Is Silver worth it? {2022}
 

Is UA Silver actually worth wasted money on seat assignments? I couldn’t justify paying for E+ on a 3 hour flight unless I needed to work on laptop.

You can get free checked bags, group 2 boarding, and XN award space for $95 with the Chase card, so unless you’re taking advantage of same day confirmed changes, I wouldn’t burn more than $95 to achieve Silver

And many of us could not stand the thought of 10 minutes in an E- seat unless forced (thinking of CRJ200)


Appears the individual is going to get Silver eventual anyways so the credit card AF would be a wasted expenditure since those benefits come with Silver status.

If Silver is going to come organically this is mute (OP is seeking status before an upcoming flight), the only question is how soon and a credit card willn't help on that.

The value of SIlver as a status is a different question -- especially since in the normal flow of things it will happen.

Even then the same day confirmed change policy isn't that much of a difference. Unless the same booking code is available, you're still paying a fare difference whether you're a silver or general member.

I'd have to think that it would be a pretty rare occurrence for a general member doing SDC where the same booking code is available, but their original fare filing in that booking code isn't available on day of travel. I suppose theoretically if there was an advanced purchase requirement, then they could run into a fare difference despite same booking code availability when trying to SDC, but outside of that I'm hard pressed to think of a scenario where a gen member would pay a SDC fare difference but a silver wouldn't.

The suggestion wasn’t to get the card in lieu of Premier Silver but presenting it as a proxy for the marginal value of silver status.

OP should only buy seat assignments if the OP believes they’re worth the cost irrespective of PQP earnings, or if they’re somehow going to get concrete Premier Silver benefit one flight earlier (e.g., CPU on a flight at a time so horrific that the cabin will be sparse)

Most would base the value of UA Silver on the free access to E+ at T-24. A benefit not obtainable with a credit card.

It’s immediate. When I first qualified Gold, it happened to be on the outbound leg of a RT. As soon as the PQM posted (back then) I could go select a E+ seat on the return.

Fair questions regarding the value (or lack thereof) of $132 on seating assignments. E+ is pretty good IMO, and as WineCountryUA pointed out elsewhere, free access 24 hour pre-boarding with Silver is what makes Silver worth it (do not expect many more benefits from Silver beyond that -- although my partner was once upgraded as Silver on BOS-DEN, which was unexpected and welcome). I'll mull over it, but leaning toward it.

My question with regard to that. At T-24, how often are there anything but middle E+ available lately, given changes in consumer habits it seems more people are willing to buy up to E+ (and FC), to the point I see E+ mostly filled by the time check in opens. And then the question becomes, do you want the free middle E+, or to keep your existing aisle/window seat even if it isn't E+

As a Premier Silver I usually find a non-middle E+ seat at T-24, and keep looking for a better seat thereafter if necessary. I do check in as soon as the system will let me. I suspect the seats I get were often recently vacated by higher-level elites upgrading, if not showing on the seat map a day or two earlier.

To me, this is indeed the primary benefit of my status, so I do try to maximize it.

Of course, I don't travel that often, or I wouldn't be such a perpetual Silver. ;)

CPU is now run at T-24 h (used to be at T-23.5 h). So, it is a good idea to check-in at T-24 h and check the seat map often after that.

The other benefit is the priority handling of luggage. Your luggage may come out earlier (not always).

Being Silver definitely has its advantages. I think this is the lowest level that will permit me to premier check-in? Possible to get that from a CC?

Marriott Titanium grants you United MileagePlus Silver status.
I am not aware of any credit cards that grant airline status.

Doesn't the AMEX Centurion card come with DL Plat status? But if amended to "publicly available credit cards" then I think you're right.

I think it does, but obviously, Centurion isn't easy to get. I was asking about premier check-in. Not sure if any CCs provide it. I'm already a Silver so it won't benefit me anyway.

the Chase United Club Infinite will grant you Premier Access (check in, boarding (group 2), and bags). It’s $525/yr but also gives United Club access and a bunch of other perks.

The other cards (quest/explorer) only give you group 2 boarding.