United 2023 Qualifying Requirements (first The Points Guy, now UA.com)
#16
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Raddison Platinum, Avis Presidents Club
Posts: 5,271
My crystal ball says there will be at least one promotion but you are right there could be none so one must plan to meet the requirements as written or have the flexibility to do a lot of flying towards the end of the year. I have a lot of PP in the bank to use up next year (unless they extend) so I guess I'll be spending more anyways if I want to try to use then for intl J.
#17
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,115
It's funny how things turn out. UA really feels stuck with a (brand new) FF program for a prior era, and it needs to make some changes IMO.
While AA just went all in on $$ vs miles, the credit card spend angle opens up a whole new dimension to it, and it feels like it can live in the Covid/post-Covid world just fine. Giving a big/unique (A)advantage to holding on to status vs earning it new also keeps pre-Covid elites vested in the ecosystem. Win.
DL is an odd bird. By keeping MQMs in the mix, it still trades in a term FFers are familiar with. The unrelenting MQM rollovers + easy AX waivers means that status for the next couple years can be easy or all about MQMs only up to Plat. That will keep a majority of legacy flyers happy. And Diamond is now a tier that is all about the $$ (similar to UA), and will feel more 'special' once we are past next year. But even they introduced 'accelerators' that keep their qualifying levels intact but move people along faster as needed. Win.
UA though... An all $$ based program that got knee capped before it even got started. It lays out figures that intimidate people (i.e. "$24,000 for 1K? as seen in this thread). $24k feels like it should be the new GS level these days. Lowering thresholds only cheapens the value of them in the first place - comments in this thread already indicate that too. No one believes they will stick, the goalposts are messy, and flyers are irritated. Lose.
UA has really done much that has been good during the pandemic and has improved their brand image (whatever starting point you choose to use). This was more a case of bad timing and bad luck, but it is what it is. Going back to the drawing board here might not be a bad idea.
While AA just went all in on $$ vs miles, the credit card spend angle opens up a whole new dimension to it, and it feels like it can live in the Covid/post-Covid world just fine. Giving a big/unique (A)advantage to holding on to status vs earning it new also keeps pre-Covid elites vested in the ecosystem. Win.
DL is an odd bird. By keeping MQMs in the mix, it still trades in a term FFers are familiar with. The unrelenting MQM rollovers + easy AX waivers means that status for the next couple years can be easy or all about MQMs only up to Plat. That will keep a majority of legacy flyers happy. And Diamond is now a tier that is all about the $$ (similar to UA), and will feel more 'special' once we are past next year. But even they introduced 'accelerators' that keep their qualifying levels intact but move people along faster as needed. Win.
UA though... An all $$ based program that got knee capped before it even got started. It lays out figures that intimidate people (i.e. "$24,000 for 1K? as seen in this thread). $24k feels like it should be the new GS level these days. Lowering thresholds only cheapens the value of them in the first place - comments in this thread already indicate that too. No one believes they will stick, the goalposts are messy, and flyers are irritated. Lose.
UA has really done much that has been good during the pandemic and has improved their brand image (whatever starting point you choose to use). This was more a case of bad timing and bad luck, but it is what it is. Going back to the drawing board here might not be a bad idea.
#18
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,895
So basically with one normal priced transatlantic business class flight, one could become Gold and/or get close to Platinum?
With rollover and Amex spending, I am at least Platinum one Delta through 2024. I’m looking at all of these reduced requirements as a way to maybe test out status on a new airline. United intrigues me given the number of destinations out of EWR and LGA. I would imagine though that upgrades out of EWR are poor as anything under a 1K…
With rollover and Amex spending, I am at least Platinum one Delta through 2024. I’m looking at all of these reduced requirements as a way to maybe test out status on a new airline. United intrigues me given the number of destinations out of EWR and LGA. I would imagine though that upgrades out of EWR are poor as anything under a 1K…
#19
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Morris County, NJ
Programs: UA 1K/*G, Avis Pres, Marriott Plat
Posts: 2,305
I am UA loyal based exactly on that - the route network out of EWR is exceptional. That said, you’re also right in that if you want the big seat, you’re likely going to be paying for it. Upgrades are quite difficult from here, depending on route of course.
#20
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Chicago
Programs: UA 1K, HH Diamond
Posts: 2,055
13,500 PQP and 36 flights isn't exactly easy from my point of view. No International travel yet really--especially to Asia where I suspect my travel won't come back until 2023 at earliest and my company doesnt pay for domestic FC. And I fly lots of regional jets out of ORD. While I will barely make 1k this year based on the many promotions and BoB PQP, I still had many flights in that $75-$250 range. If UA doesnt offer additional PQP promotions I doubt I will hit 1K again flying those ORD-FLL at $100 LOL!
#21
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
It seems to me - from reading FT where upgrades are almost impossible and 1K's often way down the list - these very low requirements do not bode well for those who do actually fly quite a bit - and I'm sure more promos are coming.
#22
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2003
Programs: UA 1K 1MM (finally!), IHG AMB-Spire, HH Diamond
Posts: 60,174
My primary Biz route has been SIN and that is barely trickling open 2 years in
#23
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2009
Programs: DL, UA, AA, VS
Posts: 5,226
I just checked my MP activity.
I got 1750 PQP on 1/7/21 for being a Gold member for several years.
Then I got 700 PQP on 5/13/21.
So 2450 out of the 7000 PQP required to qualify for Gold were just gifted. I don't even see any separate line items indicating I earned any bonuses for FTF promo. My last paid flight was from late August to mid September.
i ended up with 7430 PQPs and 8 PQFs. I flew 3 UA segments, but they qualified me back in September. 2 business TATL flights to Europe.
So we can't say they will have the same qualifying requirements in 2022 as 2021 unless they run some promos and outright gift some PQPs. UA may forecast that more people are willing to pay for flights in 2022 compared to 2021, after over 2 years into this pandemic.
I got 1750 PQP on 1/7/21 for being a Gold member for several years.
Then I got 700 PQP on 5/13/21.
So 2450 out of the 7000 PQP required to qualify for Gold were just gifted. I don't even see any separate line items indicating I earned any bonuses for FTF promo. My last paid flight was from late August to mid September.
i ended up with 7430 PQPs and 8 PQFs. I flew 3 UA segments, but they qualified me back in September. 2 business TATL flights to Europe.
So we can't say they will have the same qualifying requirements in 2022 as 2021 unless they run some promos and outright gift some PQPs. UA may forecast that more people are willing to pay for flights in 2022 compared to 2021, after over 2 years into this pandemic.
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,514
Yep! UA gave up to 14,250 PQP this year.
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: USA
Programs: UA Platinum, 1MM
Posts: 13,460
They certainly have to throw some promos at us in 2022 as well. I'm really just flying to get to 1MM status and then can worry a lot less about the status rat race. Probably should just fly around the US a lot in the dead of winter now that Omicron is throwing travel, especially international, back into full disarray again. Should go visit those five US states I have not physically stepped into.
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: BOS, PVG
Programs: United 1K and 1MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 10,000
I think it's unlikely UA will "return" to the laughable $24,000-for-1K threshold in the foreseeable future.
First, business travel will not recover to levels that would allow what United might consider an ideal number of customers to hit that target. That's especially the case for international travel, which is how you quickly rack up spend. It also doesn't help that New York and California—the states UA targets for premium transcon service—have been particularly cautious with respect to the pandemic, both as a matter of state policy and general corporate culture.
Second, hiking qualifications like that it would convince many flyers, including me, not to bother pursuing 1K. A lot of people necessarily spend $5,000-10,000 on flights for work each year, and then relent and spend an extra couple thousand to improve their status. I've done so myself. But there's a massive gulf between spending an extra $2-3000 and an extra $10-15,000 to earn 1K on United. Especially when work isn't willing to pay as much of the cost.
If I'm spending $24,000 annually on flights, I'm not even that worried about 1K status. I'm already seated up front.
First, business travel will not recover to levels that would allow what United might consider an ideal number of customers to hit that target. That's especially the case for international travel, which is how you quickly rack up spend. It also doesn't help that New York and California—the states UA targets for premium transcon service—have been particularly cautious with respect to the pandemic, both as a matter of state policy and general corporate culture.
Second, hiking qualifications like that it would convince many flyers, including me, not to bother pursuing 1K. A lot of people necessarily spend $5,000-10,000 on flights for work each year, and then relent and spend an extra couple thousand to improve their status. I've done so myself. But there's a massive gulf between spending an extra $2-3000 and an extra $10-15,000 to earn 1K on United. Especially when work isn't willing to pay as much of the cost.
If I'm spending $24,000 annually on flights, I'm not even that worried about 1K status. I'm already seated up front.
It's funny how things turn out. UA really feels stuck with a (brand new) FF program for a prior era, and it needs to make some changes IMO.
While AA just went all in on $$ vs miles, the credit card spend angle opens up a whole new dimension to it, and it feels like it can live in the Covid/post-Covid world just fine. Giving a big/unique (A)advantage to holding on to status vs earning it new also keeps pre-Covid elites vested in the ecosystem. Win.
DL is an odd bird. By keeping MQMs in the mix, it still trades in a term FFers are familiar with. The unrelenting MQM rollovers + easy AX waivers means that status for the next couple years can be easy or all about MQMs only up to Plat. That will keep a majority of legacy flyers happy. And Diamond is now a tier that is all about the $$ (similar to UA), and will feel more 'special' once we are past next year. But even they introduced 'accelerators' that keep their qualifying levels intact but move people along faster as needed. Win.
UA though... An all $$ based program that got knee capped before it even got started. It lays out figures that intimidate people (i.e. "$24,000 for 1K? as seen in this thread). $24k feels like it should be the new GS level these days. Lowering thresholds only cheapens the value of them in the first place - comments in this thread already indicate that too. No one believes they will stick, the goalposts are messy, and flyers are irritated. Lose.
UA has really done much that has been good during the pandemic and has improved their brand image (whatever starting point you choose to use). This was more a case of bad timing and bad luck, but it is what it is. Going back to the drawing board here might not be a bad idea.
While AA just went all in on $$ vs miles, the credit card spend angle opens up a whole new dimension to it, and it feels like it can live in the Covid/post-Covid world just fine. Giving a big/unique (A)advantage to holding on to status vs earning it new also keeps pre-Covid elites vested in the ecosystem. Win.
DL is an odd bird. By keeping MQMs in the mix, it still trades in a term FFers are familiar with. The unrelenting MQM rollovers + easy AX waivers means that status for the next couple years can be easy or all about MQMs only up to Plat. That will keep a majority of legacy flyers happy. And Diamond is now a tier that is all about the $$ (similar to UA), and will feel more 'special' once we are past next year. But even they introduced 'accelerators' that keep their qualifying levels intact but move people along faster as needed. Win.
UA though... An all $$ based program that got knee capped before it even got started. It lays out figures that intimidate people (i.e. "$24,000 for 1K? as seen in this thread). $24k feels like it should be the new GS level these days. Lowering thresholds only cheapens the value of them in the first place - comments in this thread already indicate that too. No one believes they will stick, the goalposts are messy, and flyers are irritated. Lose.
UA has really done much that has been good during the pandemic and has improved their brand image (whatever starting point you choose to use). This was more a case of bad timing and bad luck, but it is what it is. Going back to the drawing board here might not be a bad idea.
They though that we have NOWHERE TO GO.
I laughed at it when they announced it. LOL it died because of COVID.
Even without COVID, I didn't believe it's going to generate lots of 1Ks chasing $24,000 spend. Seriously? That's borderline GS spend.
I take some satisfaction that UA has been nice to us since the pandemic. No change fees, extension of status, and PP.
Let's give them the credit due.
#27
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, Total Wine & More Reserve
Posts: 4,519
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: BOS/EAP
Programs: UA 1K, MR LTT, HH Dia, Amex Plat
Posts: 32,064
For 2022 I have booked BOS-SFO-KOA/HNL-LAX-BOS for 2 pax all in IN. BOS-EWR-HND-IAD-BOS for 2 pax all in IN. BOS-SFO-SYD for 2 pax with SFO-SYD in IN. We are flying to Europe 12/18 BOS-EWR-ZRH and back via IAD all in IN. Other 2022 travel is e.g. BOS-LHR-FRA (because BOS-LHR has IN) ... and all of that is at the low 60k award level.
#29
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC (LGA, JFK), CT
Programs: Delta Platinum, American Gold, JetBlue Mosaic 4, Marriott Platinum, Hyatt Explorist, Hilton Diamond,
Posts: 4,895
Well there may never be another year of “normal” for OPM travel, at least the way United and others understood it in 2019. So what United, or someone else, could do, is skate to where they think the puck is going, and try to reward the type of travel and traveler (including business traveler) that is traveling today and is expected to be traveling tomorrow. That would mean cutting off legacy business travelers that may not be coming back and rewarding those in the air now.
#30
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Back in Reds Country (DAY/CVG). Previously: SEA & SAT.
Programs: DL PM 1MM, AA PLAT, UA Silver, Marriott Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 10,356
It's actually easier than getting an equivalent status on DL, at least if you aren't one to pursue the MQD waiver. DL Silver is $3K in spend and 25K MQMs or 30 segments. UA is $3K in spend and only 8 segments. Similar with the other tiers too.