The Consolidated "Is United 1K Status Worth It?" Thread [Merged]
Jul 27, 2007, 11:56 am
#76
Join Date: Apr 2006
Programs: AA, AS, TZ, UA, Clipper, EZ-Link, Hop, Navigo, Octopus, Oyster
Posts: 417
the elite check-in @ sfo does have separate lines for g/s 1k f & c. also, if you only have one carry-on bag, take a quick look to see if the "middle checkpoint" is open (between the 2 main ticket counters to the left of the gm security line) as it is generally not crowded along with taking a quick look at the checkpoint near the conencting walkway to the i/t.
Jul 27, 2007, 12:06 pm
#77
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: SFO
Posts: 390
Jul 27, 2007, 1:22 pm
#78
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
Jul 27, 2007, 5:03 pm
#79
Join Date: May 2002
Location: SEA
Programs: UA 1K MM, AS MVPG, SPG Plat, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 193
Thanks for the tips! ^ One question, though. I think I know the line to which you refer, immediately to the right of the all priority check-in line. I've only seen as listed for UGS and international first. Am I missing something or is there another GS/1K/F/C line that I have not seen?
Jul 27, 2007, 8:45 pm
#80
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SFO
Programs: UA 1K, SPG/Hyatt/Hilton Gold, Hertz #1 Gold
Posts: 115
I hear you, goalie, but sometimes they lump it all together @ SFO and just escort GS/intl F passengers to the front. This leaves us waiting with da' riffraff (a group to which I am a lifetime member otherwise). Maybe this only happens when a lazy or understaffed crew is working - I dunno. Not that there are really any lazy airport staff, anyhow.
the elite check-in @ sfo does have separate lines for g/s 1k f & c. also, if you only have one carry-on bag, take a quick look to see if the "middle checkpoint" is open (between the 2 main ticket counters to the left of the gm security line) as it is generally not crowded along with taking a quick look at the checkpoint near the conencting walkway to the i/t.
the entire area to the right of the elevator banks as you face the terminal is elite check-in and security and s/b open around 4:45 am (2p, 1p, 1k, gs, f (dom & int'l) and c [not sure about 3p tho]). i've used it many times at that ungodly hour
the entire area to the right of the elevator banks as you face the terminal is elite check-in and security and s/b open around 4:45 am (2p, 1p, 1k, gs, f (dom & int'l) and c [not sure about 3p tho]). i've used it many times at that ungodly hour
Jul 27, 2007, 10:04 pm
#81
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Programs: AA EXP, UA MM Gold, HH Diamond, Marriott Gold
Posts: 121
I was 1K 2004-2006 and was very pleased by the level of service and my upgrade odds, especially if I had planned in advance. I generally flew in business, and I didn't see many GS members (and I never felt like a second class citizen). As a (temporary) 1P, I find the phone service to be roughly equivalent to 1K (I've been told that it's the same reps for 1P & 1K, and I don't find hold times to be any longer), but I see a significant difference in upgrade clearances, and of course there's that red carpet...
Jul 28, 2007, 12:18 am
#83
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
I hear you, goalie, but sometimes they lump it all together @ SFO and just escort GS/intl F passengers to the front. This leaves us waiting with da' riffraff (a group to which I am a lifetime member otherwise). Maybe this only happens when a lazy or understaffed crew is working - I dunno. Not that there are really any lazy airport staff, anyhow.
. unless you're referring to a different line. 
Aug 8, 2007, 5:30 am
#84
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: San Francisco
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 6
The Consolidated Is United 1k worth it?
I have 1P status and might be able to reach 1k this year. Is 1k status significantly better? About half my travel is domestic (primarily SFO-JFK) and half international (primarily SFO-HKG). I have read the descriptions on the United website and can't tell, primarily because I do not know what is offered on the private 1k website.
Last edited by Robert_in_SF; Aug 8, 2007 at 6:17 am
Aug 8, 2007, 5:52 am
#85
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Greater DC
Programs: UA plus
Posts: 12,943
the private 1K website is a non-starter and should not be included in any consideration.
The value of 1K mostly depends on your travel habits and frequency/destinations. If you're a domestic traveller, the lift might not be much but if you do a lot of international, there might be value. If you like to walk on the red carpet you'd get that with the status and US based call centers that are a bit more knowledgeable/friendly.
The value of 1K mostly depends on your travel habits and frequency/destinations. If you're a domestic traveller, the lift might not be much but if you do a lot of international, there might be value. If you like to walk on the red carpet
you'd get that with the status and US based call centers that are a bit more knowledgeable/friendly.
Aug 8, 2007, 6:30 am
#86
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Programs: UA PM, DL PM, Bonvoy Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 1,293
I will be watching these responses with interest as I need to make this decision as well. Thanks for starting the thread.
Aug 8, 2007, 6:34 am
#87
Join Date: May 2004
Location: PHL
Programs: UA 1k, US ex-CP, NW silver, Marriott plat, SPG gold, Hertz 5*
Posts: 421
Upgrades upgrades upgrades.
6 SWUs a year
2 CR1s each quarter you reach 10k UA BIS miles
That plus priority for waitlists and better service. If you can hit 1k do it.
6 SWUs a year
2 CR1s each quarter you reach 10k UA BIS miles
That plus priority for waitlists and better service. If you can hit 1k do it.
Aug 8, 2007, 6:40 am
#88
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: MBS/FNT/LAN
Programs: UA 1K, HH Gold, Mariott Gold
Posts: 9,630
as well as
- access to 1K only award space
- hotel in irr-opps (including weather)
- waiving of TONS of fees (confirmed standby, ticketing, canceling/changes to award travel).
Aug 8, 2007, 6:44 am
#89
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
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Aug 8, 2007, 7:14 am
#90
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: UA 2K, 1.5MM, Hertz 5*
Posts: 130
This will be my fourth year hitting the 1K level, and I will definitely concur with the others who say the value is the upgrades. I fly domestic US as well as internationally (mostly Europe, occasional Australia and Asia-Pacific rim), and I find the upgrade vehicles to be awesome. I manage my SWUs carefully and try to use them on night flights to Europe, long Pacific hauls, etc.
Further, I'm a small business owner and almost always fly on non-refundable economy tix -- yeah, no GS for me. This is in order to keep the costs to my customers low. Thus, the upgrades are everything.
The secondary benefits, like hotels during irr-ops and the fee waivers, are also greatly appreciated, but they are secondary for me.
It's really rare that I actually fly in E+ (and pretty much never in E-). And my upgrade requests succeed in the order of 80% of the time.
So, if you value upgrades, then I'd certainly say it's worth hitting 1K. If you're happy in E+ domestic, not so much. Use your remaining flights to get status on another carrier that you'd fly often.
Cheers,
1Ken
Further, I'm a small business owner and almost always fly on non-refundable economy tix -- yeah, no GS for me. This is in order to keep the costs to my customers low. Thus, the upgrades are everything.
The secondary benefits, like hotels during irr-ops and the fee waivers, are also greatly appreciated, but they are secondary for me.
It's really rare that I actually fly in E+ (and pretty much never in E-). And my upgrade requests succeed in the order of 80% of the time.
So, if you value upgrades, then I'd certainly say it's worth hitting 1K. If you're happy in E+ domestic, not so much. Use your remaining flights to get status on another carrier that you'd fly often.
Cheers,
1Ken