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2024 UA MP elite status buy-up offers (for higher status than earned in 2023)

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Old Dec 26, 2023, 5:59 pm
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2024 UA MP elite status buy-up offers (for higher status than earned in 2023)

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Old Dec 26, 2023, 5:05 pm
  #1  
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Denver, CO, USA
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Exclamation 2024 UA MP elite status buy-up offers (for higher status than earned in 2023)
Hi all, been reading with interest everyone's experiences and would like your feedback on mine.

I'm a sad 2 PQF short of retaining Gold for 2024 (I'm set on PQP). Does anyone have any experience with buy-up status fees for such a small shortfall? It's about $400 RT anywhere for me to get those final two segments before the end of the year, but I'm guessing it may still be less expensive than what United may charge. Either way, I don't want to lose out on Gold next year - it's too much of an improvement over Silver, especially as I expect to travel a great deal more in '24.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!
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Old Dec 26, 2023, 5:50 pm
  #2  
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Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
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Originally Posted by randerson80017
Hi all, been reading with interest everyone's experiences and would like your feedback on mine.

I'm a sad 2 PQF short of retaining Gold for 2024 (I'm set on PQP). Does anyone have any experience with buy-up status fees for such a small shortfall? It's about $400 RT anywhere for me to get those final two segments before the end of the year, but I'm guessing it may still be less expensive than what United may charge. Either way, I don't want to lose out on Gold next year - it's too much of an improvement over Silver, especially as I expect to travel a great deal more in '24.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!
I would expect UA buy to significant exceed $400 unless your PQP is very nearly the Gold, 10K PQP only, number.

No one has any idea of UA's algorithm for 2024 buy up but you can review the 2023 thread, 2023 UA MP elite status buy-up offers(for higher status than earned in 2022)
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Old Dec 26, 2023, 6:00 pm
  #3  
 
Join Date: Aug 2023
Location: PHX/SFO/LAX
Posts: 85
Originally Posted by randerson80017
Hi all, been reading with interest everyone's experiences and would like your feedback on mine.

I'm a sad 2 PQF short of retaining Gold for 2024 (I'm set on PQP). Does anyone have any experience with buy-up status fees for such a small shortfall? It's about $400 RT anywhere for me to get those final two segments before the end of the year, but I'm guessing it may still be less expensive than what United may charge. Either way, I don't want to lose out on Gold next year - it's too much of an improvement over Silver, especially as I expect to travel a great deal more in '24.

Any thoughts?

Thanks!
I think $400 is worth it with the free access to E+ given the cost of subscription. Based on scanning previous year threads I don't think the buy-up is going to be as favorable. If you feel bad about spending the $$, maybe use miles for a quick round-trip if you find something cheap?
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Old Dec 26, 2023, 6:54 pm
  #4  
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Rochester, MN
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton HHonors Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,830
Itll probably be less expensive than what UA will charge, yes
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Old Dec 26, 2023, 7:01 pm
  #5  
 
Join Date: May 2008
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Programs: DL PM; UA 1K; AA 1MM
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OP, if I was in your shoes, I would 100% go fly those 2 PQF in the next couple of days. The difference between 'Gold' and 'not Gold' is, for me, pretty significant. And I expect any buy-up that may be offered to exceed $400 in price.

Of course, I can't know any of this to be true. But *for me* I would not gamble it (assuming it's feasible to fly those PQF at this time)
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Old Dec 26, 2023, 9:52 pm
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Rochester, MN
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton HHonors Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,830
I ended up in nana land between Silver and Gold. Will be interested in seeing what a b up offer looks like in Jan
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Old Dec 27, 2023, 1:36 am
  #7  
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Originally Posted by Hawkeyefan
I ended up in nana land between Silver and Gold. Will be interested in seeing what a b up offer looks like in Jan
*G is a massive jump over *S. I'll be shocked if UA gives you a good price.
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Old Dec 27, 2023, 6:56 am
  #8  
 
Join Date: May 2003
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Posts: 3,331
Originally Posted by MM_someday
I think $400 is worth it with the free access to E+ given the cost of subscription. Based on scanning previous year threads I don't think the buy-up is going to be as favorable. If you feel bad about spending the $$, maybe use miles for a quick round-trip if you find something cheap?
Agree with the recommendation!

It’s cool that award flights on UA count toward PQF and PQP for status requalification - do other airlines offer this perk?
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Old Dec 27, 2023, 8:23 am
  #9  
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Washington, DC
Programs: UA 1K 1MM, AA, DL
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Originally Posted by ty97
OP, if I was in your shoes, I would 100% go fly those 2 PQF in the next couple of days. The difference between 'Gold' and 'not Gold' is, for me, pretty significant. And I expect any buy-up that may be offered to exceed $400 in price.

Of course, I can't know any of this to be true. But *for me* I would not gamble it (assuming it's feasible to fly those PQF at this time)
Given how there hasn't been a truly normal year yet since UA redid the qualifying criteria, I do wonder what happens with people are are just PQF short. Do they determine the buyup offer as being short of the non-PQF threshold? I.e., OP would need around $2000 more PQD to qualify (I'm assuming OP is somewhere past $8k but well short of $10k). Because they can't really easily translate PQF to PQD as they can in just multiplying PQD shortage by some factor.
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Old Dec 27, 2023, 8:53 am
  #10  
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Rochester, MN
Programs: UA Silver, Hilton HHonors Diamond, IHG Plat
Posts: 1,830
Originally Posted by sapguy
Agree with the recommendation!

It’s cool that award flights on UA count toward PQF and PQP for status requalification - do other airlines offer this perk?
It is nice, you used to get nada on award travel.
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Old Dec 27, 2023, 9:39 am
  #11  
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 1K, Bonvoy LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 147
Originally Posted by MM_someday
I think $400 is worth it with the free access to E+ given the cost of subscription. Based on scanning previous year threads I don't think the buy-up is going to be as favorable. If you feel bad about spending the $$, maybe use miles for a quick round-trip if you find something cheap?
Also worth it for IRROPs priority rebooking, IMO. I'd 100% spend the $400.
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Old Dec 30, 2023, 4:51 pm
  #12  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 66
Is every MP member offered a buy up? I have a slightly different view. I am at 17K PQP and would need to get to 24K to maintain 1K into next year. Quite a ways off but my business will pay for it and I personally see 1K benefits. I do a lot of last minute flight changes, etc. and the 1K line + priority handling makes my travels much easier. I also used PP this year round trip to Europe for my family of 4. I know that is pure luck, but we received several thousand dollars of value. I would seriously CONSIDER most offers to maintain 1K.
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Old Dec 30, 2023, 5:10 pm
  #13  
Moderator: United Airlines
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
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Posts: 66,859
Originally Posted by lpro1111
Is every MP member offered a buy up? I have a slightly different view. I am at 17K PQP and would need to get to 24K to maintain 1K into next year. ...
No, not everyone will receive an offer. UA realizes some offers are just too ridiculous. but you could be in the $10K range.
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Old Dec 30, 2023, 5:11 pm
  #14  
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Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Honolulu Harbor
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 15,026
Originally Posted by lpro1111
Is every MP member offered a buy up? I have a slightly different view. I am at 17K PQP and would need to get to 24K to maintain 1K into next year. Quite a ways off but my business will pay for it and I personally see 1K benefits. I do a lot of last minute flight changes, etc. and the 1K line + priority handling makes my travels much easier. I also used PP this year round trip to Europe for my family of 4. I know that is pure luck, but we received several thousand dollars of value. I would seriously CONSIDER most offers to maintain 1K.
Do buy-ups get the PlusPonts?
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Old Dec 30, 2023, 7:56 pm
  #15  
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
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I believe you get all the tiered benefits
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