Well, it can depend on what origin/destination you're working with. Hub to hub, (say SFO-ORD) can be overloaded with GS and 1K's. If you're not one of them, even if you have a paid F ticket, you may be in the way-back of group 1. At ORD, for a late afternoon flight to SFO on a Friday, that leverage may be worth squat for where your luggage can be, even if you showed up with what you thougt was time to spare.

Ten years ago, I was flying the ORD-SFO leg in a late afternoon flight on a Thursday. The line for the GS/1K pre-boards had over 55 pax. I counted them. I was in the tail end of the group 1 line. For whatever reason, my attempt for my bag to be near me in seat 4F was zilch. The FA in F made little attempt to help me, and after being pressured by her GA, insisted that I check may bag. I protested, politely, then more insistently. They checked my bag, and then it never appeared at landing at SFO. They couldn't find it for 2 days. I had over 2mm miles on UA at the time and some important academic papers for what I had been working on.

Needless to day, I was po"d and flew other carriers, mostly AA and DL. My policy of never checking bags was derailed by UA. I think I've only had 3 flights on them in the last 10 yrs, mainly because I couldn't get around avoiding them. I suppose I would have made lifetime 1K if I had stuck with UA, but .... Don't have much regret. Always walk with my fleet when I have been diss'd by an airline. So having an F ticket and showing up in a reasonable time at hub-hub routes is not a guarantee of happiness. And no, I could have spent enough to make 1K on some of those years to get to be a pre-board, but my capacity for forgiveness to UA went to zilch. I don't regret flying other carriers on the west coast, especially AS, HA, and AA. Funny thing, AS lets me board as a pre-board anytime I ask, no questions asked. Wished UA had done that. I''m approaching 1MM on AS and have already made lifetime EXP, as well as lifetime DL Gold medallion. Hope Kirby missed my $$.

I doubt UA focuses much on Canadians (speaking as someone who grew up there), mostly because there’s not a lot of benefit to putting many resources there.

While they do, for a US carrier, serve Canada relatively well, suspect most Canadian-based UA flyers are earning miles/status (for those chasing it) via Aeroplan anyway, flying mostly AC and UA to places AC can’t get them.

Is this just speculating about an imminent change to match DL?

Approaching the second week of November without an announcement. The longer the wait the less one would expect any (significant) changes vs what is for this year (2026 qualifications) in place.

I don’t expect any significant changes. If anything, with the shutdown, they may have to offer a reduction or bonus during what remains of 2025.

That indeed would be an interesting situation for the remainder of the year. :eek:

I don't expect any changes tbh, I think with that they did last year it'll definitely thin out the amount of status holders. In the meantime with my current trips booked I'm set to just barely make the 1K threshold the day before I embark on a new years cruise, even though I already past the segment requirement by over 20

I can't see that happening. Unlike COVID, there are still ample opportunities for folks to fly. Now, if there was a 25%+ reduction to flying, it could be a different story - but I would still not be supportive of it.

I agree that I don't see any changes, but the 10% reduction in flights isn't insignificant. Just too late in the year, and possibly resolved quickly enough, not to be an issue.

I don’t think the issue would be the 10% reduction, but probably enough folks - potentially particularly ex-IAD - that have travel canceled or unable to book due to shutdown by government. Not just actual government employees, but also contractors, etc. Also, a ton of people not getting paychecks for over a month isn’t good for any company business, especially leisure travel. Yes, they’ll likely get paid back eventually, but I do wonder how much this will affect holiday travel for those who haven’t booked yet and in that situation. Sure, they’ll get back pay eventually, but those trying to take vacations at year-end and don’t have the $ in their accounts now might skip the year-end travel that gets them over the line.

heck, I’m not even sure if I want to fly our Thanksgiving flights at the moment.

2025 UA did make earning status by credit card spend possible. That may counter any decrease in 1K numbers who did not make it ticket purchases.

Wow, mid November and still no word. I assume at this point they're crunching numbers with respect to the shutdown and what impact it will have on elite qualification, which is understandable. But I'm still not booking anything else in 2026 until I know.

It was a pretty big hike last year, so I'd put slightly better odds on no significant changes than anything else. Maybe another reduction to the February "jump start" deposit for existing elites, though that honestly is not likely a huge cost to UA.

Agreed. The PQPs via my credit cards are the only reason I expect to barely scrape across the line to 1K this year.

SIAP, but doesnt United normally announce changes in elite qualification in Oct/Nov?
 

I cant find anything on line - have they announced ?