United MileagePlus status extension into 2023
#541
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
You could prove your loyalty to UA by buying their PassPlus product. Those can come with varying status levels.
#542
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: NJ
Programs: UA Gold/Silver, Marriot Titanium
Posts: 6
I'm not going to pre-pay them for service. That would never fly with my finance team.
#543
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: أمريكا
Posts: 26,760
2 more weeks to flatten the curve! I'll see it to believe it. Don't get me wrong, I'm back to travelling now that it is no longer a criminal offence to fly United or travel domestically, but anyone who thinks it's all over is wrong. There will likely be testing and masking requirements for some time along with service "enhancements" from the airline in light of the pandemic.
They would know from the data they have collected on customers. Indeed, that is the whole point of loyalty programs is to keep track of where your customers are flying, on what airlines, in what fare buckets, etc. All UA needs to do is look at the travel history of any of their elites and see, "oh this customer hasn't credited any flights with us nor used any benefits like checked bags or lounge access since January 2020. Oh his mailing address is Australia, and they made flying United illegal until November of last year. Perhaps we should extend their status?" The way I see it UA has nothing to lose by extending status but they have a lot to lose by not extending status, particularly since other airlines have offered tantalizing status matches.
If UA has nothing to lose, then they should just make everyone 1K or GS. There are so many 1Ks now anyway, that on many of my flights 25%+ of the plane boards during preboarding, and usually am around #10 on the CPU upgrade list when the flight departs.
I agree that there may be some differences for overseas flyers who have been locked up in their countries, but that's not the average United customer.
#544
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: EWR
Programs: UA 1.65M , Platinum, 1K Emeritus, UC Lifetime , HHonors Gold, Presidential Plus card holder
Posts: 691
Spoke too soon. We have a promotion!
#546
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.99MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,757
#547
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: EWR
Programs: UA 1.65M , Platinum, 1K Emeritus, UC Lifetime , HHonors Gold, Presidential Plus card holder
Posts: 691
#548
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,712
As a follow up, I got an offer today from United to purchase Platinum status for 2022, with cash. No flight requirements at all. I jumped at it. Anything that allows me to get through security faster, get on the plane faster, and upgrade to the front cabin more often is something I'll happily pay cash for, if given the chance.
#549
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: TOA
Programs: HH Diamond, Marriott LTPP/Platinum Premier, Hyatt Lame-ist, UA !K
Posts: 20,061