Originally Posted by ironmanjt (Post 35977162)

based on the posts upthread, it seems pretty well established that the corporate discount is an automatic excluder, or at least nearly automatic excluder. I know some people have thought CPM matters in the past, but there has been no anecdotal correlation, like there was with total united metal spend. we keep throwing CPM out there, but it seems the weakest data point we have so far.

Originally Posted by djmp (Post 35977170)

Is there any evidence that the corporate GS freebie nominations went away as part of corp deals? Maybe GS involves getting to the travel manager that holds those in the company.

Originally Posted by djmp (Post 35977170)

Is there any evidence that the corporate GS freebie nominations went away as part of corp deals? Maybe GS involves getting to the travel manager that holds those in the company.

Originally Posted by Rock214 (Post 35977241)

Is there any evidence that corporate GS freebie nominations even exist? Given that United jealously guards and controls its formula for handing out GS invites, do they really just hand out blank invitation cards for other companies to hand out to whomever they want?

Originally Posted by ironmanjt (Post 35977258)

Can confirm as recently as 2021 yep.

Originally Posted by Rock214 (Post 35977241)

Is there any evidence that corporate GS freebie nominations even exist? Given that United jealously guards and controls its formula for handing out GS invites, do they really just hand out blank invitation cards for other companies to hand out to whomever they want?

Originally Posted by jmn659 (Post 35977045)

Now that the dust has settled, I'm thinking about why this happened. I understand the corporate spend thing- United has just said no more double dipping for GS status. But why irritate a huge swath of good customers tgat didn't make gs that are spending their own money? Like many, I'm a decade plus GSer that got dumped to 1k this year. I spent pretty much the same as the last 13 years, so I was surprised. Got the challenge, will make it back in. But why did United do this? After thinking it over, I think United is doing this in preparation for 1k carnage next year. They can't very well up the 1k reqs if they are handing out GS for only slightly more spend. They are pushing us all up the dollars spent ladder and we are being pushed up in preparation for a massive 1k jump next year. There are way too many 1k, check the gate lice- I can say that because as of Feb 1, I'm another louse. Been wrong before, but I say the 1k spend is 32k+ next year and gs is achieved at 60-70k+. You think the whining is bad now.....

Originally Posted by ContinentalFan (Post 35977280)

I agree. I sense that there will be a major change to the top tier of the MP program. It will likely be announced in May. I bet they’ll segment the 1k program by spend.

Originally Posted by Rock214 (Post 35977241)

Is there any evidence that corporate GS freebie nominations even exist? Given that United jealously guards and controls its formula for handing out GS invites, do they really just hand out blank invitation cards for other companies to hand out to whomever they want?

Originally Posted by ironmanjt (Post 35977258)

Can confirm as recently as 2021 yep.

Originally Posted by United747 (Post 35977266)

Yes, without any doubt.

Originally Posted by bluedemon211 (Post 35977313)

All the more reason to get to lifetime 1K before they gut or disband that avenue to 1K.

Originally Posted by jmn659 (Post 35977045)

Now that the dust has settled, I'm thinking about why this happened. I understand the corporate spend thing- United has just said no more double dipping for GS status. But why irritate a huge swath of good customers tgat didn't make gs that are spending their own money? Like many, I'm a decade plus GSer that got dumped to 1k this year. I spent pretty much the same as the last 13 years, so I was surprised. Got the challenge, will make it back in. But why did United do this? After thinking it over, I think United is doing this in preparation for 1k carnage next year. They can't very well up the 1k reqs if they are handing out GS for only slightly more spend. They are pushing us all up the dollars spent ladder and we are being pushed up in preparation for a massive 1k jump next year. There are way too many 1k, check the gate lice- I can say that because as of Feb 1, I'm another louse. Been wrong before, but I say the 1k spend is 32k+ next year and gs is achieved at 60-70k+. You think the whining is bad now.....

Originally Posted by ironmanjt (Post 35977072)

Mostly agree with you, and I will be shocked if they don’t push up the requirements next year for one K. Entirely possible they are priming the pump with GS to be able to do that next year since they didn’t follow Delta this year.

however, I don’t think the whining will be as bad as you think. The reason Delta got impacted so badly is that there are probably hundreds of thousands of credit card holders who were impacted by the club policy. The number of 1K members will be impacted, of course, is significantly less. remember, to some degree FT and similar forums are echo chambers

Originally Posted by ContinentalFan (Post 35977280)

I agree. I sense that there will be a major change to the top tier of the MP program. It will likely be announced in May. I bet they’ll segment the 1k program by spend.

Originally Posted by ironmanjt (Post 35978422)

I would bet against that. With four published tiers (on top of general member!) plus GS, it's already a highly stratified program. I can't imagine adding more divisions within that.

Originally Posted by bmwe92fan (Post 35923091)

Actually I do -- it seems like a sucker bet to me and Kirby is milking it... I think UA has raised the bar but is tempting the past GS crew to keep their perceived benefits... As someone that has suffered through Kirby once before that isn't how it works with him.... The only thing I could see changing this would be is UA has a horrible first half of the year -- and people start to question their strategy....

Honestly -- if 1K could upgrade award tickets I wouldn't even consider spending $18k for GS -- but since we travel back and forth so much between NYC and TYO it's worth a thought... I realize we are an unusual case -- for once we are the 1% that it might make sense.... I spent $25k last year on personal travel on UA back and forth as a GS -- seems like a no brainer to me...

Originally Posted by Rock214 (Post 35977241)

Is there any evidence that corporate GS freebie nominations even exist? Given that United jealously guards and controls its formula for handing out GS invites, do they really just hand out blank invitation cards for other companies to hand out to whomever they want?