Silver to Platinum?
 

I have a recent trip coming up from LAX to LHR with the option of flying AA, BA or VS direct to LHR or UA to LHR via ORD, EWR or IAH. My company will be paying for business class whichever option I choose and prices are all comparable. If I go with UA, I will earn enough PQP to jump immediately from Silver to Platinum and I'll end up only about 3,000 PQP away from 1K (which I'd likely hit sometime later this year). Is the jump from Silver to Platinum (and possibly 1k) worth making a connection instead of flying nonstop to LHR? Most of my travel is paid long haul biz, but I do make at least 3/4 personal trips between LAX and EWR every year.

Eh if you don't value any of the FF earnings for those other airlines it's probably worth it on just one trip. I wouldn't make a habit of it though personally.

If you just fly between LAX and EWR the only thing you might get once you hit Platinum is the ability to buy PP and use 10 Plus Points each way to try and upgrade to business. That and the E+ for 8 companions are the benefits to count on.

I’d say yes (but note, until last year I was CVG, and barely flew DL so am used to connecting almost everywhere.). I’ve been everything from silver to plat in the last 10 years, if that gives any context.

Plat gets you PP (which is the only way to get upgrades without $ on the LAX/EWR route you fly for personal), higher priority, earlier CPU (which might be pretty moot most of the time, but might be helpful once in a blue moon), E+ at booking vs at T-24 (which is one of the best improvements between silver and gold, IME). I never used it, but I think plat also gets 8 companions into E+ with you vs. 1.

Unless you don’t think you’ll find yourself flying UA again before the end of next year, then I’d say it’s well worth it.

If you plan on flying UA often throughout the year, my opinion would be yes, take the connection. While Plat is only incrementally better than Gold, 1K is worth shooting for (320 PPs).

If you’re going to hit 1K soon regardless due to biz travel, then the connection for this specific trip is less clear cut.

OP is talking the difference between silver and plat, which is pretty significant, IME. Between Gold and plat, IMO, biggest benefit is PP and the +8 for E+. But (also IMO), silver to gold is a much bigger jump which is well worth it, especially for E+ at booking (we’re a family of 4, now based on SFO, so E+ at checkin is far from assured on most routes, so if we want E+, really the only way is to pay up).

OP talks about 3-4 PS trips a year, so even just gold for E+ on those is worth the extra connection on the one trip at least, IME.

The biggest plus for Plat is access to IN ... often forgotten, but quite impactful.

As Nancy Reagan said, just do it!
BTW, Mr. Kirby may be happy with your decision, too.

In my mind and possibly also in reality, there is no ambiguity or question.... definitely worth it.

It depends on whether you would be able to take advantage of the benefits going forward, as you should earn status on the airline/alliance you will use the most.

For one trip to get you there in the first quarter of the year, I would say absolutely make the connection. I am as pro-non-stop as the next FTer but an easy stop to get the status and be close for the next level seems an easy call if you will even remotely fly UA much again in the next two years.

I would take rank the hubs for connecting to LHR as 1 IAH, 2 EWR and then finally 3 ORD if still flying in winter as delays can happen, plus Polaris lounge at IAH has the best food IMO. YMMV...

- Agree on the connection for Plat/proximity to 1K (per my post above)
- IMO, ORD PL >> IAH PL > EWR PL
- For D—>I, ORD connection beats EWR (IAH easiest); for I—>D, ORD drops to 3rd.
All IMO.

Honestly, to be $3000 PQPs away from 1k would seem like a no brainer. The PPs alone are worth it. LAX-EWR you'll probably never get a free upgrade, but you'd be able to pay with PP if you'd like.

Yes silver to platinum is worth it.

The jump from Silver to Gold is the biggest one tier jump among the UA levels. Platinum is basically Gold with a bow on top as there isn't much difference between the two levels but I would absolutely take the connection if I were the OP.