Define an EQS?
Oct 14, 2009, 7:27 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Seattle, WA USA
Programs: Marriott Gold, United Silver
Posts: 263
Define an EQS?
Can someone define Elite Qualifying Segment for me? Is it simply a one way trip or if I have layovers do I get an EQS for each leg of the trip. For instance is DCA-ORD-LAX one or two EQS's?
Oct 14, 2009, 7:30 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Programs: UAL IK;Marriott Plat Elite;Hyatt Diamond;Hilton Gold;Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 1,567
That would be 2.
Oct 14, 2009, 7:37 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Seattle, WA USA
Programs: Marriott Gold, United Silver
Posts: 263
Well I wonder how or if that will transfer over to Continental EQP's since there you only would get one.
Also make the case for potentially switching to MP from OP because I fly a lot of segments and not a lot of miles since I am doing almost exclusively US travel and live in the midwest.
Also make the case for potentially switching to MP from OP because I fly a lot of segments and not a lot of miles since I am doing almost exclusively US travel and live in the midwest.
Oct 14, 2009, 7:38 am
#4
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: MBS/FNT/LAN
Programs: UA 1K, HH Gold, Mariott Gold
Posts: 9,630
EQS: Earn .5 for each take off and .5 for each landing
. Unless the flight booked is a "direct" flight (not to be confused with non-stop), and this does not include unscheduled stops either.
. Unless the flight booked is a "direct" flight (not to be confused with non-stop), and this does not include unscheduled stops either.
Oct 14, 2009, 7:45 am
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Programs: UAL IK;Marriott Plat Elite;Hyatt Diamond;Hilton Gold;Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 1,567
Good point, jhayes_1780. If both segments have the same flight number, it would only count as one, but if they are just connecting flights, it would count as two.
I also am a mainly domestic flyer. For the first 6 years or so of my frequent flying, I qualified as a 1K based on segments. I have been qualifying based on segments and miles for the last few years.
I also am a mainly domestic flyer. For the first 6 years or so of my frequent flying, I qualified as a 1K based on segments. I have been qualifying based on segments and miles for the last few years.
Oct 14, 2009, 8:07 am
#6
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Harrisonburg, VA
Programs: UA 1K: since 2010
Posts: 234
I'd be curious to know what percentage of elite UA members qualify via the segment versus miles route? Is it 50/50? Anybody know?
Oct 14, 2009, 8:08 am
#7
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Oakland
Programs: Free Agent
Posts: 1,109
In your example: DCA-ORD-LAX (3) = 2 EQS.
Oct 14, 2009, 8:34 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Massachusetts, USA; AA Plat, DL GM and Flying Colonel; Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 24,233
I don't know the specifics of that poster's situation, but to me it would mean you have enough segments and enough miles to qualify on either. You probably would make it on one before the other - both on the same flight is possible, but unlikely - but if you're not moving up a level and you have them both by Dec. 31, that doesn't matter; you qualified on both.
Oct 14, 2009, 9:25 am
#9
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Bloomington IN
Posts: 882
Before the double EQM bonus that most airlines jumped on this year, I also used segments for 1K qualification. United usually allows "creative" routing, as long as your fare buckets can be found on each flight.
As an example: IND-LAX - traditional routing via ORD or Denver - two segments. For a segment run - IND-ORD-SEA-PDX-LAX-SFO -- five segments.
Yes, the fare is slightly higher but usually due to the airport takeoff/landing fees.
As an example: IND-LAX - traditional routing via ORD or Denver - two segments. For a segment run - IND-ORD-SEA-PDX-LAX-SFO -- five segments.
Yes, the fare is slightly higher but usually due to the airport takeoff/landing fees.
Oct 14, 2009, 11:06 am
#10
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Harrisonburg, VA
Programs: UA 1K: since 2010
Posts: 234
BTW, I recently did SHD-IAD-FRA-JNB-FIH instead of the usual SHD-IAD-BRU-FIH and collected 32,000 miles instead of 18,000 miles. In that case, however, I was trying to increase miles rather than segments.
Oct 14, 2009, 11:11 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Programs: UAL IK;Marriott Plat Elite;Hyatt Diamond;Hilton Gold;Hertz Presidents Circle
Posts: 1,567
Oct 14, 2009, 11:46 am
#12
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Harrisonburg, VA
Programs: UA 1K: since 2010
Posts: 234
Oct 14, 2009, 11:59 am
#13
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,136
Unless you're on a flight booked as the same flight # between DCA-LAX; then it would be 1 EQS, regardless of the stop in ORD. (I had that unfortunately happen to me one year when I was qualifying on segments; my corporate travel agent thought she was "simplifying" things to book it as the single flight #.)
Oct 14, 2009, 1:52 pm
#14
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Norfolk, VA
Programs: UA GS/1K, DL Gold
Posts: 3
I have been trying to figure out how I got .5 of an EQS too.
Oct 14, 2009, 2:12 pm
#15
Moderator, Omni, Omni/PR, Omni/Games, FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Between DCA and IAD
Programs: UA 1K MM; Hilton Diamond
Posts: 67,136
I am not sure about the .5 for each take off and .5 for each landing concept. I somehow ended up with .5 in may number of segments. I think I would have remembered not taking off or landing on one of my trips...
I have been trying to figure out how I got .5 of an EQS too.
I have been trying to figure out how I got .5 of an EQS too.
Even if you're not booking those, you can end up in full-Y and get the bonus due to rebooking during irrops. This is a "bonus" / pleasant surprise and not a guaranteed benefit, mind you, so if you don't get full Y on an irrop flight, don't go complaining to UA for it!