United MileagePlus status extension into 2023
Dec 5, 2021, 5:50 am
#151
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Manhattan, Palm Beach Island, San Francisco, Boston, & Hong Kong
Programs: Lifetime United Global Services, Delta Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Ambassador, & Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,165
I wonder if it might not have something to do with members' most common flight destinations. For example, if your most common destination is Japan, UA may have bumped you up in status because you would not have been able to fly there for a good part of the year since it has been closed to visitors, which is no fault of the member. I imagine they might have an algorithm that is weighted depending on the accessibility of certain destinations. In other words, if your common flight destinations have been accessible to you year-round, then they won't bump you up since you could have flown there if you wanted to, but others who could not get to their destinations due to lockdowns, etc. are bumped up because they couldn't go there even if they wanted to. It's just a guess.
Dec 5, 2021, 6:12 am
#152
Join Date: May 2000
Location: IAH
Programs: UA 1K 2.7MM, Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, IHG Spire
Posts: 3,317
The thought process may have been that if you barely flew you could not fly because of covid fears, border closings, corporate travel restrictions. If you did fly then you could have made your status but chose not to put in the effort.
If this truly is the system of status extensions it does somewhat help those like myself who qualified for my status (1K) by BIS when it comes to upgrade competition. We're not competing with those who have been flying more regularly but didn't hit the target.
Dec 5, 2021, 6:38 am
#154
Join Date: May 2014
Programs: UA 1K, AA Gold, DL Silver
Posts: 410
I had over $20K in spend with travel to Europe, Asia, Australia and premium tcon in paid J in 2019. Was not extended either.
I am flying JFK-LAX on AA tomorrow in J and expecting a meal far superior to anything UA is offering anywhere.
Dec 5, 2021, 6:42 am
#155
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,460
Could it be they extended status for those with multiple prior years at some status?
Complete guess.
Did anyone who wasn't extended have status from 2018 or before? Or the other way (someone extended without history of status)?
Complete guess.
Did anyone who wasn't extended have status from 2018 or before? Or the other way (someone extended without history of status)?
Dec 5, 2021, 6:59 am
#156
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: GUM
Programs: OWE, *Gold, STE+, Globalist, Titanium, Spire, Diamond
Posts: 551
I'm reading these various anecdotes and it seems that the people who barely flew the last two years are being extended. The people who flew a decent amount in 2021 but are short of the mark for status (whatever that is in their particular case) are not being extended. Interesting for sure.
The thought process may have been that if you barely flew you could not fly because of covid fears, border closings, corporate travel restrictions. If you did fly then you could have made your status but chose not to put in the effort.
If this truly is the system of status extensions it does somewhat help those like myself who qualified for my status (1K) by BIS when it comes to upgrade competition. We're not competing with those who have been flying more regularly but didn't hit the target.
The thought process may have been that if you barely flew you could not fly because of covid fears, border closings, corporate travel restrictions. If you did fly then you could have made your status but chose not to put in the effort.
If this truly is the system of status extensions it does somewhat help those like myself who qualified for my status (1K) by BIS when it comes to upgrade competition. We're not competing with those who have been flying more regularly but didn't hit the target.
Rewarded for no flying, punished for incremental flying, and simultaneously rewarded and punished for sufficient flying.
Last edited by ALGU; Dec 5, 2021 at 7:10 am
Dec 5, 2021, 7:13 am
#157
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: GUM
Programs: OWE, *Gold, STE+, Globalist, Titanium, Spire, Diamond
Posts: 551
Dec 5, 2021, 7:18 am
#159
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,893
It seems like Delta was the only one to really get this one right.
1) They extended everyone
2) They treated flying better in 2021 by giving those flights extra qualification miles
3) They then roll over all of the miles into 2022, including the extra miles
4) People that qualify for status by meeting requirements actually get higher upgrade priority
5) Award flights now accrue status miles
So they extend everyone, but give people an incentive not only to requalify for their old status but actually gain new elite status
1) They extended everyone
2) They treated flying better in 2021 by giving those flights extra qualification miles
3) They then roll over all of the miles into 2022, including the extra miles
4) People that qualify for status by meeting requirements actually get higher upgrade priority
5) Award flights now accrue status miles
So they extend everyone, but give people an incentive not only to requalify for their old status but actually gain new elite status
Dec 5, 2021, 7:29 am
#160
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: NYC, FLL
Programs: UA PP 1MM, Marriott Bonvoy LTTE, BA Gold
Posts: 6,321
Dec 5, 2021, 7:30 am
#161
Join Date: May 2014
Programs: UA 1K, AA Gold, DL Silver
Posts: 410
It seems like Delta was the only one to really get this one right.
1) They extended everyone
2) They treated flying better in 2021 by giving those flights extra qualification miles
3) They then roll over all of the miles into 2022, including the extra miles
4) People that qualify for status by meeting requirements actually get higher upgrade priority
5) Award flights now accrue status miles
So they extend everyone, but give people an incentive not only to requalify for their old status but actually gain new elite status
1) They extended everyone
2) They treated flying better in 2021 by giving those flights extra qualification miles
3) They then roll over all of the miles into 2022, including the extra miles
4) People that qualify for status by meeting requirements actually get higher upgrade priority
5) Award flights now accrue status miles
So they extend everyone, but give people an incentive not only to requalify for their old status but actually gain new elite status
Dec 5, 2021, 8:02 am
#162
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
though seems like some other FTers are counterpoints, most of my PQP in 2019 came from travel to Asia. And I’ve been either 1K or plat for last 5-6 years. I was extended.
Dec 5, 2021, 8:10 am
#163
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,956
You are correct. DL was doing well last year. As soon as they do not block the middle seats, Delta variant came along. DL tried to make people call this variant any thing but Delta. 🔼
Dec 5, 2021, 8:17 am
#164
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: UA LT GS | UA LT Club | Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 1,250
When it's all revealed, I believe EVERY constituency will be happy. That said, I'm amazed UA can brilliantly market new routes (puzzle videos, Twitter buzz, media coverage), but absolutely bungle this rollout. Changes start quietly on Thursday, front line MP agents don't get the memo until Friday, media not notified so they speculate, conspiracy theories abound online, etc...
I understand Friday is a bad day to release news, but they could notify the media, have them embargo the story untill Monday morning, create buzz around a big announcement coming, and turn this into a positive. UA's Loyalty team needs to get help from UA's very capable Marketing team.
I understand Friday is a bad day to release news, but they could notify the media, have them embargo the story untill Monday morning, create buzz around a big announcement coming, and turn this into a positive. UA's Loyalty team needs to get help from UA's very capable Marketing team.
Dec 5, 2021, 8:30 am
#165
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Manhattan, Palm Beach Island, San Francisco, Boston, & Hong Kong
Programs: Lifetime United Global Services, Delta Plat, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Ambassador, & Hilton Diamond
Posts: 3,165
Overall, I do prefer Delta to United for many reasons. However, Delta wasn’t perfect during this time. The recent devaluation of GUCs is pretty annoying.