Last edit by: WineCountryUA
05April 2020
FAQ
With extended status. will we automatically get additional PlusPoints in 2021 (40 for Plats and 280 for 1KsGS?
No, your existing PlusPoints will be extended 6 months but to get additional 2021 PlusPoints you will need to meet the reduced thresholds for 2020
[5 April 2020] Status extended 1 year - United Hub
- Status extended 1 year (expires 1/31/22)
- Plus Points extended 6 months
- Lower qualifying thresholds to gain 2021 status in 2020 (about 50%)
[5 April 2020] United will extend Premier status for 12 months (SF Gate):
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[7 March 2020] A message to our Premier members (email):
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MileagePlus Status Extended Until 2022
Throughout these unprecedented times, we remain committed to doing what is right and fair for all of our MileagePlus members and are pleased to share the steps we are taking to reciprocate the trust and loyalty that you have placed in United. These steps include not only Premier status updates, but also an extension of current memberships and subscriptions. The updates will happen automatically over the next few weeks — there's nothing you need to do.
The big news: If you have current 2020 Premier status, it will be extended to January 31, 2022. At a minimum, you will enjoy the same published status next year that you have today, up to Premier 1K®.
We're reducing the 2020 Premier qualifying points (PQP) and flight requirements for all tiers by 50%. You'll still need a minimum of four flight segments on United or United Express®.
We're also doubling PQP for United Explorer cards and quadrupling PQP for the United Club cards.
At the same time that we're decreasing the published program's PQP requirements, via a promotion from May 1 – December 31, 2020, we're doubling (for United Explorer cards) or quadrupling (for United Club cards) the maximum number of PQP that Cardmembers can earn during 2020 to help achieve a higher level of status than you already have.
1K® and Platinum members, we're increasing your ability to upgrade by extending PlusPoints expiration dates by six months and expanding Skip Waitlist.
Over the years, you have placed your trust and loyalty in United, and we are honored to do the same for you. We are all in this together.
Status extension to January 31, 2022, applies to all members that met the published criteria of the MileagePlus program in 2019, status associated with the United/Marriott RewardsPlus program and status offered as part of a Sales nomination. Status granted from other programs and policies may not apply.
Throughout these unprecedented times, we remain committed to doing what is right and fair for all of our MileagePlus members and are pleased to share the steps we are taking to reciprocate the trust and loyalty that you have placed in United. These steps include not only Premier status updates, but also an extension of current memberships and subscriptions. The updates will happen automatically over the next few weeks — there's nothing you need to do.
The big news: If you have current 2020 Premier status, it will be extended to January 31, 2022. At a minimum, you will enjoy the same published status next year that you have today, up to Premier 1K®.
We're reducing the 2020 Premier qualifying points (PQP) and flight requirements for all tiers by 50%. You'll still need a minimum of four flight segments on United or United Express®.
We're also doubling PQP for United Explorer cards and quadrupling PQP for the United Club cards.
At the same time that we're decreasing the published program's PQP requirements, via a promotion from May 1 – December 31, 2020, we're doubling (for United Explorer cards) or quadrupling (for United Club cards) the maximum number of PQP that Cardmembers can earn during 2020 to help achieve a higher level of status than you already have.
1K® and Platinum members, we're increasing your ability to upgrade by extending PlusPoints expiration dates by six months and expanding Skip Waitlist.
- This means a six-month extension of any PlusPoints set to expire on or before January 31, 2021.
- Last year we introduced Skip Waitlist on select flights as a benefit to 1K members, giving you more opportunities to confirm an upgrade request at the time of booking. This benefit will now be available for the rest of 2020 in a significantly expanded selection of long-haul international regions and will have expanded availability in 2021 as well.
- We want to make sure your benefits are still there when you're ready to start flying again. That's why we're extending purchased United Club℠ memberships and purchased subscriptions for Economy Plus®, United Wi-Fi℠ and checked bags by six months. You should see this reflected in your MileagePlus account soon.
- If your travel plans have been disrupted, and you have an electronic travel certificate from us for the value of your ticket, you now have two years from the date it was issued to book a new flight, as well as up to an additional 11 months to travel. This includes all currently valid and all new electronic travel certificates issued on or after April 1, 2020.
- We are currently waiving all award redeposit fees for travel through end of May 2020.
- We are now also waiving all redeposit fees for award ticket cancellations made more than 30 days before departure for the remainder of 2020.
Over the years, you have placed your trust and loyalty in United, and we are honored to do the same for you. We are all in this together.
Status extension to January 31, 2022, applies to all members that met the published criteria of the MileagePlus program in 2019, status associated with the United/Marriott RewardsPlus program and status offered as part of a Sales nomination. Status granted from other programs and policies may not apply.
With extended status. will we automatically get additional PlusPoints in 2021 (40 for Plats and 280 for 1KsGS?
No, your existing PlusPoints will be extended 6 months but to get additional 2021 PlusPoints you will need to meet the reduced thresholds for 2020
[5 April 2020] Status extended 1 year - United Hub
- Status extended 1 year (expires 1/31/22)
- Plus Points extended 6 months
- Lower qualifying thresholds to gain 2021 status in 2020 (about 50%)
[5 April 2020] United will extend Premier status for 12 months (SF Gate):
United will announce on Sunday that it is extending elite status to MileagePlus Premier members through 2021 and members will retain their current status through January 2022. This follows a similar move by Delta Air Lines on April 4 to extend SkyMiles Medallion elite status to 2021.
A United spokesperson has confirmed this to SFGATE, adding: "We are also going to help both general members and members who want to reach the next status level by lowering thresholds for Premier Qualifying Points (PQP’s) for the 2021 status year."
In addition to the elite status extension, United will extend all its annual subscription options by six months, including United Club memberships, wi-fi, checked bags and EconomyPlus, according to the spokesperson.
A United spokesperson has confirmed this to SFGATE, adding: "We are also going to help both general members and members who want to reach the next status level by lowering thresholds for Premier Qualifying Points (PQP’s) for the 2021 status year."
In addition to the elite status extension, United will extend all its annual subscription options by six months, including United Club memberships, wi-fi, checked bags and EconomyPlus, according to the spokesperson.
[7 March 2020] A message to our Premier members (email):
At this time, we are not planning any changes for our 2021 Premier program but we will continue to evaluate our options as we learn more about how the current climate is affecting members' activity. In the interim though, we do plan to give members who are participating in a MileagePlus 2020 Premier Status Match Challenge promotion an additional 30 days to complete their challenge. This extension will automatically be reflected in member accounts within the next week.
There's a good (but not exhaustive) crowdsourced list of company travel restrictions here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...bWhYFM/preview .....
Hey there!
As true loyalty is best tested in challenging times, I did a bit of research on how different airlines and hotel programmes have responded:
Feel free to comment that Google Sheets file and if you have some better insights, let me know (I used only what was available on English-speaking websites and some blog posts I could find, showing emails from the programmes). ....
As true loyalty is best tested in challenging times, I did a bit of research on how different airlines and hotel programmes have responded:
- 74 airline loyalty responses (status, miles expiration extensions) and booking flexibility terms (changes and refunds)
- 18 hotel loyalty responses (status, points expiration extensions) and booking flexibility terms (changes and refunds)
Feel free to comment that Google Sheets file and if you have some better insights, let me know (I used only what was available on English-speaking websites and some blog posts I could find, showing emails from the programmes). ....
UA • CONFIRMS • Status Extension to JAN 2022; PQP Thresholds Reduced by ½ for 2020
#1066
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, Total Wine & More Reserve
Posts: 4,524
AA, AS, DL, WN are at least doing something to try to incentivize bookings (seat blocking and/or bonus award miles). Meanwhile it seems UA strategy is higher fares & smaller aircraft.
AS sells a $10k ticket somewhere?
#1067
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,074
#1068
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: TX
Programs: UA 1K, Million Miler, BA
Posts: 194
20 PPs v 280 PPs with 1K
I (re-)qualified for 1K under the reduced requirements ($12k PQP), so I already earned the 1K PPs, but they didn't also lower the requirements for additional PPs, so you have to get to $21k PQPs to earn the next 20 PPs. So it's another $9000 in spending (or potentially less if you fly on partners, not that there's much international travel this year) to get the equivalent of one domestic upgrade.
Doesn't make any sense. They should have reduced the requirements to earn additional PPs as well.
Doesn't make any sense. They should have reduced the requirements to earn additional PPs as well.
#1069
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
I know there are worse things in the world but we've been scrimping and saving miles and buying miles for 2 years now and pulled the trigger in January 2020 to move to Gold status. Yay!
Then Covid-19 happened.
All of our trips so far this year we'd planned on are cancelled and I'm sure that our Oct Hawaii trip will likely cancel out too due to restrictions.
So we thought we had two years of Gold status for 20/21, and if we're lucky we might get next year but darn it we lost this year
I did read where United was "extending" status's but in our case it didn't help us at all based on when we started Gold status and when the 2 year cycle for it ends.
Then Covid-19 happened.
All of our trips so far this year we'd planned on are cancelled and I'm sure that our Oct Hawaii trip will likely cancel out too due to restrictions.
So we thought we had two years of Gold status for 20/21, and if we're lucky we might get next year but darn it we lost this year
I did read where United was "extending" status's but in our case it didn't help us at all based on when we started Gold status and when the 2 year cycle for it ends.
What you might do is ask, given the situation, if you can switch the benefit years to 2021-2022 instead.
#1070
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: EWR
Programs: UA 1K, DL DM
Posts: 255
I (re-)qualified for 1K under the reduced requirements ($12k PQP), so I already earned the 1K PPs, but they didn't also lower the requirements for additional PPs, so you have to get to $21k PQPs to earn the next 20 PPs. So it's another $9000 in spending (or potentially less if you fly on partners, not that there's much international travel this year) to get the equivalent of one domestic upgrade.
Doesn't make any sense. They should have reduced the requirements to earn additional PPs as well.
Doesn't make any sense. They should have reduced the requirements to earn additional PPs as well.
1. I can't find this now, but thought I read somewhere when initial changes were announced, that you can also earn incremental PPs with incremental PQFs. I could totally be wrong, but I thought it was every 24 PQF over a certain number, OR 3,000 PQP over 18,000. Is that wrong?
2. Currently UA says "Members meeting the higher 24,000 PQP goal for 1K will receive 40 additional PlusPoints after reaching 1K for having earned 6,000 PQP beyond the lower 18,000 PQP requirement." I assume this means if you reach 26 PQF + 9,000 PQP, and then meet the 12,000 PQP later, that's still in effect?
Last edited by threecap; Aug 19, 2020 at 9:23 am Reason: spelling
#1071
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,415
1. I can't find this now, but thought I read somewhere when initial changes were announced, that you can also earn incremental PPs with incremental PQFs. I could totally be wrong, but I thought it was every 24 PQF over a certain number, OR 3,000 PQP over 18,000. Is that wrong?
2. Currently UA says "Members meeting the higher 24,000 PQP goal for 1K will receive 40 additional PlusPoints after reaching 1K for having earned 6,000 PQP beyond the lower 18,000 PQP requirement." I assume this means if you reach 26 PQF + 9,000 PQP, and then meet the 12,000 PQP later, that's still in effect?
#1072
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2009
Programs: DL, UA, AA, VS
Posts: 5,226
No change fee is for domestic right?
A lot of MP elites qualify by accumulating a lot of miles on international flights, so the change fee would be irrelevant to them.
A lot of MP elites qualify by accumulating a lot of miles on international flights, so the change fee would be irrelevant to them.
#1073
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
And international if purchased before 31 Dec 2020
For tickets issued between April 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020, customers will be permitted to change without paying a change fee to a flight of equal or lesser value for travel up to 12 months from the original ticket issue date.
#1074
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Between AUS, EWR, and YTO In a little twisty maze of airline seats, all alike.. but I wanna go home with the armadillo
Programs: CO, NW, & UA forum moderator emeritus
Posts: 35,432
My work travel alone has gone from 1K levels to absolute zer. I don't see my work travel changing any time soon.
#1075
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
#1076
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,469
I doubt you'll see many STW offers till 2022. Currently, there are a huge number of plus points in the ecosystem for a variety of reasons:
1. The scheduled 2020 1K culling didn't happen as they were extended till Jan 22
2. All these 1Ks will be awarded a fresh allocation of PPs in Jan 21
3. Additionally, the 2020 PPs were unused by most and have been extended till July 31, 2021.
Interestingly, the 7 months between Jan 21 and July 21 will see more upgrade currency in the UA ecosystem than at any point in UA's history. UA simply cannot afford to allow all this upgrade currency to take seats away from paying J passengers.
So the bottom line is STW (and far-out PZ) will be rare in 2021.
1. The scheduled 2020 1K culling didn't happen as they were extended till Jan 22
2. All these 1Ks will be awarded a fresh allocation of PPs in Jan 21
3. Additionally, the 2020 PPs were unused by most and have been extended till July 31, 2021.
Interestingly, the 7 months between Jan 21 and July 21 will see more upgrade currency in the UA ecosystem than at any point in UA's history. UA simply cannot afford to allow all this upgrade currency to take seats away from paying J passengers.
So the bottom line is STW (and far-out PZ) will be rare in 2021.
#1077
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: UA LT GS | UA LT Club | Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 1,250
Are you guys sure about this? Extending 1K means extending 1K and all the benefits that came with your earned 1K status. If UA had extended 2020 PP by 1 year, then I could see not awarding new PPs, but they only extended PPs by 6 months.
#1078
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
Now could UA also extend new PlusPoints, perhaps but have not seen that explicitly stated
#1079
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: UA LT GS | UA LT Club | Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 1,250
Again, if they extend PP till the end of '22 that's fair, but if they only extend till mid '22, they'll frustrate their customer base at a time when they're trying to welcome them back.
There's usually a firestorm on FT around extending 80 PP at year end. Imagine if the majority of elites are faced with all 320 PPs expiring, just as they're about to start flying again...not pretty.
#1080
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,415
Yes.
If you don't meet the 1K requirements, you will get new PlusPoints in January, as a result of being a 3MM flyer. I will not, unless I reach the PQF/PQP levels during 2020.
That said, I'm sure that they will consider another extension of the already-granted PlusPoints if travel stays depressed through the middle of the year — not because they're afraid of offending their customers, but because the PlusPoints will serve as an incentive to stick with UA and not move to AA/DL.