be greener somewhere else..

The grass may be greener on the other side - but the cow .... is in different places! :)

I'll be sticking with UA...I'm 80% of the way to lifetime gold and don't want to pass that up. I fly in/out of ORD so it's either UA or AA. The new program will actually be easier for me to make Gold every year. Most of my travel is work related and around 700-1000 miles each way domestically. I'll easily spend the $8K, so this program (from a qualification stand point) actually works better for me.

I'll be moving away from UA. I absolutely don't see any 1K benefits right now. Just couple of upgrades on IAD-BDL-IAD or PVD flights.
Most of my European destinations are only served by LH or LO, so I'll stick to *A, but my Asia and intra US flights will be on the airline with the best price/schedule.
I will be able to finally take direct flights to ME from DC. No more mandatory 6 hours stop at FRA or ZRH. I've moved from US Airways (15 years with them) to UA about 5 years ago. But now I really don't see the point being loyal to the company that every year is trying to fornicate you.

So, I'm curious, you say, "I absolutely don't see any 1K benefits right now" but last I checked there haven't been any changes to the benefits of 1K, but rather just the qualification required. So, given the same benefits exist, why was it valuable to you to have 1K last year? Or the year before that? And the "benefits" of dumping 1K that you have listed here (i.e. no more 6 hr stop, etc.) were available to you in years past but apparently weren't "enough" to modify your behavior but now all the sudden those same benefits are a huge benefit/positive. Why?

I'm quite fascinated by this perception with 1Ks, that if they can't achieve 1K, no lessor status matters, it's just "goodbye cruel airline..."

Regards