Ok, I did :p

I know other airlines do a promotion (challenge) to reach the next level and it's free.
I think paying $600 for the same thing is not rewarding their good customers. Especially if you are going from 1P to 1K.
Also, what signal is that sending to UA customers to keep increasing the price each year? But, I guess by this thread there are people that will pay it.
Surely there is a better way then paying the $600. Thoughts?

$600 for the same thing? What do you mean? On AA you can do a Challenge, but that's the only one I can think of. Nonetheless that doesn't let you reach top tier, but only mid tier. I think you really can't compare the two, and I can't think of anyone else that does it.

Yes, it was AA and it was called Plat challenge and it was FREE.. ;)

First of all, you're jumping the gun. We don't know for sure that there will be a double EQM promo, nor do we know how much it will cost. $600 is only speculation (based on last year's fee of $499, preceded by $200, $150, and $100 in prior years, respectively).

Second of all, consider the cost and time involved in flying, especially near the end of the calendar year, when time to qualify/re-qualify is running short. Even if it DOES cost somewhere around $500-$600-$700 to get double EQMs, that's still a bargain under some circumstances.

For example, suppose I fly SFO-FRA roundtrip during the DEQM period. That's 11,396 miles roundtrip nonstop (or more, if I route it with stops, e.g., through IAD or whatever). An economy class SWU-upgradeable fare right now is (roughly) $800 for the dates I have in mind. So normally, I would get 11,396 EQMs for that fare. If I can get an extra 11,396 EQMs (or more) simply by paying a few hundred bucks fee, and that takes me over a status threshold (especially 1K), it can be very well worth the money. @:-)

You are a master, Kathy!

Makes sense... :)

I am in segment hell. I have 79 this year so far... It seems like eternity to make the next level to 1P. (100 segments)

I believe you mean 1K, since 1P is only 60 segments. :) Clearly you are disoriented from too many segments! ;)

Exactly... I am going SMF-SFO-DEN-ATL on Tuesday. :)

I am trying to make 100 Segments...

(I fly with a 1k most of the time so I get some of the perks and I am getting too use to it. :)

Wasn't the promotion announced around this time last year ?

9/28/06, taking effect 10/24/06

Maybe the elite challenge they offered in 2007 for the first time was instead of a Double EQM promo?

The elite challenge was free, while double EQM's means lotsa $$$ for UA. I don't think one is connected with the other, and if they were I would think they would do DEQM over a challenge.

Uhhh.... free? $99 raised to $299 (and $499 for 1K requals) is considered free these days? Oh, were I so rich that it were so!

I think it was just free for you since you didn't have to participate! :D

Ah, and I was thinking of the elite challenge like what AA does, which UA seems to have adopted in one way. No instead of just being comped to a status level you have to fly a certain amount of miles in 90 days. I forgot about that...

Well, the elite requal challenge worked that way - registrants had to fly a certain number of miles within 90 days to achieve 2P or 1P (or 1K, albeit only for ex-1Ks), and those with no current status were comped 3P for the 90-day period. Is there a separate (free) elite challenge as well?