Last edit by: JDiver
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Update: As of 22 Dec 2014, Trial Preferred is no longer accepting new enrollments. If you're currently enrolled in Trial Preferred, you'll continue to receive Preferred benefits and accrue toward status through the remainder of your Trial period. Your 2015 Preferred status earned through Trial will transfer to AAdvantage once we combine the programs in the second quarter of 2015.
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Try Preferred status on for size <Link>
Are you new to Dividend Miles? Enjoy the benefits of Preferred status now through the Trial Preferred program. Get priority check-in and boarding, unlimited upgrades to First Class and more during your 90-day trial period.
Here's how to get Preferred status
Choose and purchase your level of Preferred status, then fly with US. It's that easy to get all the benefits of Preferred status.
Learn more about Preferred
Upgrade to Preferred
Preferred status / cost Silver $200 Gold $400 Platinum $600
Then, over the next 90 days, fly a minimum number of miles on flights operated by US Airways or American Airlines to keep your Preferred status through February 29, 2016. If your trial began on or before June 30, 2014, you'll maintain your Preferred status through February 28, 2015.
The Trial Preferred program is the quickest way to get to Preferred status. Just enroll online to try Preferred on for size today.
Enroll in Tral Preferred
Terms & Conditions
This program is available only to non-Preferred members. Dividend Miles members must fly a minimum number of miles or segments to keep Preferred status for the remainder of the program year. Bonus miles earned based on class of service do not count toward Preferred status. Members may enroll in the Trial Preferred program only once in any consecutive 12-month period. Members who did not requalify for Preferred status for the current year are not eligible to participate in the Trial Preferred program. Only elite-qualifying miles earned on flights operated by US Airways, US Airways Express, American Airlines and American Eagle can be applied toward the Trial Preferred program. The program participation fee is non-refundable. Federal excise tax of 7.5% will be added to the purchase price. Only bookings made after the member's status has been upgraded reflect his or her new status. Preferred status earned through the Trial Preferred program is only valid in the Dividend Miles program through February 29, 2016 for members who purchased Trial Preferred after June 30, 2014. Members who purchased Trial Preferred on or before June 30, 2014 will retain their earned Preferred status through February 28, 2015. Associated First Class upgrade benefits are based on availability and only available on US Airways and US Airways Express-operated flights.
Wiki updated 7 Dec 2014
Update: As of 22 Dec 2014, Trial Preferred is no longer accepting new enrollments. If you're currently enrolled in Trial Preferred, you'll continue to receive Preferred benefits and accrue toward status through the remainder of your Trial period. Your 2015 Preferred status earned through Trial will transfer to AAdvantage once we combine the programs in the second quarter of 2015.
========================================
Try Preferred status on for size <Link>
Are you new to Dividend Miles? Enjoy the benefits of Preferred status now through the Trial Preferred program. Get priority check-in and boarding, unlimited upgrades to First Class and more during your 90-day trial period.
Here's how to get Preferred status
Choose and purchase your level of Preferred status, then fly with US. It's that easy to get all the benefits of Preferred status.
Learn more about Preferred
Upgrade to Preferred
Preferred status / cost Silver $200 Gold $400 Platinum $600
Then, over the next 90 days, fly a minimum number of miles on flights operated by US Airways or American Airlines to keep your Preferred status through February 29, 2016. If your trial began on or before June 30, 2014, you'll maintain your Preferred status through February 28, 2015.
- Silver: Fly 7,500 miles or 10 segments
- Gold: Fly 15,000 miles or 20 segments
- Platinum: Fly 22,500 miles or 30 segments
- Chairman's: Fly 30,000 miles or 40 segments
The Trial Preferred program is the quickest way to get to Preferred status. Just enroll online to try Preferred on for size today.
Enroll in Tral Preferred
Terms & Conditions
This program is available only to non-Preferred members. Dividend Miles members must fly a minimum number of miles or segments to keep Preferred status for the remainder of the program year. Bonus miles earned based on class of service do not count toward Preferred status. Members may enroll in the Trial Preferred program only once in any consecutive 12-month period. Members who did not requalify for Preferred status for the current year are not eligible to participate in the Trial Preferred program. Only elite-qualifying miles earned on flights operated by US Airways, US Airways Express, American Airlines and American Eagle can be applied toward the Trial Preferred program. The program participation fee is non-refundable. Federal excise tax of 7.5% will be added to the purchase price. Only bookings made after the member's status has been upgraded reflect his or her new status. Preferred status earned through the Trial Preferred program is only valid in the Dividend Miles program through February 29, 2016 for members who purchased Trial Preferred after June 30, 2014. Members who purchased Trial Preferred on or before June 30, 2014 will retain their earned Preferred status through February 28, 2015. Associated First Class upgrade benefits are based on availability and only available on US Airways and US Airways Express-operated flights.
Wiki updated 7 Dec 2014
Trial Preferred Status (merged) [Master Thread]
#451
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: AA EXP, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 313
I'm a casual flyer only, so getting status is tough. I signed up for trial late last May because I knew I'd be taking two transcons that Summer and wanted at least exit row seats. Paid off well for me even though it ends this month.
I qualified after the trial to keep silver but I'm still 9,000 miles short to qualify this year (I also got some miles for a trip to Turkey on TK) and not sure I want to spend $600 to re-up because right now I don't know what I'll be flying next year, but going back to dirt status is going to be tough.
The trick to get upgraded at check-in seems to be to check in as close to the 24 hour mark as possible. In fact, my successful ones were done right on the 24 hour mark before the flight, so they must hold back a seat or two during the sweeps and release them at check-in time.
- PHL-PHX (June) upgraded at checkin
- PHX-PHL (June) upgraded at checkin
- PHL-LAS (July) No upgrade, but exit row
- LAS-PHL (July) upgraded at check-in
- DEN-PHL (Oct) no upgrade but exit row
- PHL-CUN (last week) upgraded @ 48 hours
- CUN-PHL upgraded @ 48 hours
- PHL-MCO and back in two weeks (I'm 5 for 7 so far, will it mess up my record so far?!)
I qualified after the trial to keep silver but I'm still 9,000 miles short to qualify this year (I also got some miles for a trip to Turkey on TK) and not sure I want to spend $600 to re-up because right now I don't know what I'll be flying next year, but going back to dirt status is going to be tough.
The trick to get upgraded at check-in seems to be to check in as close to the 24 hour mark as possible. In fact, my successful ones were done right on the 24 hour mark before the flight, so they must hold back a seat or two during the sweeps and release them at check-in time.
#452
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: BGM/ PHL
Programs: US (Silver, *A Silver), AA, Starbucks (Gold)
Posts: 2,242
#453
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 238
Should I buy up status?
I'm a new USAir flyer member as well as a USairways CC holder. I'm wondering if it makes sense for me to buy up and if so, which to shoot for.
Here is the scenario:
I have several upcoming flights. Within 90 days from now I will have flown from PHL to Buffalo, Charleston, San Fran (x2) and Costa Rica. Ideally I would to be upgraded for these flights to reap the most benefit and it seems like buying status would make the most sense.
My questions are:
1. If I were to buy up to say, Gold today, I would reap the benefits of a gold membership for the next 90 days regardless of whether or not I got to 22k miles? Then, after the 90 days I would retain the Gold status if I had gotten to 22k?
2. Will I earn miles to contribute to permanent status during the trial period for flights that have already been purchased? Or must the flight be booked after I start the trial membership?
3. This may be a very basic question but, will I earn mileage by paying for other passengers' tickets? Furthermore, if I use my USAir CC to pay for tickets I will earn double miles. Will I also earn double miles toward retaining a permanent status upgrade or will the CC mileage bonus not apply?
4. Any idea what the likelihood is of being bumped up in class on a flight to Costa Rica? I've never flown there before and haven't the slightest idea how crowded it will be.
Thank you anyone that can give some friendly advice.
Here is the scenario:
I have several upcoming flights. Within 90 days from now I will have flown from PHL to Buffalo, Charleston, San Fran (x2) and Costa Rica. Ideally I would to be upgraded for these flights to reap the most benefit and it seems like buying status would make the most sense.
My questions are:
1. If I were to buy up to say, Gold today, I would reap the benefits of a gold membership for the next 90 days regardless of whether or not I got to 22k miles? Then, after the 90 days I would retain the Gold status if I had gotten to 22k?
2. Will I earn miles to contribute to permanent status during the trial period for flights that have already been purchased? Or must the flight be booked after I start the trial membership?
3. This may be a very basic question but, will I earn mileage by paying for other passengers' tickets? Furthermore, if I use my USAir CC to pay for tickets I will earn double miles. Will I also earn double miles toward retaining a permanent status upgrade or will the CC mileage bonus not apply?
4. Any idea what the likelihood is of being bumped up in class on a flight to Costa Rica? I've never flown there before and haven't the slightest idea how crowded it will be.
Thank you anyone that can give some friendly advice.
#455
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL, NYC
Programs: AA PLT, DL SLV, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH DIA
Posts: 10,085
Are you starting from zero miles or did you earn/fly some trips last year on USAirways? The buy up from zero to gold would be rather steep. Probably not worth it.
1.) Buying up to status today retains it until 2/28/13.
2.) It doesn't matter when you booked the flights if you're in a trial period. All that matters is you fly them during the trial period
3.) You do not earn status (known as preferred qualifying miles - PQMs) buying tickets for other people. You earn PQMs by flying on US Airways, or a Star Alliance partner like CO, UA, LH, etc. regardless who pays for the ticket. Double miles, unless explicitly advertised/promoted as PQM earning, do not count towards elite status.
4.) Being bumped up to First on a Costa Rica flight is unlikely unless there is an oversell situation, but on a flight like this I would think it's pretty rare. As an elite, however, you may get the free upgrade if the 12 seats up front don't all sell. You don't have to do anything to be in line for the free upgrade other than making sure your US DM number is in your reservation.
The only trip worth a good upgrade in your list is the Costa Rica flight because it's flown (via CLT) on the 757-200 with International Envoy seats. The Saturday only flight from PHL is operated on an A320 with basic domestic seating. The PHL-SFO flights on the A321 are nice, too, but the domestic F seating still isn't all that great and rather cramped in terms of seat pitch (i.e. spacing between rows).
1.) Buying up to status today retains it until 2/28/13.
2.) It doesn't matter when you booked the flights if you're in a trial period. All that matters is you fly them during the trial period
3.) You do not earn status (known as preferred qualifying miles - PQMs) buying tickets for other people. You earn PQMs by flying on US Airways, or a Star Alliance partner like CO, UA, LH, etc. regardless who pays for the ticket. Double miles, unless explicitly advertised/promoted as PQM earning, do not count towards elite status.
4.) Being bumped up to First on a Costa Rica flight is unlikely unless there is an oversell situation, but on a flight like this I would think it's pretty rare. As an elite, however, you may get the free upgrade if the 12 seats up front don't all sell. You don't have to do anything to be in line for the free upgrade other than making sure your US DM number is in your reservation.
The only trip worth a good upgrade in your list is the Costa Rica flight because it's flown (via CLT) on the 757-200 with International Envoy seats. The Saturday only flight from PHL is operated on an A320 with basic domestic seating. The PHL-SFO flights on the A321 are nice, too, but the domestic F seating still isn't all that great and rather cramped in terms of seat pitch (i.e. spacing between rows).
Last edited by PHL; Feb 6, 2012 at 7:32 pm
#456
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 238
Are you starting from zero miles or did you earn/fly some trips last year on USAirways? The buy up from zero to gold would be rather steep. Probably not worth it.
The only trip worth a good upgrade is the Costa Rica flight because it's flown (via CLT) on the 757-200 with International Envoy seats. The Saturday only flight from PHL is operated on an A320 with basic domestic seating.
The only trip worth a good upgrade is the Costa Rica flight because it's flown (via CLT) on the 757-200 with International Envoy seats. The Saturday only flight from PHL is operated on an A320 with basic domestic seating.
Also, not sure I'm totally clear on what you mean regarding the "saturday only flight".
Thanks
#457
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BWI
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond, National Emerald Executive, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 15,180
2. Will I earn miles to contribute to permanent status during the trial period for flights that have already been purchased? Or must the flight be booked after I start the trial membership?
3. This may be a very basic question but, will I earn mileage by paying for other passengers' tickets? Furthermore, if I use my USAir CC to pay for tickets I will earn double miles. Will I also earn double miles toward retaining a permanent status upgrade or will the CC mileage bonus not apply?
CC purchases are only for redeemable miles, not PQMs. However, if you spend 25k in a year, 10k miles will convert to PQMs.
4. Any idea what the likelihood is of being bumped up in class on a flight to Costa Rica? I've never flown there before and haven't the slightest idea how crowded it will be.
Thank you anyone that can give some friendly advice.[/QUOTE]
#458
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: BGM/ PHL
Programs: US (Silver, *A Silver), AA, Starbucks (Gold)
Posts: 2,242
4. Any idea what the likelihood is of being bumped up in class on a flight to Costa Rica? I've never flown there before and haven't the slightest idea how crowded it will be.
- Hub to Hub flights (e.g. PHL-CLT)
- Business/ Elite Heavy routes (e.g. BOS-PHL)
- Anything to Las Vegas
- Transcons (e.g. SFO/LAX/PHX-PHL) - even Chairmans miss these
You have much better odds on leisure routes (Florida or the Caribbean), other hub to spoke flights and US Airways Express 2-class service, which I imagine Costa Rica would be one of them. You really never know till your window comes, even then some silvers report getting upgraded at check-in or the gate.
Last edited by thomwithanh; Feb 7, 2012 at 9:34 pm
#459
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: PHL, NYC
Programs: AA PLT, DL SLV, UA SLV, MR LTT, HH DIA
Posts: 10,085
So, from 0 points, to get to Silver(25,000) you would have to pay $1499 and Gold(50,000) would cost $2499. If you wait until you take your first flight, those prices will go down to $999 and $1499 (see above link)
Not sure if that's worth it. You could take your flights and, when available, buy upgrades at the gate on day of departure if they didn't sell. They sell for around $200 each way for the longer trips.
Costa Rica nonstop flights operate from PHL on Satrudays only. They operate from Charlotte every day, so if you don't fly out of PHL on Saturday, you'll be connecting in CLT. That's what I meant.
#460
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: PIT
Posts: 759
Are you starting from zero miles or did you earn/fly some trips last year on USAirways? The buy up from zero to gold would be rather steep. Probably not worth it..............
The only trip worth a good upgrade in your list is the Costa Rica flight because it's flown (via CLT) on the 757-200 with International Envoy seats. The Saturday only flight from PHL is operated on an A320 with basic domestic seating.
The only trip worth a good upgrade in your list is the Costa Rica flight because it's flown (via CLT) on the 757-200 with International Envoy seats. The Saturday only flight from PHL is operated on an A320 with basic domestic seating.
#461
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: SEA/ORD/ADB
Programs: TK ELPL (*G), AS 100K (OWE), BA Gold (OWE), Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Plat, IHG Plat
Posts: 7,764
Why not do a challenge?
#462
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Purgatory
Programs: Too many to list. Status is a half dozen.
Posts: 9,236
I suspect OP means "trial" since 90 days is mentioned.
I definitely recommend doing the trial to silver (cheapest option) rather than to gold. You'll get exit row access and slim chance of an upgrade. Fly 7500 miles and you retain silver. As soon as you've flown 15,000 miles within the 90 days - which you will once you've flown most of your trips you've mentioned - you'll be bumped to gold anyway. Keep flying within 90 days and you'll possibly make platinum or chairman's.
I definitely recommend doing the trial to silver (cheapest option) rather than to gold. You'll get exit row access and slim chance of an upgrade. Fly 7500 miles and you retain silver. As soon as you've flown 15,000 miles within the 90 days - which you will once you've flown most of your trips you've mentioned - you'll be bumped to gold anyway. Keep flying within 90 days and you'll possibly make platinum or chairman's.
#463
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 238
I suspect OP means "trial" since 90 days is mentioned.
I definitely recommend doing the trial to silver (cheapest option) rather than to gold. You'll get exit row access and slim chance of an upgrade. Fly 7500 miles and you retain silver. As soon as you've flown 15,000 miles within the 90 days - which you will once you've flown most of your trips you've mentioned - you'll be bumped to gold anyway. Keep flying within 90 days and you'll possibly make platinum or chairman's.
I definitely recommend doing the trial to silver (cheapest option) rather than to gold. You'll get exit row access and slim chance of an upgrade. Fly 7500 miles and you retain silver. As soon as you've flown 15,000 miles within the 90 days - which you will once you've flown most of your trips you've mentioned - you'll be bumped to gold anyway. Keep flying within 90 days and you'll possibly make platinum or chairman's.
So just to clarify, you are saying that once you hit the trial number to obtain gold (15k), you immediately are awarded gold status? Or that status kicks in only after the 90 days? The reason I ask is because my trip to Costa Rica will still be within that 90 day period and if I have a better chance to get bumped up then it is of value to me.
#464
Join Date: May 2010
Location: CLT
Programs: US dirt (former CP), Marriott Gold, UA Prem Exec, Hyatt Plat
Posts: 86
Sorry I probably should have clarified. Yes I'm talking about the trial.
So just to clarify, you are saying that once you hit the trial number to obtain gold (15k), you immediately are awarded gold status? Or that status kicks in only after the 90 days? The reason I ask is because my trip to Costa Rica will still be within that 90 day period and if I have a better chance to get bumped up then it is of value to me.
So just to clarify, you are saying that once you hit the trial number to obtain gold (15k), you immediately are awarded gold status? Or that status kicks in only after the 90 days? The reason I ask is because my trip to Costa Rica will still be within that 90 day period and if I have a better chance to get bumped up then it is of value to me.
#465