GS status based on miles (not revenue) ?
Oct 19, 2009, 9:53 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: ASHBURN,VA,USA
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Posts: 405
GS status based on miles (not revenue) ?
The united FAQ on this forum suggest that GS status can be granted to people flying "lots of miles" rather than the expected "lots of dollars" ;-)
I am wondering if anyone in the community has experienced this ... how many miles did you had to fly ?
I never flew much beyond 100K per year before but I am getting close to 200K BIS this year and wondering if this could happen to me ..
I am wondering if anyone in the community has experienced this ... how many miles did you had to fly ?
I never flew much beyond 100K per year before but I am getting close to 200K BIS this year and wondering if this could happen to me ..
Oct 19, 2009, 9:57 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,939
Its a bit of both. Its a minimum number of BIS in specific high/full fare booking classes -- FACDYB. For example, I work with a GS that made it with two C-tickets to Asia.
Oct 19, 2009, 9:59 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Lahaina, HI & Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,403
Clearly if your miles were combined with a lot of miles on hi-yield fares (at least 50,000 miles), you have a chance. As you have undoubtedly seen on other posts in this forum, GS determination is somewhat of a black box.
Oct 19, 2009, 10:12 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
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I should have mentionned that in my case I have absolutely no full economy fares or premium cabin fares ... Just lots of discounted H Q V W T S and L fares primarily domestic flights (the few transatlantic fares I have are V or Q if I recall properly)
I guess I won't hope too much ...
I guess I won't hope too much ...
Oct 19, 2009, 10:21 pm
#5
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Lahaina, HI & Los Angeles, CA
Programs: UA GS
Posts: 2,403
You may be surprised
Don't give up. You never know......as I said, this is really a black box. GS was the last thing I expected to receive at the end of last year. I was totally shocked to see the designation on "My Mileage Summary" when I logged in on 12/31/2008. (I had over 250K BIS miles, but I had significantly less than 50K high yield miles)
The change in status did effect my flying in 2009. I flew 50K high yield miles this year to make sure I requalified for GS in 2010. In my case, I spent a lot more in 2009 than I would have if I had not been upgraded to GS.
The change in status did effect my flying in 2009. I flew 50K high yield miles this year to make sure I requalified for GS in 2010. In my case, I spent a lot more in 2009 than I would have if I had not been upgraded to GS.
Last edited by LAXOGG; Oct 19, 2009 at 10:49 pm Reason: Added thought
Oct 19, 2009, 10:28 pm
#6
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I should have mentionned that in my case I have absolutely no full economy fares or premium cabin fares ... Just lots of discounted H Q V W T S and L fares primarily domestic flights (the few transatlantic fares I have are V or Q if I recall properly)
I guess I won't hope too much ...
I guess I won't hope too much ...
there are a number of non-GS 200k+ (and more) FTers.
Oct 19, 2009, 11:29 pm
#7
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: SFO
Programs: United 1K, Marriott Platinum, SPG Platinum
Posts: 1,990
I am going to be at close to 200K EQM this year... would LOVE to get GS.... but not holding my breath - only two C tickets this year, and both were domestic.
Oct 19, 2009, 11:57 pm
#8
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: AAdvantage Gold
Posts: 1,615
i've ran into a few GS pax riding in F. They all said they got it by flying like 400K BIS miles a year. I guess, if you fly that much, you're pretty much a shoo-in.
So if I win the lottery tomorrow and want GS, can I just buy like four roundtrips in F to Australia from the US for myself this year and make GS?
I'd be contributing $100K revenue to UA and flying about 51K BIS miles...
So if I win the lottery tomorrow and want GS, can I just buy like four roundtrips in F to Australia from the US for myself this year and make GS?
I'd be contributing $100K revenue to UA and flying about 51K BIS miles...
Oct 20, 2009, 12:47 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Oct 20, 2009, 1:10 am
#10
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I've seen varying reports here on whether local station managers have any input into GS - or whether it is entirely the remit of WHQ and pretty automated.
(This is disregarding CIP's who often get GS as a bennie for being a big shot at a very important commerical UA account, and as we know that person might fly zero mies on UA and still get his card.)
Any thoughts?
i.e. might the UA manager of Argentina or Vietnam be able to endorse a handful of GS that may not have a hope of getting there if they were based out of DEN or SFO etc. . on either $$$s or miles on high yield?
(This is disregarding CIP's who often get GS as a bennie for being a big shot at a very important commerical UA account, and as we know that person might fly zero mies on UA and still get his card.)
Any thoughts?
i.e. might the UA manager of Argentina or Vietnam be able to endorse a handful of GS that may not have a hope of getting there if they were based out of DEN or SFO etc. . on either $$$s or miles on high yield?
Oct 20, 2009, 7:06 pm
#11
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Join Date: Apr 2009
Programs: AAdvantage Gold
Posts: 1,615
I've seen varying reports here on whether local station managers have any input into GS - or whether it is entirely the remit of WHQ and pretty automated.
(This is disregarding CIP's who often get GS as a bennie for being a big shot at a very important commerical UA account, and as we know that person might fly zero mies on UA and still get his card.)
Any thoughts?
i.e. might the UA manager of Argentina or Vietnam be able to endorse a handful of GS that may not have a hope of getting there if they were based out of DEN or SFO etc. . on either $$$s or miles on high yield?
(This is disregarding CIP's who often get GS as a bennie for being a big shot at a very important commerical UA account, and as we know that person might fly zero mies on UA and still get his card.)
Any thoughts?
i.e. might the UA manager of Argentina or Vietnam be able to endorse a handful of GS that may not have a hope of getting there if they were based out of DEN or SFO etc. . on either $$$s or miles on high yield?
United doesn't really lose anything at all here, he ain't gonna fly...
Oct 20, 2009, 7:37 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: HH Silver, MR Plat Prem & LT Plat, Hyatt Plat,SPG Plat, Hertz PC, National EE, UA 1K
Posts: 3,404
I fly mostly Northeast US and Canada in a mix of fares and made GS.
I spent a boatload of money with UA last year though-all short segments!
I am also CO* too! (I need to stay home more!!!)
I spent a boatload of money with UA last year though-all short segments!
I am also CO* too! (I need to stay home more!!!)
Oct 20, 2009, 11:49 pm
#13
Join Date: Sep 2009
Programs: UA GS>1K>Nothing; DL DM 2MM; AS 75K>Nothing>MVP
Posts: 9,341
Does anyone know of anyone with 250k EQM who is not GS. I'm wondering if there is some magic number of EQM that will get you in even if you only buy cheap seats.
Oct 21, 2009, 12:22 am
#14
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: BOS
Programs: AA EXP, UA 1K
Posts: 1,078
I don't think there is any sort of magic number that will get you in on thousands of miles worth of cheap fares. Those are the customers UA loses money on (because the SWU's they give them are worth way more than the revenue they get on an annual basis).
There is, on the other hand, a mysterious magic number of people who fly (almost) exclusively on high premium fares that only fly 30K BIS or so who have made GS.
There is, on the other hand, a mysterious magic number of people who fly (almost) exclusively on high premium fares that only fly 30K BIS or so who have made GS.