UA supposedly to offer status matches once US Airways leaves Star
#61
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: MCI
Programs: AA Gold 1MM, AS MVP, UA Silver, WN A-List, Marriott LT Titanium, HH Diamond
Posts: 52,550
Yep.. I only book saver economy, business, and GF on UA metal. The changes never affected me. I'm not too worried about increases on *A partner flights... fly them exclusively in econ anyway (most don't even have a business class with true business class seats (except for TK).
Sticking with UA for the sake of availability.
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2014: UA CPU 8/13 || UA PQM 19,469 || UA PQS 23.5 || UA PQD $3,835 || UA CPM $0.24 DEN|SLC|CLE|GRR|MCI|ORD|BTV|EWR|MSP|STL|IAD|LAX|SB P
Sticking with UA for the sake of availability.
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2014: UA CPU 8/13 || UA PQM 19,469 || UA PQS 23.5 || UA PQD $3,835 || UA CPM $0.24 DEN|SLC|CLE|GRR|MCI|ORD|BTV|EWR|MSP|STL|IAD|LAX|SB P
I don't know if the TK comment is what warrants an eye-roll, but the statement on availability seems right to me.
Greater than 3-4 years ago, I would have said AA was the leader in terms of availability, with the caveat that you had to call them for a lot of awards. But it hasn't been that way in a long time. I'm cautiously hopeful that adding all of these US-operated flights to the possibilities for award travel will raise my odds a bit, but I have yet to see it.
#62
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: LBB
Programs: UA 1K 1MM ★G | Marriott LTT | Hilton ♦ | Hertz PC | Global Entry TSA Pre ✓
Posts: 2,820
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2014: UA CPU 11/16 || UA PQM 23,758 || UA PQS 29.5 || UA PQD $4,398 || UA CPM $0.23 DEN|SLC|CLE|GRR|MCI|ORD|BTV|EWR|MSP|STL|IAD|LAX|SB P|SFO|COS|MSN
#63
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: IAH / HOU
Programs: UA GS, DL-Plat, Hilton Gold, IHG Platinum, Hyatt Somethingist, Marriott Titanium Lifetime
Posts: 2,853
This CO elite does not recall even a single split second where he fared better post merger. I'm sorry but what the heck are you referring to?
The fact I went from 80-90% CPU rates to ~ 25%?
Was it the IT system collapses during the merger period? The horrible collapsing of ops during IRROPS and the obliteration of on-time performance? The disintegration of benefits that smisek has put in place or the ticked off crews for the first 18 months of the merger? Sorry but I don't think any CO or UA elites fared better after the merger.
I can only hope and pray that your statement US elites will fare better post merger with AA now that I've made the switch is far more accurate.
The fact I went from 80-90% CPU rates to ~ 25%?
Was it the IT system collapses during the merger period? The horrible collapsing of ops during IRROPS and the obliteration of on-time performance? The disintegration of benefits that smisek has put in place or the ticked off crews for the first 18 months of the merger? Sorry but I don't think any CO or UA elites fared better after the merger.
I can only hope and pray that your statement US elites will fare better post merger with AA now that I've made the switch is far more accurate.
#64
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: SOF
Programs: A3 Gold, IHG Platinum, Marriott Silver
Posts: 849
Ok I take it back - UA seems to now have their own status match/challenge
http://www.united.com/web/en-US/apps...omoCode=TB8230
They've added US to the existing Delta challenge rules (funny enough they don't list what they'd match Chairman's to - it would be awesome if it were 1K)
The rules are basically free match for 90 days - then fly 7k/12.5k/18k on United to get Silver/Gold/Platinum respectively.
http://www.united.com/web/en-US/apps...omoCode=TB8230
They've added US to the existing Delta challenge rules (funny enough they don't list what they'd match Chairman's to - it would be awesome if it were 1K)
The rules are basically free match for 90 days - then fly 7k/12.5k/18k on United to get Silver/Gold/Platinum respectively.
I sent a follow-up message but haven't heard back yet as I fail to see why I'd have to satisfy the requirements of a challenge but not get all the benefits. On an annual basis, the miles flown usually correspond to the published levels for the tiers. I think when AA was matching 1Ks to EXPLAT, they got the full benefits. I'm looking forward to receiving the reply but under these terms, I probably won't do it. Not that I would end up buying W fares, so I can use those GPUs but the whole idea doesn't sit well with me.
#65
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: SNA and BNA depending on work and time of year
Programs: UA Silver/ AA EXP/Hyatt Globalist/Marriott Lifetime Titanium/Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,189
I agree with jjmoore on one thing: UA has been for 3-4 years and continues to be the best program for me in terms of availability. The fact that the entire alliance (or most of it anyway) is available online and the fact that one-ways are allowed make it a pretty valuable program to me.
I don't know if the TK comment is what warrants an eye-roll, but the statement on availability seems right to me.
Greater than 3-4 years ago, I would have said AA was the leader in terms of availability, with the caveat that you had to call them for a lot of awards. But it hasn't been that way in a long time. I'm cautiously hopeful that adding all of these US-operated flights to the possibilities for award travel will raise my odds a bit, but I have yet to see it.
I don't know if the TK comment is what warrants an eye-roll, but the statement on availability seems right to me.
Greater than 3-4 years ago, I would have said AA was the leader in terms of availability, with the caveat that you had to call them for a lot of awards. But it hasn't been that way in a long time. I'm cautiously hopeful that adding all of these US-operated flights to the possibilities for award travel will raise my odds a bit, but I have yet to see it.
Intra Europe on awards UA is the way to go. I looked at a RT AMS-LIS (got in on one of those P fare deals but don't want 10 days in AMS and LIS wasn't an option). UA wanted $43 plus 30K miles. AA wanted $250 plus 30K miles because of the stupid BA service charges.
Honestly the BA service charges is part of what's holding me back from committing completely to AA/US. Other things are the UA SDC policy which is better than any in the business, the award availability with *A, and the fear of the unknown with the merger because I can see AA heading down the same path as UA with harder to come by upgrades and such. So while I don't love UA, it seems like the policies I employ the most are better there than anywhere else.
#66
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BWI
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#67
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Upstate NY
Programs: US, UA
Posts: 1
Qualifying Flights
I switched from US to UA because I fly frequently East Coast to VIE and the fare doubled.
The UA match acceptance email says. "Please note that qualifying activity for this promotion includes only base PQM/PQS and class-of-service bonus PQM/PQS earned on flights operated by United, United Express or Copa, and credited to your MileagePlus account. Any other bonus PQM/PQS, promotional PQM/PQS, credit card PQM, or PQM/PQS earned on other Star Alliance carriers do not count toward qualification for this promotion." How do UA codeshares operated by other airlines figure into this?
The UA match acceptance email says. "Please note that qualifying activity for this promotion includes only base PQM/PQS and class-of-service bonus PQM/PQS earned on flights operated by United, United Express or Copa, and credited to your MileagePlus account. Any other bonus PQM/PQS, promotional PQM/PQS, credit card PQM, or PQM/PQS earned on other Star Alliance carriers do not count toward qualification for this promotion." How do UA codeshares operated by other airlines figure into this?
#68
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BWI
Programs: AA Gold, HH Diamond, National Emerald Executive, TSA Disparager Gold
Posts: 15,180
I switched from US to UA because I fly frequently East Coast to VIE and the fare doubled.
The UA match acceptance email says. "Please note that qualifying activity for this promotion includes only base PQM/PQS and class-of-service bonus PQM/PQS earned on flights operated by United, United Express or Copa, and credited to your MileagePlus account. Any other bonus PQM/PQS, promotional PQM/PQS, credit card PQM, or PQM/PQS earned on other Star Alliance carriers do not count toward qualification for this promotion." How do UA codeshares operated by other airlines figure into this?
The UA match acceptance email says. "Please note that qualifying activity for this promotion includes only base PQM/PQS and class-of-service bonus PQM/PQS earned on flights operated by United, United Express or Copa, and credited to your MileagePlus account. Any other bonus PQM/PQS, promotional PQM/PQS, credit card PQM, or PQM/PQS earned on other Star Alliance carriers do not count toward qualification for this promotion." How do UA codeshares operated by other airlines figure into this?
#69
Join Date: Feb 2011
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Hyatt Globalist, HHonors Silver
Posts: 189
Actually, I've been e-mailing with them and the last message I got from a Service Director is they would match a US CP status to UA 1K, HOWEVER, she was very elaborate in pointing out that the GPUs associated with it can ONLY be earned the usual way - by flying 100,000 miles or 120 segments and $10,000 spend. She did fail to mention what the mileage flown needs to be in that 90-day period BUT the other good news is if you qualify for any of those tiers - 7k/12.5k/18k or whatever k for 1K on or after July 1st, status will be good through the end of the following year, I. e. for 2014 that would be January 2016.
I sent a follow-up message but haven't heard back yet as I fail to see why I'd have to satisfy the requirements of a challenge but not get all the benefits. On an annual basis, the miles flown usually correspond to the published levels for the tiers. I think when AA was matching 1Ks to EXPLAT, they got the full benefits. I'm looking forward to receiving the reply but under these terms, I probably won't do it. Not that I would end up buying W fares, so I can use those GPUs but the whole idea doesn't sit well with me.
I sent a follow-up message but haven't heard back yet as I fail to see why I'd have to satisfy the requirements of a challenge but not get all the benefits. On an annual basis, the miles flown usually correspond to the published levels for the tiers. I think when AA was matching 1Ks to EXPLAT, they got the full benefits. I'm looking forward to receiving the reply but under these terms, I probably won't do it. Not that I would end up buying W fares, so I can use those GPUs but the whole idea doesn't sit well with me.
Thanks!
OM