Is Premier Silver effective immediately upon reaching?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: BLQ/DEN
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum, United Premier Silver
Posts: 198
Is Premier Silver effective immediately upon reaching?
New to United. I’ve already met the 8 PQF requirement for Silver, and my next round trip flight will put me just 132 PQP short of the 3,000 requirement.
I’m trying to figure out if it makes sense to purchase preferred seating on this next flight to get over the threshold already. If I do, will my Silver status be effective immediately, or will I have to wait for 2023? If the latter, I’ll just wait for another flight — if the new status is effective immediately after reaching the threshold, I’ll most likely fork the money.
Seems like a basic question but I can’t find any answer online. Thanks!
I’m trying to figure out if it makes sense to purchase preferred seating on this next flight to get over the threshold already. If I do, will my Silver status be effective immediately, or will I have to wait for 2023? If the latter, I’ll just wait for another flight — if the new status is effective immediately after reaching the threshold, I’ll most likely fork the money.
Seems like a basic question but I can’t find any answer online. Thanks!
#2
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,914
New to United. I’ve already met the 8 PQF requirement for Silver, and my next round trip flight will put me just 132 PQP short of the 3,000 requirement.
I’m trying to figure out if it makes sense to purchase preferred seating on this next flight to get over the threshold already. If I do, will my Silver status be effective immediately, or will I have to wait for 2023? If the latter, I’ll just wait for another flight — if the new status is effective immediately after reaching the threshold, I’ll most likely fork the money.
Seems like a basic question but I can’t find any answer online. Thanks!
I’m trying to figure out if it makes sense to purchase preferred seating on this next flight to get over the threshold already. If I do, will my Silver status be effective immediately, or will I have to wait for 2023? If the latter, I’ll just wait for another flight — if the new status is effective immediately after reaching the threshold, I’ll most likely fork the money.
Seems like a basic question but I can’t find any answer online. Thanks!
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: SFO/SJC
Programs: UA Silver, Marriott Gold, Hilton Gold
Posts: 14,889
It’s pretty quick. Once the points post to put you over the threshold, it usually takes a couple (to a few) for status to propagate through the systems. But you get the benefits from then until the end of Jan the next year after. Status earned today would be valid through the end of Jan. ‘24.
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: BLQ/DEN
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum, United Premier Silver
Posts: 198
Thanks all! Sounds like it may be worth spending $132 on preferred seating so I can already enjoy Silver during the trip following this upcoming one.
#6
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,854
Will not work as pointed out
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jun 11, 2022 at 12:02 pm Reason: Will not work as pointed out
#7
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 21,406
Also, I don’t think any seating PQP would post until after the flight is actually taken. The benefit of spending $132 on seating fees on trip A is to receive Silver benefit at checkin for upcoming trip B, instead of having to wait to earn Silver on trip B and then use it on the following trip C.
#8
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: GVA (Greater Vancouver Area)
Programs: DREAD Gold; UA 1.035MM; Bonvoy Au-197; PCC Elite+; CCC Elite+; MSC C-12; CWC Au-197; WoH Dis
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#9
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.995MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,854
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: BLQ/DEN
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum, United Premier Silver
Posts: 198
Will not work as pointed out
Also, I don’t think any seating PQP would post until after the flight is actually taken. The benefit of spending $132 on seating fees on trip A is to receive Silver benefit at checkin for upcoming trip B, instead of having to wait to earn Silver on trip B and then use it on the following trip C.
nope — $132 is the dollar value required to clear the remaining PQP left for Silver. But I also misspoke, referring just to preferred seating while the purchase could also include economy plus. The trip is DEN-YVR, E+ ranges anywhere from $84-106, preferred seats are $15-27. I’ll buy a combination of two that clears PQP.
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,904
How well does this work if the following trip is already booked and relatively close to the current one?
On most airlines it takes some time for status to properly make it through the system, especially on existing reservations.
On most airlines it takes some time for status to properly make it through the system, especially on existing reservations.
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: BLQ/DEN
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum, United Premier Silver
Posts: 198
Also to clarify for everyone: I’m not expecting to reach Silver until this upcoming DEN-YVR round trip flight is taken. It’ll take both legs to clear PQP with seating purchases.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jun 11, 2022 at 1:26 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
#13
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: BLQ/DEN
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum, United Premier Silver
Posts: 198
So I ended up purchasing an E+ seat bundle ($165) and reaching Silver. The E+ PQP from my return leg posted today, almost 48 hours after the flight, so factor that into your plans if you intend to take advantage of seating purchases to reach status.
Upon second thought I realized I’m actually not so sure any more about business trips on United in the fall, so it made sense to preemptively spend my own money to secure some status through all of 2023.
Upon second thought I realized I’m actually not so sure any more about business trips on United in the fall, so it made sense to preemptively spend my own money to secure some status through all of 2023.
#15
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 36
Also, I don’t think any seating PQP would post until after the flight is actually taken. The benefit of spending $132 on seating fees on trip A is to receive Silver benefit at checkin for upcoming trip B, instead of having to wait to earn Silver on trip B and then use it on the following trip C.