Im a cold stone “numbers” guy as much as anyone, but I’m also acutely aware of how financial models only have so much utility. I’m certain United has modeled this from a bunch of different angles but there’s no chance they are accurately forecasting the impact of angering an alienating their very very best customers. My guess is there’s some sort of back tracking that will occur.

Case in point we saw Delta’s decision earlier this year, which I promise was modeled extensively, and then watched them backtrack as it exploded in their face.

Kirby, my man, this is on brand, and your brand is the type that has sunk many an airline.

I'm so glad I'm a 5 MM who doesn't have to play the "Will I Make GS this year" game anymore. Because of a change in my travel patterns, along with not having to be in the GS rat race, I no longer blindly book on UA and will pick DL/KLM/AF or other carriers if the fare and timing are better. I feel sorry for my fellow long-term GS who have spent way too much $$ and gotten way too little from UA and have now been slapped in the face by not getting GS.

EWR Flyer here.

8-9 years straight of GS except for 1 year and through challenge got it back by April.

2023 stats were 58,878 PQP & 64 PQF. Almost all of this is first class. 1.8 million miler to date.

8 of the 64 were business or first class international on UA metal.

Didn't get it.

Like others are saying, that's a big spend and a lot of jump ball mileage and flights that could have been on other airlines....

Spoke to GSMP and they claim there is a 72 hour secondary review that they will do. No clue of what that actually means and given some of the other stories today about similar numbers or high PQF versus PQP, it would seem the bar has moved this year for many of us who've spent real dollars on their airline to get kicked out.

There’s always other options. United is the primary airline there but it’s a large airport served by all US majors and several European carriers. I typically had to connect for most international flights anyway. I’d prefer to continue with United. But if their decision is final it won’t be hard to shift.

Yep, many in the same boat. I can be 1k early March. Then Concierge Key and Diamond Medallion by the end of summer. Sold all my united shares today as well. I think many of their biggest spenders will be splitting money spent.

when I called gs they said the challenge was 18k and began jan 1st to jun30th if I do the challenge does my gs expire in jan 2025 or jan of 2026 - need to know as if 2025 then prob not worth it to spend an extra 10k on the same flights for a status I will have for only 6 extra months.

Anyone thoughts to this? I have read all of the gs's post on flyertalk and all the years spreadsheets. Never created an account and talked with ppl, first timer writing!

I'm under a 72 hour secondary review here as well and will update

I wish you the best of luck

I requalified but have some colleagues asking about the challenge: spend 18K in February and you get GS until Jan 31, 2025 without spending another dime on UA? Hard to square that with folks with huge 2023 PQP not qualifying. In addition, a pure dollar-based challenge seems totally inconsistent with all the speculation that the new qualifying metrics are not dollar-based (not saying that this speculation is wrong, just that if it's correct, UA is discarding it for purposes of the challenge).

how on earth did you not requal? that is super surprising. wonder what they are measuring now? any thoughts?

I blame this all on Limey1K! He wanted less GS....Kirby says 'wish granted'.

Just got an email confirming the downgrade to 1K. Considering I qualified for 1K anyway the wording is a bit odd.

Dear villox,

We appreciate your commitment to United® and for making us your airline of choice so often throughout the years.

Based on your flight activity, we’re unable to offer you United Global Services status for 2024. However, we’re pleased to welcome you to Premier® 1K®, our highest published status level. You'll continue to enjoy Global Services benefits through January 31, 2024. After that, you’ll be welcomed to Premier 1K status which will continue to provide exclusive benefits that are designed to elevate your travel experience.

We consider many factors when finalizing United Global Services invitations including how much each Premier member has spent on United flights over the last few years. We’ll monitor your travel activity in 2024 with the hopes of being able to welcome you back to Global Services in 2025. On behalf of everyone at United, we greatly appreciate your loyalty and wish you all the best in your travels.

Best regards,
Your MileagePlus team

Something else to consider. The spend for Premier 1K is $24,000. So they are effectively saying to someone who spent double that +, you're the same status.

How does that make good business sense?

The 2024 status challenge is $18,000 PQP in any 120-day period between Jan 1 and June 30. UA made clear that you will not regain GS status until (not during) completing the challenge. What happens if you complete the challenge w/in the 1st 30 days of the 120 day period? Does your GS status re-activate once the 18,000 PQPs are flown or does one have to wait until the full 120 day period?

It's usually re activated hours after you meet the threshold.

I expected challenge to be higher this year honestly. 18k x 3 (to represent a year) is well below the number many of us attained without notching a re-invite. Based on all discussions above... UA should make the challenge 18k but only on 2 segments max (sorry, sorry...)