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
#1156
Suspended
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: DCA
Programs: UA US CO AA DL FL
Posts: 50,262
1. UA made this clear at the time it extended status that OP would not receive freebie Plus Points if he did not earn them.
2. UA did not "clawback" anything. OP did not earn them, either in the practical sense or the terms UA published.
It is also entirely appropriate. It was fine to extend status due to the pandemic. But, people who were not flying were not spending their PlusPoints, so no reason to grant them anyway.
2. UA did not "clawback" anything. OP did not earn them, either in the practical sense or the terms UA published.
It is also entirely appropriate. It was fine to extend status due to the pandemic. But, people who were not flying were not spending their PlusPoints, so no reason to grant them anyway.
#1157
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
Welcome to FT!, JonnyEP
Just to clarify one concept -- having Plat or 1K status does not necessarily include PlusPoints. There are many ways to have status -- such as a Lifetime companion or a corporate preq or a status challenge -- you have status without PlusPoints. The best way to think of this is when you meet certain earning threshold you receive status and also receive PlusPoints. The having status was not the reason for the PlusPoints, the cross of the earning thresholds was the reason.
This has always been true, per the examples above, status itself is not sufficient for the upgrade benefits like Plus Points.
The extension of status did provide many benefits and the PlusPoints you previously earned were extended -- but UA reserved new PlusPoints for those that meet the reduced earning thresholds.
Just to clarify one concept -- having Plat or 1K status does not necessarily include PlusPoints. There are many ways to have status -- such as a Lifetime companion or a corporate preq or a status challenge -- you have status without PlusPoints. The best way to think of this is when you meet certain earning threshold you receive status and also receive PlusPoints. The having status was not the reason for the PlusPoints, the cross of the earning thresholds was the reason.
This has always been true, per the examples above, status itself is not sufficient for the upgrade benefits like Plus Points.
The extension of status did provide many benefits and the PlusPoints you previously earned were extended -- but UA reserved new PlusPoints for those that meet the reduced earning thresholds.
#1158
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,415
Anyone else experience this? United announced in 2020 it would extend members' pre-pandemic status into 2021. My Premiere Platinum status was carried over, even though I had not flown enough miles (obvs, because of the pandemic). Thus, in January 2021 I was still a Platinum member. Platinum membership usually includes 40 PlusPoints, which can be used to buy two upgrades (if available!). However, United did not grant me 40 PlusPoints in January. Which is to say, my "status" was extended, but it does not bear all the benefits that that status usually confers.
#1159
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,469
Anyone else experience this? United announced in 2020 it would extend members' pre-pandemic status into 2021. My Premiere Platinum status was carried over, even though I had not flown enough miles (obvs, because of the pandemic). Thus, in January 2021 I was still a Platinum member. Platinum membership usually includes 40 PlusPoints, which can be used to buy two upgrades (if available!). However, United did not grant me 40 PlusPoints in January. Which is to say, my "status" was extended, but it does not bear all the benefits that that status usually confers.
Here's some of what I received in an email from United:
So that was interesting. Did United essentially claw back tens of thousands of upgrades, saving themselves millions of dollars in benefits they do not need to grant members? That is to say, did Platinum members just experience a taking of millions of dollars of value? It certainly feels like it!
Here's some of what I received in an email from United:
We have received your request about PlusPoints ... You did not earn PlusPoints in January. In order to earn them, you must have fulfilled the Premier Platinum requirements the year before which would have been in 2020. You met the requirements for one level lower which was Premier Gold status in 2020. Due to the pandemic, we carried everyone status that they earned in 2019 until January 31, 2022. ... We are unable to apply any additional PlusPoints. This matter is now considered closed.
Premier status is not an entitlement, so there is no applicable concept of benefits being denied, nor one of "millions of dollars of value" being "tak[en]" from Platinum members. Nothing was due, and nothing was withheld.
And the curtness of that email closing — "this matter is now considered closed" — and other phrasings in the response seem like responses to demands or legalistic arguments, which don't usually get a person far with rewards programs.
But aside from that, welcome to flyertalk. You may find some pretty good advice here for managing expectations and figuring out how to use the benefits you do get to maximum effect.
#1160
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
You might if there has been multiple rounds of exchanges.
#1162
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Saipan, MP 96950 USA (Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands = the CNMI)
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton Silver. Life: UA .57 MM, United & Admirals Clubs (spousal), Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,058
#1163
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Bucks County
Programs: UAL GS & Million Miler; Delta Lifetime Gold; Hilton Diamond; Marriott Platinum; Legion Etrangere
Posts: 1,609
Air Canada extended elite status through end of 2022
#1164
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
Active discussion of that, of other airlines and what UA should do in Will/should UA do further status extensions? With limited international travel?
#1165
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Tucson, AZ
Programs: United Silver, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 16
Mileage points not showing when booking
I can’t remember what they were but there used to be an “or” clause for people who flew a ton of cheap flights but would never get status if they just tracked miles. Also you used to be able to see the number of miles various flights were good for before booking. Is that gone for good? There’s no way to tell what mileage runs will help as we get to the end of the year.
#1166
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: أمريكا
Posts: 26,763
I can’t remember what they were but there used to be an “or” clause for people who flew a ton of cheap flights but would never get status if they just tracked miles. Also you used to be able to see the number of miles various flights were good for before booking. Is that gone for good? There’s no way to tell what mileage runs will help as we get to the end of the year.
#1167
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,026
The only "mileage runs" that count now are those on partner airlines. Status on United is earned by PQPs (based on dollars spent) or PQPs and segments. Mileage does not enter the equation for qualifying on United flights. It does on partner flights.
Last edited by IAH-OIL-TRASH; Nov 22, 2021 at 5:35 pm