Repooc17

I have never even mentioned the phrase once in any of my posts in this thread. Again, infer the data however you'd like, or not, if it is not useful.

UA has its own proprietary data to make informed decisions about its own programs. Someone had brought up airport traffic upthread, so I piggybacked on it with recent US airport traffic flow data.

IAH-OIL-TRASH

I don't have the insight that UA probably has, but I know for a fact that travel is down far more than 16% (trips and spend) for my (still working) former colleagues in Houston. A couple of them have fallen from GS spend to Silver/Gold-level spend - they're fearful of the future (beyond UA''s current largesse towards extensions). Seems like the potential of falling out of GS status is a magnitude more alarming than what many of us face status-wise

WineCountryUA

While destination and type of traveler is not possible to discern from TSA data, BofA Global Research produces a weekly report (Mondays) that does provide some further insight.

Corporate ticketing is still down 35-40%, leisure is flat with 2019
International ticketing is still down 40% (and international ticket prices are down roughly 40%)

And trying to get back on topic, as OPM / corporate travel, especially international, had previously been a cornerstone of UA's operations -- and likely a significant (major?) part of the elite program, UA will want to try to recapture as many of those travelers when they resume travel. I suspect there will be more promos but not as many or as generous as 2020.

In the meantime UA has pivoted to more leisure focus but that is a very price sensitivity and more competitive market.

HNLbasedFlyer

Business travel is down over 90% at the 100,000+ employee software company I work at from pre-pandemic levels. And with many companies still having work at home policies - often even if we could travel to a onsite customer meeting - the customer wouldn't be in the office anyway.

exp

You talking Y prices?

Seems like P fares right now are high, compared to pre-pandemic and last spring.

WineCountryUA

I believe it is average airfare / revenue for the flight -- all cabins combined

That is only a fraction of the airfares.

exerda

I'm not surprised that yesterday morning's "we are evaluating and will release qualifying requirements later this afternoon" message on the status page has yet to yield and actual new requirements yet.

Lori_Q

I don't know if anyone saw this. It confirms that the levels will stay the same for next year!

https://mileageplusupdates.com/milea...qualification/

Qualification requirements for Premier status through 2023

We lowered our requirements for all Premier levels so it’s easier to qualify through 2023. In addition to flying a minimum of 4 flight segments on United or United Express, here’s what else you’ll need to qualify for each Premier status level beginning on January 1, 2022, for status through the 2023 program year1:
2023 Premier status PQF + PQP Or PQP only
Premier Silver 8 PQF and 3,000 PQP 3,500 PQP
Premier Gold 16 PQF and 6,000 PQP 7,000 PQP
Premier Platinum 24 PQF and 9,000 PQP 10,000 PQP
Premier 1K® 36 PQF and 13,500 PQP 15,000 PQP

mduell

The real question is promos... the requirements are very different without promos than they were in 2021.

exerda

Yep. While I don't expect as many or as generous as promos as we had last year, I definitely expect something in Q1 (as Omicron is going to really strain travel) and probably Q2 (to entice folks back to fly again), then probably something to close out the year. My gut is that summer travel will be in decent shape and thus not as likely to see a Q3 promo.

Lori_Q

Well, yeah. I did all of the promos last year until I earned 1K, and will do them again if they're offered. I'm just glad UA didn't get greedy and raise the PQP numbers.

If promos aren't offered, and if my clients don't resume paying for business travel, I'm planning to pick up the PQP slack on MRs for lifetime 1K (3MM).

DELee

How close (or far) from LT 1K are you?

David

dilanesp

I just paid about $1800 less for a roundtrip to FCO in J, UA all the way, than the fare was pre-pandemic. And low J fares were available to other European destinations.

exp

You just flew recently?

zombietooth

700K.