Would You Buy 1K Status?
Jul 13, 2011, 2:44 pm
#31
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: K+K
Programs: *G
Posts: 4,871
i wouldnt buy it, but i would welcome it
people who dont fly that often hand over cash to UA ? why not ? more profits hopefully brings better service
people who dont fly that often hand over cash to UA ? why not ? more profits hopefully brings better service
Jul 13, 2011, 2:55 pm
#32
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: nobody
Posts: 1,837
I guess you could if you complaint enough on top of VDBs at every chance you can like when Aloha went bust.
Whether it is right or not, I will buy if the price is right. I assume everyone will do the same. It is no different than the way UA offering Premiere Access right now.
Whether it is right or not, I will buy if the price is right. I assume everyone will do the same. It is no different than the way UA offering Premiere Access right now.
Jul 13, 2011, 2:57 pm
#33
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SAN
Programs: UA 1MM/1K, HH Diamond
Posts: 6,832
It would not "bother" me, provided it was much like the prepaid offer, and not "given" away (ala ToD upgrades).
First, status is basically sold now... Its called buying a full F ticket.
Second, if someone wants to buy it and they don't travel much... then what is the difference. If they want to get "treated" like a 1K for a couple of flights, and spend a fortune, then more power to them.
Third, if similar to my second response, if they don't travel much, and wouldn't "earn" 1K.... they are really not flying enough to "impact" the system too much... other then giving UA a big stack of cash.
First, status is basically sold now... Its called buying a full F ticket.
Second, if someone wants to buy it and they don't travel much... then what is the difference. If they want to get "treated" like a 1K for a couple of flights, and spend a fortune, then more power to them.
Third, if similar to my second response, if they don't travel much, and wouldn't "earn" 1K.... they are really not flying enough to "impact" the system too much... other then giving UA a big stack of cash.
I would just add that as with most such questions in the form of "Would you like to see UA do X", where one stands tends to reflect where one sits. If you earned your status the "hard way," then you don't want to see UA give any shortcuts. If you have deep pockets, are looking to jump to UA, and plan a lot of flying in the coming year, then you would likely support the idea.
Jul 13, 2011, 3:24 pm
#34
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: Lifetime (for now) Gold MM, HH Gold, Giving Tootsie Pops to UA employees, & a retired hockey goalie
Posts: 28,878
Would You Buy 1K Status?
- I enjoy flying too much
- I enjoy the challenge of flying my 100k for the lowest total amount possible
- what would I do with my stash of Tootsie-Pops®?
Jul 13, 2011, 4:29 pm
#35
Join Date: Jan 2010
Programs: AA ExP
Posts: 170
Would I personally buy 1K status? Not likely, unless I was going to run a ton of segments and there wasn't a challenge offered.
Last year when I was ~6k miles short of 1k through abnormally high travel I took a mileage run for ~$260. So it was worth at least $260 for me.
This year I'll probably be ~35K short. I may run up to 75K if there a new level/CR1s but not likely all the way to 1K.
DO I feel that UA should offer 1K? Sure, like others have said, the buyers probably aren't going to fly a bunch so it's not going to disrupt the balance a much as long as it's in line with UA's other charges.
For example you can openly buy the "Economy Plus with Premier Fast Track" https://store.united.com/traveloptio...RM#prodDetails challenge $799, and after 15k you're a 2P (obviously calling and asking for a challenge is a better deal).
So I'm guessing it wouldn't be < $2500 (more likely $4k - $5k) and probably wouldn't include SWUs.
Last year when I was ~6k miles short of 1k through abnormally high travel I took a mileage run for ~$260. So it was worth at least $260 for me.
This year I'll probably be ~35K short. I may run up to 75K if there a new level/CR1s but not likely all the way to 1K.
DO I feel that UA should offer 1K? Sure, like others have said, the buyers probably aren't going to fly a bunch so it's not going to disrupt the balance a much as long as it's in line with UA's other charges.
For example you can openly buy the "Economy Plus with Premier Fast Track" https://store.united.com/traveloptio...RM#prodDetails challenge $799, and after 15k you're a 2P (obviously calling and asking for a challenge is a better deal).
So I'm guessing it wouldn't be < $2500 (more likely $4k - $5k) and probably wouldn't include SWUs.
Jul 13, 2011, 5:03 pm
#36
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 219
a thought on buying 1k, and how one _might_ justify it.
Starting job with heavy international y travel. No current status. Use CO to buy 1k for $7200, thus buying 6 swus. Apply to travel, earning more SWUs. I think $1200/swu would be a poor purchase, especially with UA sometimes
upselling F for $999, but some might not feel that way....
Starting job with heavy international y travel. No current status. Use CO to buy 1k for $7200, thus buying 6 swus. Apply to travel, earning more SWUs. I think $1200/swu would be a poor purchase, especially with UA sometimes
upselling F for $999, but some might not feel that way....
Jul 13, 2011, 5:26 pm
#37
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plat
Posts: 1,472
I think it could be compelling for UA to offer something like .04 cpm on EQMs at the end of the year for people that needed to up their status. It would eliminate the need to do MRs on slow years. US had a program similar to this when I was flying them.
Jul 13, 2011, 5:58 pm
#38
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: BNE/OOL temporarily-permanently at CAK/PIT
Programs: UA*1K & UA Club, National Ex. Elite, Hertz Pres. Circ., Amex Plat., CLEAR
Posts: 1,703
You can buy GS for around $50k - $100k. Just go find the most expensive F fare you can. 
Jul 13, 2011, 7:56 pm
#39
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ROC/NYC/MSP/LAX/HKG/SIN
Posts: 3,214
Mr. Smisek might really want to give this as an option too considering if Y/B trumps all the elites UDU migrate from CO to COUA, then the 1K UDU rate would go down, but the airline itself is making $$ out of people who want status even without stepping into the plane. This is a great business strategy, similar as Elite Maximizer, to maximize the profit without virtually taking any kind of financial risks(IRROPS, layover/hotel comp vouchers, VDBs, rebookings etc.)
Jul 13, 2011, 9:39 pm
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: body: A stone's throw from SFO, mind: SE Asia
Programs: Some of this 'n some of that
Posts: 17,263
Jul 13, 2011, 10:08 pm
#41
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,657
No. But I would probably consider flying something else because, it would also cheapen 1K.
Imagine if the Lufhansa Group sold HON status....LOL
US Airways can sell Chairmans because they are ghetto. No one can deny this.
< than $50K ought to do it. But here's the kicker : You still need to board the plane and fly the tickets. It is therefore earned by flying, BIS.
Imagine if the Lufhansa Group sold HON status....LOL
US Airways can sell Chairmans because they are ghetto. No one can deny this.
< than $50K ought to do it. But here's the kicker : You still need to board the plane and fly the tickets. It is therefore earned by flying, BIS.
Last edited by iluv2fly; Jul 14, 2011 at 6:37 am Reason: merge
.
Jul 13, 2011, 10:26 pm
#43
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Programs: AA EXP, SPG Plat
Posts: 1,472
Jul 14, 2011, 12:35 am
#44
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: UA Gold 1 Million Miler, CX Gold
Posts: 111
No! You need to fly to earn 1K.
Jul 14, 2011, 4:42 am
#45
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 6
1K status revisited
should that be an option to buy your status rather than earning it ? I think i might have spent over 8 g to obtain my 1K status