Why are “million” miles flown the only threshold for UA lifetime status?
Feb 23, 2022, 11:13 am
#62
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
I like that UA has some exclusivity with miles flown for lifetime status. It is an investment of time.
You never know - but I don't see them moving to spend for lifetime status - that just makes it too easy for too many people.
You never know - but I don't see them moving to spend for lifetime status - that just makes it too easy for too many people.
Feb 23, 2022, 11:25 am
#63
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: United, American, Delta, Hyatt, Hilton, Hertz, Marriott
Posts: 14,801
I predict that a lifetime spending component will be added to the BIS miles required.
Feb 23, 2022, 11:36 am
#64
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,218
It is just previously 1K also meant 100,000 PQMs in a year and the PQP/PQF did away with the mileage.
I can get 1K flying OAL (Star Alliance) with just 4 United flights in a year. Upgrades with LH using PlusPoints and mileage awards with Star Alliance carriers. 1K rewards loyalty flying with Star Alliance. MM rewards flying with United. I have had numerous Star Alliance flights such if you factored those into MM I think I would be well past 2MM as majority of my flights have been international (especially when it was OPM).
Feb 23, 2022, 12:02 pm
#65
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
I think it would be quote a feat to be 1K for 15+ years and NOT be a million miler. I've had it for 12 years, and am sitting around 1.3MM.
Feb 23, 2022, 12:13 pm
#66
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: SAN
Programs: 1K (since 2008), *G (since 1990), 1MM
Posts: 3,218
So if United was to change the MM requirement it is because they no longer want pax flying United flights but United still gets the revenue?
Feb 23, 2022, 12:18 pm
#67
Join Date: May 2000
Location: IAH
Programs: UA 1K 2.7MM, Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, IHG Spire
Posts: 3,317
The system is good and fair as is, IMO. As mentioned, it's the best of the three majors and it's because it is the most difficult to obtain, but what you get is well worth the time put into it. I hope that UA does not tinker with it but leaves it as is.
Feb 23, 2022, 12:23 pm
#68
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
I think the challenge for that is I don't think they have the historical data - or getting that data will be a huge challenge. All the pre-merger data by now has to been archived long ago.
Feb 23, 2022, 12:35 pm
#69
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 57,581
Feb 23, 2022, 12:46 pm
#70
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
Posts: 7,418
Other than Covid, why? Yeah, Covid has delayed my march because TPAC has mostly dried up. But miles are miles so it's not like new 1K thresholds.
Feb 23, 2022, 12:50 pm
#71
Join Date: May 2000
Location: IAH
Programs: UA 1K 2.7MM, Marriott Titanium/LT Plat, IHG Spire
Posts: 3,317
Having the SFO-SIN back plus Europe opening up certainly makes it easier for US based fliers. Hey, even Australia is a possibility now!
Feb 23, 2022, 12:59 pm
#72
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2017
Programs: AS 75K, DL Silver, UA Platinum, Hilton Gold, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Platinum + LT Gold
Posts: 10,501
Ugh? I was talking in references to people able to achieve 1K these days without a large addition to the lifetime count. Nothing Covid related.
Feb 23, 2022, 1:11 pm
#73
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
I think the current system is completely fair. At the end of the day, the amount of time you spend butt-in-seat is what really defines loyalty. I have done (and I am sure many of us fall exactly into this category) Plenty of high fare travel, and absolute rock bottom G fare travel to account for my 1.3MM BIS miles. Even if you fly only rock bottom fares, you will be paying $0.03/BIS mile, every 100,000 miles will cost $3,000 to fly, and 1MM will cost $30,000 ... worst case scenario. It is not cheap to attain this status ... not cheap from a $$ standpoint and a time standpoint. 
Feb 23, 2022, 1:36 pm
#74
Join Date: May 2012
Location: ORF, RIC
Programs: UA LT 1K, 3 MM; Marriott Titanium; IHG Platinum
Posts: 6,958
I think the current system is completely fair. At the end of the day, the amount of time you spend butt-in-seat is what really defines loyalty. I have done (and I am sure many of us fall exactly into this category) Plenty of high fare travel, and absolute rock bottom G fare travel to account for my 1.3MM BIS miles. Even if you fly only rock bottom fares, you will be paying $0.03/BIS mile, every 100,000 miles will cost $3,000 to fly, and 1MM will cost $30,000 ... worst case scenario. It is not cheap to attain this status ... not cheap from a $$ standpoint and a time standpoint.
Feb 23, 2022, 2:06 pm
#75
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: CO hublette
Programs: UA AU MM,HH Diamond,Hyatt Globalist , Marriott Gold
Posts: 2,281