PhillyPhlyer40

Back when Scott was around (at continental/ua) I brought this up to him often. I was a paid F flying short short short haul. He actually did some math one time when we spoke - the value of the short haul F flyer was exponentially higher when comparing the $/mile of a flyer....but, alas, it never went anywhere....

trm2

United wants to measure lifetime loyalty in decades, not years.

Doppy

If the OP is five years into flying and is a 1K (not GS) and has 500k BIS, then it seems like the program is working as intended even before the advent of PQP - roughly ten years of being a 1K gets to 1MM status. Now, maybe there's an argument that those earning GS every year on spend (not corporate giveaways or whatever) could have some kind of faster track because they're making such an outsize contribution to the bottom line.

But really, the program is meant to recognize long term loyalty. Why would United want to give away lifetime status to someone who only shows a couple years of loyalty? Lifetime status given away easily defeats the purpose for the airline - by the OP's own admission, he wants to get the benefits of 1K without having to put in the spend - not a great customer from the airlines' perspective.

sexykitten7

I'm guessing you missed the post from yesterday. Unfortunately, you'd need a time machine!

MrWorldwide

that’s funny. I’ll take lifetime without pp

rankourabu

I m younger than you. Have been 1K since 2013. Never flown for work. Mrs is also 1K. Would be MM by now if not for Covid, but it may take some time now to get the home stretch done without Asia vacations.

I m happy that United MM has some actual benefits like E+ and Star Gold lounge access since I never fly domestic anyway.
Remember that the goal of the lifetime program isn't to give you lifetime status. It's to keep you from switching to another airline. The last thing they want is the people who spend the most $$/mile to get their lifetime status early and then have options.

And depending how well-behaved your children are, I might give you a few dollars to put them in the back.

MrWorldwide

not once did I mention trying to get something fast or easy. All I said was there should be a different metric than millions of miles flown by someone who started traveling for some company out of college.

I think achieving a certain status over a long period is deserving of lifetime status. I threw out the number of 20-25 years of 1k. That’s a huge achievement regardless of miles flown. I have a hard time with the minimum segments but appreciate a total pqp number.

Polytonic

I'm more frustrated that BIS award flights don't count towards MM status.

Lomapaseo

At least more travelers get something in their lifetime with AA and DL to keep them interested in flying without all those petty extra charges and lack of overhead space

I don't fly UA because I can't stand to pay to check baggage as I have no hope of ever getting million miles on UA in spite of my equal spend between the big 3

seanp7

I know, it's a good thread for discussion; dialogue is encouraged - you are getting constructive pushback, no big deal.

I also didn't know you didn't care about plus points, that's good information I didn't see in your OP or subsequent posts.

I'm still struggling to see what you're asking for, apologies . I get "an alternative avenue to MM status" (based on your assumed high spend) but - to what end?

MrWorldwide

underrated comment

travelinmanS

I got the lifetime status as a result of the merger and UA counting all the CO miles towards lifetime even with the class of service bonuses. I was racking up about 50k miles a trip for a few years flying BKK-SFO round trips in world business class 4-5 times a year. At that time each ticket was about $2k USD. Now I have UA and AA million miler status thanks to these bonuses counting. I hardly ever fly these airlines now but it helps to be able to get preferred seating, lounge access, etc when I do. Basically being a MM allows me to be a free agent.

I don’t think this is fair, especially when posters like the OP are dropping serious cash year after year but I am very grateful for the MM program and the status I get.

ContinentalFan

There’s no spend component, yet. Connecting the dots, I predict it’s coming.

cfischer

I would love the PQD angle as well Will be better for me than miles flown on UA metal ...

TomMM

Would you prefer to qualify with 1 million PQP?