Premier Executive questions
 

Need 2K miles at a cost of $425 to get Premier Executive...

Questions...

100% Premier Executive mileage bonuses: Does this mean for every mile I fly I get I get 2 in my mileage plus account balance?

Star Alliance lounges: Can I use the Red Carpet lounges in US domestic terminals if I am flying internationally?

Upgrades: any chance of getting an upgrade on international flights if there is room?

Yes


Yes

Not without proper upgrade instruments (Miles/SWU).

i'll try:


100% Premier Executive mileage bonuses: Does this mean for every mile I fly I get I get 2 in my mileage plus account balance?

Yes.

Star Alliance lounges: Can I use the Red Carpet lounges in US domestic terminals if I am flying internationally?
I believe so, yes.

Upgrades: any chance of getting an upgrade on international flights if there is room?
You need to pay, use systemwide upgrade or miles - very hard to get a "comp" upgrade

Yes, fly one mile get 2 RDM

Yes, and all *A lounges

IMO, no improvement in OP-UPs. However, remmber with UA you can confirm an upgrade ahead of time with miles (in sertain fare classes).

I don't know if it is worth it. Seems like your biggerst advantage is lounge access, and you can still buy a RCC membership for 400.00 (sounds like you are 2P) and that way you would have domestic lounge access too. But YMMV.

Yes, you get two RDMs for every 1 BIS.

Yes, you can use RCC (and other, nicer *A lounges) in the US on same day int'l itin (though I think you only get RCC drink chits at the airport at which your overwater segment originates; YMMV)

1Ps don't get SWUs. If you get one gifted to you, you are higher on the waitlist than 2Ps. Also, for op-ups (which do happen).

There are two other benefits I like: reserving exit rows, and the 1P line connects to US agents 90% of the time.

This is purely anecdotal, but since I've been a 1P I've had pretty good luck with op-ups. Factually speaking, being 1P will put you higher on the list when op-ups are needed, but of course there are never any guarantees.

In addition to everything else that has been mentioned you also get the extra baggage allowances which for some (like myself) come in quite handy.

At the end of the day, you need to ask yourself if this all makes it worth shelling out the $425. I think a big factor in the equation would be how much flying are you looking at for '08?

Craig

Here's the overview of benefits from the Forum FAQ:

Mileage Plus Premier Executive

Mileage Plus Premier Executive [also known as 1P is the middle elite tier. You earn 1P status with 50,000 Elite Qualifying Miles [EQMs] or 60 Elite Qualifying Segments [EQS] in a calendar year (January 1st through December 31st). Your status is valid till the last day in February of the year following your “status year” [so if you earned status in 2005, your membership would be good through the last day of February 2007].

Benefits include:
Star Alliance Gold status.
100% Redeemable (RDM) Mileage Bonus on UA and US flights as well as transatlantic segments flown on LH.
72 Hour Upgrade Window when using 500 mile certificates or Y/B fare complimentary upgrade.
Earn four 500-mile upgrade certificates for every 10,000 miles flown on UA.
Discounted price when purchasing 500-Mile upgrades [$200 for four vs. $325].
Allowed to pre-book Exit Row seating on UA flights [I have also been able to do so on US flights].
Allowed to pre-book Economy Plus seating on UA flights.
Zone 1 Boarding Priority when flying in Economy on UA flights.
Priority boarding when flying in Economy on Star Alliance flights.
Priority check-in with UA and Star Alliance airlines.
Priority upgrade waitlist when there are no available upgrade seats on a UA flight.
Access to any Star Alliance Gold lounge when traveling on an international itinerary.
Additional baggage allowance (three checked bags or 20kg additional weight) on any Star Alliance flight.
Priority reservations waitlist when the flight or eligible fare you want on any Star Alliance member airline is sold out.
Priority standby at the airport (where allowed by law) for any Star Alliance flight if you are traveling without a confirmed reservation.
Discounted rate on United Red Carpet Club memberships [$350 vs. $500].
Access to a private, toll-free domestic reservations number.

Additional information may be found in the following threads:

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=599822
http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=748620

I hope the information in this and the existing threads provide enough information to make your choice.

FlyinHawaiian, Co-Moderator
United Mileage Plus Forum

You get 2 RDMs for every BIS flown ONLY if the flight is on 1) UA, 2) US or 3) LH (USA to Germany routes).