hermiehug

I know it is still early in the year, but I'm currently on track for about 12,162 PQP and 12 PQF. I signed up for one of the cards that allow me to earn PQP, but that only count towards 1k status on the 13,500 PQP + 36 PQF criterium (not for the 15,000 PQP criterium, with no PQF requirement)

I would like to stay at 1k, but I don't really want to pay $2900 for an international Mileage Run, just for the benefits of 1k.

So - I'm wondering about a low-cost and low-effort way to earn 24 PQF. Any ideas?

Wooglin

Unless UA offers a promo like they did in Q4 2021 with the "Fly to the Finish" granted 2(?) PQF for CC spend, your only available option to earn PQFs are by physically flying 24 segments.

Low-cost is going to be relative to the flights you find and just booking far enough in advance is usually your best option for a run there.

What would you qualify as low-effort?

Shortest time you want to spend in the air on those 24 segments?

Most-desirable aircraft/seat you want to be in 24 times?

Highest density of scheduled flights that you could reliably plan to complete as many PQFs/day?

Or a particular hub(s) you'd really like to visit 12 times?

VegasGambler

I asked this in another thread but got no response -- I hope it's ok to ask here as well.

Are segments on UA bulk tickets subject to the same PQP caps (1500 / 750 depending on CoS) as other distance-based earnings? Or do those caps only apply to partners?

hermiehug

Yes, sadly I understand that this would require 24 physical take-off & landings. :-(
Ideally I'd like to get a special to fly many segments in one day, and I'm even willing to do a red-eye to get back to the East Coast. What I see on ITAsoftware / United website seems to be more than $200 for 4 PQF (e.g. ATL-IAD-LGA-IAD-ATL), so that would cost me $1200 for 24 PQF. That would cost 6 days of my life, and the price seems steep for the benefits of 1k over Platinum. (I already have 1MM = lifetime gold, and will achieve Platinum with my currently ticketed trips.)

Back to your question: ideally I'd like to complete 8 PQFs per day, at a cost of <$350. So my 24 PQF would cost me 3 days of my life + ~$1000. I don't care which planes and/or which airports.

And maybe the answer is to wait until later in the year, when United may announce some specials for earning additional PQFs.

United747

Earnings call today was incredibly bullish. I wouldn’t bank on any promos

DELee

I'd suggest by posting to the following thread what you're trying to accomplish (and remember to use the template in its wiki): UA/Star Alliance: 2022 Consolidated Mileage/Status/Challenge Runs help needed

And, as a Bay Area UA flyer, consider the following: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/34107319-post37.html. If you decide to re-position to take advantage of the proximity of airports on the East Coast, Kmxu has specific tips here: https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/34078215-post31.html.

David

VegasGambler

PHX-LAS can be cheap and requires transiting SFO or LAX as UA does not fly directly. Unfortunately the cheap fares generally have routing rules that only allow transiting one and not both (even though the fare rules allow 2 stops, the routing rules won't). I'm not sure if it's better or worse than SFO-LAX-LAS. The latter could be used to reposition for the former if the times work out.

WineCountryUA

PQFs are pretty much just flight segments.

There is a higher PQP requirement without PQFs for each level.

Depending your flights, SDCing domestic flights to add a connection can provide additionally PQFs

nmenaker

Quick question and sorry if this is the wrong thread.. I did do a search to try and find something more applicable but failed..so MANY PQF sand PQP threads!.

Having not really needed to do any mileage running for years, what with airfares as high as they are (and buying much more premium cabin seating than historical) I have a question about buying and paying for United metal tickets on a qualifying credit card and buying and paying for tickets and FLYING.. My wife is doing a lot more travel these days than I and I’m thinking about putting all HER tickets on MY Quest card for mileage earning and hopefully, PQP earning to one (my) account.. If I buy the tickets but I am NOT the one flying, do the PQP $$ spent count towards MY PQP earning requirement this year to hit Plainium (currently 10K$) where I’m already at $5300 on spend but all those tickets and flights were my spend for my AND her flights (traveling together)

Does the PQP spend on a qualifying credit card accrued to the account associated with the credit card regardless of if that person/mileage plus account is the one doing the actual flying?

I know I had I think a FOUR PQF requirement listed, but of course have fulfilled that already and will do SOME additional flying but not another 20 PQF…so I’m targeting what appears to be a PQP of 10K instead to qualify for Platinum

TIA for any response and MOD feel free to move this if you think there is a better suited thread

jsloan

PQP for flying goes to the person who flies.

PQP for spend -- 500 PQP per $12K in spending, capped at 1000 for the Explorer and 3000 (IIRC) for the Quest -- goes to the primary account holder on the credit card.

WineCountryUA

The flight PQPs flown by others will not count for you even if you book them from your account, those PQPs go to the traveler.

The credit card purchases PQPs can be from any purchase made with the card, does not need to be for travel or travel by you.

atomz4peace

Thanks to an expensive ticket, I am only 320 PQP away from UA Gold. The main goal is to get the extra leg room at booking and *A lounge benefits. I already got my 1000 PQP from the UA biz card but looking for any other way to get those missing points without flying. We have one RT SFO-ZRH in business but we're using miles on it.

I could not find anything online, but any ideas how to get those missing points? Does a mileage ticket count as one of the 4 minimum segments you need to fly?

Thank you!

cfischer

4 min segments needs to be on a ticket that earns miles. Award tickets don't count.

You might be able to buy an award accelerator w/ the award ticket which might be one way to get to the missing 320 PQP w/o flying.

WineCountryUA

PQPs can be earned by

• Paid flights -- Base fare + surcharge
• Including flights ticketed and operated by our Star Alliance™ partners
• Economy Plus® seating or subscriptions
• Preferred seat purchases
• MileagePlus Upgrade Award co-pays
• Paid upgrades on flights operated by United and United Express
• Chase MP credit card purchases bonus
• Purchasing Premier Accelerator PQPs

Two immediate ideas
Purchasing E+ seating for your upcoming flights if in economy
Purchasing a cash upgrade, even on a award flight (in business already)

atomz4peace

Thank you both for the ideas, we'll look into the upgrade options!