From 1K to Gold - An Accomplishment?
Feb 19, 2024, 2:06 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 5,577
From 1K to Gold - An Accomplishment?
Warning : Rant ( albeit a short one )
Recently I got a letter from UA, signed by Kirby, congratulating me for the accomplishment to have reached Gold level. It
also encouraged me to try harder to get to the next level.
I am confused.
This downgrade is hardly an accomplishment. I have been 1K for the past 17 years. But my flights are primarily between SE
Asia, Tokyo and HNL. Sadly UA no longer offers direct flights there from and to HNL and no more Intra Asian flights out of Tokyo.
So I am a very, very infrequent UA flyer now and the only reason that I am at the Gold level is because I flew more than a 1mm
miles on UA metal.
I wish UA would rely less on AI but rather check facts before sending out senseless communication.
Recently I got a letter from UA, signed by Kirby, congratulating me for the accomplishment to have reached Gold level. It
also encouraged me to try harder to get to the next level.
I am confused.
This downgrade is hardly an accomplishment. I have been 1K for the past 17 years. But my flights are primarily between SE
Asia, Tokyo and HNL. Sadly UA no longer offers direct flights there from and to HNL and no more Intra Asian flights out of Tokyo.
So I am a very, very infrequent UA flyer now and the only reason that I am at the Gold level is because I flew more than a 1mm
miles on UA metal.
I wish UA would rely less on AI but rather check facts before sending out senseless communication.
Feb 19, 2024, 2:36 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: UA 1K 2MM
Posts: 86
Similar situation, long-time 1K but didn't make it this (probably won't ever again). I qualified as Platinum but as a 2MM I got that anyways. I agree, would it have killed them to spend five minutes on a "shucks you didn't make it but try harder" message rather than the plain vanilla "congratulations" message?
Feb 19, 2024, 2:50 pm
#5
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
You could have dropped to Silver or general member, you earned Gold ... that was the accomplishment. You may not consider Gold an accomplishment but UA and others do.
Would you have preferred a letter stating ... too bad, you did not spend enough and UA knocked you down to Gold
And this is hardly AI, this is a letter that when to all Golds --- very, very simplistic (positive reinforcement) marketing.
"try harder" ...
That would have been received well (by no one)
And comments on FT toward "try harder" would have been quite harsh, deservedly so.
Eviscerated is a thought that comes to mind
Would you have preferred a letter stating ... too bad, you did not spend enough and UA knocked you down to Gold
And this is hardly AI, this is a letter that when to all Golds --- very, very simplistic (positive reinforcement) marketing.
That would have been received well (by no one)
And comments on FT toward "try harder" would have been quite harsh, deservedly so.
Eviscerated is a thought that comes to mind
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Feb 19, 2024 at 2:56 pm Reason: eviscerated
Feb 19, 2024, 4:00 pm
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Japan
Posts: 5,577
for the foreseeable future. Enjoying much superior conditions with Asian carriers. Less money as well, even in Bz.
p.s. don't say "never". With UA that's not written in stone as we know from the past.
Thankfully not. 1MM = Gold ( at least for now )
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Feb 19, 2024 at 4:35 pm Reason: merged consecutive posts by same member
Feb 19, 2024, 4:08 pm
#10
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Haze gray and underway
Programs: UA 1K 2MM, HH Diamond, Marriott 'clink clink' Titanium
Posts: 1,784
I don’t think it would hurt UA (to much) to throw the long term high mileage people an incentive. I know what a laugh.. Maybe a discount on club membership? Then again I could fly AA - gak!
Feb 19, 2024, 4:14 pm
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,478
So is this the first year UA has sent this particular message?
Indicative of an unusual number of status drops following implementation of significantly higher thresholds?
As far as incentives to do better this year, if anyone at UA seriously believes they've done anything over the past 14 months that will encourage me to direct spend back to UA, they need to put down the kool-aid and take a strong dose of reality check.
Indicative of an unusual number of status drops following implementation of significantly higher thresholds?
As far as incentives to do better this year, if anyone at UA seriously believes they've done anything over the past 14 months that will encourage me to direct spend back to UA, they need to put down the kool-aid and take a strong dose of reality check.
Feb 19, 2024, 4:33 pm
#13
Moderator: United Airlines
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: UA Plat 1.997MM, Hyatt Discoverist, Marriott Plat/LT Gold, Hilton Silver, IHG Plat
Posts: 66,859
No, status level letters have been common for (5+?) years
Learn all about your exclusive Premier benefits.
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You can also visit mystatus.united.com anytime for a complete overview of your Premier status benefits, to track your activity and find personalized offers from our partners. Looking for your digital membership card? You'll find it in the passes and subscriptions section of the United app.
Congratulations on achieving MileagePlus® Premier® Platinum status, WineCountryUA! A world of wonder awaits you every time you fly United. Watch your personalized welcome video to learn about all the perks of Premier Platinum status.
You can also visit mystatus.united.com anytime for a complete overview of your Premier status benefits, to track your activity and find personalized offers from our partners. Looking for your digital membership card? You'll find it in the passes and subscriptions section of the United app.
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Feb 19, 2024 at 4:46 pm Reason: removed personalized links
Feb 19, 2024, 6:27 pm
#14
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: BOS/SFO
Programs: United 4MM GS, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Lifetime Diamond
Posts: 307
You could have dropped to Silver or general member, you earned Gold ... that was the accomplishment. You may not consider Gold an accomplishment but UA and others do.
Would you have preferred a letter stating ... too bad, you did not spend enough and UA knocked you down to Gold
And this is hardly AI, this is a letter that when to all Golds --- very, very simplistic (positive reinforcement) marketing.
"try harder" ...
That would have been received well (by no one)
And comments on FT toward "try harder" would have been quite harsh, deservedly so.
Eviscerated is a thought that comes to mind
Would you have preferred a letter stating ... too bad, you did not spend enough and UA knocked you down to Gold
And this is hardly AI, this is a letter that when to all Golds --- very, very simplistic (positive reinforcement) marketing.
"try harder" ...
That would have been received well (by no one)
And comments on FT toward "try harder" would have been quite harsh, deservedly so.
Eviscerated is a thought that comes to mind