Are there any challenges to make to 1K in 2020?
 

For a colleague of mine.... in 2019.... 62.5 PQS, $18.5 PQD 58,500 PQM. Based on the 2020 requirements, he would have make 1K, correct?

He wants a challenge to qualify to 1K for 2020. Didn't United used to do challenges? He is now in a position that he will have about $40k in spend in 2020 as he has moved into an international role. Houston based but is considering switching airlines to DL or AA.

He probably would have been short on PQF, because I’m guessing that there are quite a few 1.5 PQS flights in there.

I suspect UA is still working out challenge details, if any — but, honestly, why bother? At 40K of spending, your colleague would reach 1K pretty quickly anyway, and Gold is fine for the interim.

Being Houston based, and flying on OPM, I don’t see a huge advantage in going with AA or DL. $40K spending doesn’t sound like GS level, but it does sound like paid J, so I’d just take whatever flights make the most sense; he’ll likely reach 1K and maybe AA ExPlat or DL Diamond also. Although, I don’t know what a great fit SkyTeam is at IAH.... I guess it depends upon his destinations.

In 2020, it's just a straight flight count for PQFs: one flight, one credit. Fare class bonus for PQFs won't be awarded. If your friend subtracts the segment bonuses, he/she might be short of the 54 PQF count that would go with the $18K PQPs.

Status challenge has been re-introduced following the qualifications revamp: https://www.united.com/ual/en/us/fly...os/tb9234.html

Can only status challenge from competition and non-*A.

UA generally does not do status challenges for existing elites (except at the invitational GS level)
MileagePlus Premier Status Match Challenge {New 2020 terms} is for non-*A elites
but offers
2020 UA MP elite status buy-up offers(for higher status than earned in 2019) however you need to be closer to the 2019 requirements than this situation

Another option is https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/unit...solidated.html where status is available at certain buyin levels