Agree with others here, this whole "lite" categorization doesn't make sense. Is someone who only buys full F fares for 66,667 miles "lite?" How about someone who uses a credit card offer for more EQM's? What about a mileage runner? What about someone that just buys L fares? What about someone who only flies full F but uses the double EQM promo for their last few miles?

So many choices...

Mostly foreign, but doesnt CO have a EQM earning restriction on discount fares not bought on their website?

I predict it'll be based on status. $599 for 1P and up, $499 for 2P and 3P, and $399 for GM. This will unleash a torrent of angry words from 1K members :)

Going OT here: As for "lite", it means earning status without spending enough time BIS. Exemptions from being called "lite" include 50K+/yr BIS GS and people who buy full Y/C/F fares. Nominated GS wouldn't call themselves lite, but we should :D

Credit card for EQM is definitely "lite" behavior.

As for MRers (myself included), I've not heard "lite" used despite that we tend to purchase L fares in bulk. The reason may be that we are the ones whose BIS are closest to EQM, so we suffered through the most takeoffs/landings and also suffering in the back without booze or food.

In summary, to be considered "hardcore", "righteous", or "keeping-it-real-dawg", you must either pony up tons of cash to UA or plop your derriere upon the hard cushion and assist in keeping E+ poachers out!

Yes, but that's it.

^ (tho i might end up with a fighting major over who is going to be the sole 1k :p)

^

^

^ (or flying oak-iad for $129 r/t [and getting on good morning america in the process])

how about me who has been a 1k for past 3 years (all on my own dime & 90% doemstic so i would think i earned it, don't you) and has been out of work for the past 18 months. i like my status and my status level and my loyalty to ua is to fly them. last year was a strech but i was able to do it at 107k bis but this year, it ain't gonna happen unless there is a deqm promo. will me earning 1k with a deqm promo make me any less of a loyal 1k flyer to ua next year than i am now? not bloody likely.

^ and see my comment above

yup and no matter what you choose, you've earned it.

Okay, let me now ask "is it worth doing...?" question. :D

Let's first assume that UA is offering DEQM/EQS promo again and it will cost me $599.

My current projected EQM this year (by the end of December) will be about 190K. So, I will earn additional 2 SWUs, but will be short of next set of two. I will also be short of 225K choice award.

Also assuming that DEQM promo starts mid-October (October 15th), I have following flights on UA left:

1) BKK-NRT-SFO-ICN in full fare Y
2) US west cost/central to CPT via Europe (Europe to CPT on LH)
3) BOS-BKK RT in full fare Y
4) One or two short UA domestic trips

So, from mid-October, my flights will yield about 40K EQM on UA only (without full fare 150% bonus). With DEQM, it's about 80K and with fare class bonus, it can get close to 100K EQM. By middle of October, I will have about 110K EQM.

This suggests that I will get extra set of SWU from reach 200K EQM, but will be short of 225K award level. So, is it worth for me to spend extra 600 bucks to get two additional SWUs and a shot at reaching 225K level?

My gut instinct says no.

That depends, how can you use your SWU's next year, and if you have a use for them, is each upgrade worth $300 to you?

My guess is that DEQM promo will be $599 or $699 with a couple of the lowest fares not eligible.

I'll make 1K without the DEQM promo and don't plan on using it. I used it last year and picked up ~20K miles on DEQM. I also did a couple of cheap transcon mileage runs during the DEQM window to make it.
This year, I've earned ~13K EQMs with the Chase MP Platinum Card (5k for joining, 5k for $35k in purchases, ~3k in United tickets). I will cancel the card soon and get another one early next year so that I can get the 5K EQMs for being a new member.

Both of the above programs make me a 1K lite in the eyes of some, and I don't see much difference in the ability to earn EQMs through either program. I fly on cheap tickets for leisure, although always on United. I suppose the lower fares also makes me a 1K lite.

There are a lot of aspects of the MP program that people can want to be tightened in order to limit 1Ks; the DEQM program is just another one to add to the list. If you want to complain about a program that creates 1K lites, I suspect that the Chase Visa card gets many more FFs to 1K status than the DEQM program.

If you had it your way, you'd only be 1K? Dare to dream! Go for GS! :p

And as the only GS, you'd have your own personal United agent all the time!

That title is just a little too "meta" for my taste. :p How about simply, "The double EQM Promo Speculation Thread."

I suspect it will be offered again but as others have suggested, probably at an even higher price than last year, i.e., another $100-$200 over last year's $499. Probably roughly the same time frame (late October - mid December) and probably some restrictions on eligible fare classes.

Will I use it? Last year I didn't, but this year I might need it. OK, so I'll be a 1K-lite then. It should be noted that when United started offering EQM promos big-time a few years ago (not just the year-end one, there were others that occurred mid-year), that's what got me hooked on being a 1K. So United's "cheap drugs," er, "cheap EQMs," have had the intended effect. :D

In my opinion, I doubt if there is much dilution to existing 1K's through the DEQM promotion or any other "lite" promotion.

In a given year, some 1K's get added, some 1K's drop off.

4,000 flights a day, 365 days a year, 46,000 1K's. Not all 1K's are competing for the same flights.

True, except when you're flying to/from SFO (and other major hubs) on aircraft like B737s and A319s/320s. ;)

This would be my definition of "lite", too.

And by the way, I'll wear my 1K-lite label with pride if I'm able to pull if off this year. As others have noted, the MP program is structured a certain way based on United's business objectives, and I'm not at all ashamed to play the game by the rules they've set up. Personally, I like the way it works today, as it's good for my travel patterns, but it wouldn't come as a big surprise if the changed it to make it more based on revenue. Hopefully, by that point I'll be working for someone who flies me everywhere on Y/C/F fares. :)

Back on topic: I hope they do offer DEQM this year, and I expect they will, albeit at a pretty hefty price. I may not need it, but I'd like to have some fallback options in case I can't quite hit 1K.

I do think it's fun, and just that, fun, to make a distinction between 1K and 1K-lite. This is because I think it's entertaining to distinguish between the people that are willing or by profession required to put their BIS for 1K and the people that aren't. I interpret this not as a value judgment on who's better or more worthy, but it is an amusing and descriptive distinction. BTW, I would absolutely include people who make 1K on the basis of Y/C/F fares as 1K-lite, by this definition.

UA should do what is best for the business. That may involve trying to keep frequent cheap-o fliers (like me) happy, or it may not. Maybe enough of us eventually go on to work for companies who will fly us in F/C/Y to make it worthwhile for United. Presumably, someone at United is asking these questions.

Similarly, I should do what's best for me. I like flying UA, but if cheap fares are "devalued" and I can't maintain my status with my travel patterns, I'm likely to consider other options. No hard feelings, just personal self-interest.