Mar 5, 2020, 10:46 am
Last edit by: drewguy
The following purchases earn PQP:
- Base fare + surcharge
- Economy Plus® seating or subscriptions
- Preferred seat purchases
- *NEW* MileagePlus Upgrade Award co-pays
- *NEW* Paid upgrades on flights operated by United and United Express
- *NEW* Flights ticketed and operated by our Star AllianceTM partners
These separately posting extra PQPs are not RDM earning (as these fees did not in the past).
An alternative to Upgrade Fees that would earn RMDs is "Upfaring" -- this is a formal ticket change and not really possible to do online (due to change fee issues and UA system issues). You will need to call and specifically ask for an upfare. Change fees should be waived per "GG BUYUP" and then validate the receipt states "ADD/COLLECT" and not "Premium Cabin Upgrade / PCU" or "Merchandising / EDD". The new Fare class is not a significant indicator of what was done.
In the case of upfaring, the base fare will be adjusted and the new adjusted base fare will post as the PQP for the flight and fully earn RDMs.
Note: Upfaring agency issued tickets may be possible to do.
Related thread for prior to 2020 upgrade fees; Some Paid Upgrades Count Towards PQD & mileage bonus and some DON'T![/quote]
PQP posting for cash upgrades, E+ fees, ..... when? No RDMs
Nov 4, 2019, 10:25 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: New York Area
Programs: Mileage Plus Platinum
Posts: 161
Earning PQP for paid upgrades
I’d booked a TATL roundtrip in P+ for early 2020 and, after the new elite qualification rules were announced, I was offered an upgrade to Polaris which I took for the eastbound leg. The booking class for that leg changed from R to P after I purchased the upgrade. The forecast PQP accrual did not, however, change as I’d expected it to given that “paid upgrades” are listed as earning PQP. Should I be concerned that I won’t receive PQP for the cost of the upgrade? Or is this likely to correct itself in due course? I’ll almost certainly need the PQP in question to requalify as Gold in 2020.
Nov 4, 2019, 10:53 am
#2
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: WAS/ BOM
Programs: UA 1K, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold
Posts: 1,567
I’d booked a TATL roundtrip in P+ for early 2020 and, after the new elite qualification rules were announced, I was offered an upgrade to Polaris which I took for the eastbound leg. The booking class for that leg changed from R to P after I purchased the upgrade. The forecast PQP accrual did not, however, change as I’d expected it to given that “paid upgrades” are listed as earning PQP. Should I be concerned that I won’t receive PQP for the cost of the upgrade? Or is this likely to correct itself in due course? I’ll almost certainly need the PQP in question to requalify as Gold in 2020.
Could be an IT error. You can check by booking a Dummy P fare in one direction and R in the other direction and see what the website shows as PQP earnings. UA has clarified that if the paid fare changes (with an upgrade), then the upgrade cost counts towards PQP.
Nov 4, 2019, 10:57 am
#3
Join Date: Apr 2016
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA Gold, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 692
If it doesn't post as expected. You can email or call mileage plus to get the earnings corrected.
Nov 4, 2019, 11:01 am
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PM, UA Gold, WN, Global Entry; +others wherever miles/points are found
Posts: 14,389
I would expect this to be messy at first. The fee-upgrade is still not going to change the coupon value of the ticket; presumably there will be a separate process which runs as part of processing credit which looks at the value of fees paid to upgrade.
Nov 11, 2019, 6:25 am
#5
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Oakland, CA
Programs: UA 1K, IHG Spire, Marriott Gold
Posts: 25
I had a long conversation several days ago with a 1K agent about a similar situation. I have several trips next year where I have already upgraded using miles and co-pays. However the estimated accruals do not show points for the co-pays. She confirmed that the amounts paid for upgrades will now be included in PQP, but the system has not yet been set up to show those points in the estimated earnings. Supposedly it will happen soon. But as suggested in a previous answer, it is best to keep an eye on this, and contact UNITED following the trip if the proper points are not credited to your account.
Nov 11, 2019, 5:44 pm
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,355
Nov 11, 2019, 5:50 pm
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,416
And not stress about whether they currently show on the reservation. These are issues best dealt with after the flight has posted.
Jan 4, 2020, 11:21 am
#9
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Colorado
Programs: UA Premier 1K
Posts: 44
I'd just like to add a data point to this thread.
I purchased a fee upgrade last year for a flight on January 2. The PQP for the upgrade fee posted without any customer service contact required, although it happened a day after the flight segment PQP posted.
I purchased a fee upgrade last year for a flight on January 2. The PQP for the upgrade fee posted without any customer service contact required, although it happened a day after the flight segment PQP posted.
Jan 13, 2020, 8:00 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: PVD/BOS, PIT
Programs: UA 1K/1MM ★G, DL Silver, Amtrak ES, Hilton Diamond,Nexus
Posts: 247
It does take about a day to show up, but interestingly, the entry does not say what flight it is associated with so multiple segments might require closer scrutiny. The sad thing is their systems probably cannot tell what flight that upgrade revenue is from which might be why it was never included in the past.
I am not sure what the "Fare class bonus miles" line is on account posting for the upgrade PQP (see below)....
The paid upgrade from my flight last night has not shown up yet, but the one from Wednesday did (backdated):
I am not sure what the "Fare class bonus miles" line is on account posting for the upgrade PQP (see below)....
The paid upgrade from my flight last night has not shown up yet, but the one from Wednesday did (backdated):
Last edited by droopydog; Jan 13, 2020 at 8:06 am Reason: added text on "fare class bonus miles"
Jan 13, 2020, 8:31 am
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,355
You'll never see a value there for the PQPs for an upgrade that you purchased. It's just boilerplate.
Feb 7, 2020, 9:46 am
#13
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Hawaii
Programs: UA 1K/3.7MM, Hawn Platinum, Hilton Diamond, PC Diamond, Marriott Titanium, Natl Exe Elite
Posts: 248
PQP posting for cash upgrades, E+ fees, ..... when? No RDMs
Hi all,
I thought I read somewhere that “buy-ups” from economy to Business-First would counts towards PQP for 2020? I paid $358 to “buy-up” from economy to business-first on a HNL-LAX flight the other day, but the dollars I spent for the buy-up doesn’t show in my PQP totals. Does it take a few days to credit?
Thanks
I thought I read somewhere that “buy-ups” from economy to Business-First would counts towards PQP for 2020? I paid $358 to “buy-up” from economy to business-first on a HNL-LAX flight the other day, but the dollars I spent for the buy-up doesn’t show in my PQP totals. Does it take a few days to credit?
Thanks
Feb 7, 2020, 10:24 am
#15
Join Date: May 2005
Programs: Million Miler, 1K - Basically spend a lot of time on planes
Posts: 2,202
