United MileagePlus has quietly extended elite status for select members, has extended the expiration of PlusPoints, and has lowered elite requirements for 2022.
In this post:
United MileagePlus elite status extensions
Over the past couple of days, many United frequent flyers started reporting that their MileagePlus accounts were updated to reflect an elite status extension. United has now confirmed that status has been extended for “select members who were not able to engage with United at their accustomed level due to pandemic restrictions.”
For the members who have benefited from a status extension, the status expiration has been extended by 12 months, from January 2022 through January 2023. Data points so far suggest that quite a few people have seen their status extended.
This will no doubt be controversial:
- United is extending status for some members, but not others, without disclosing what the criteria is for the status extension
- Many United elite members have spent the year trying to requalify, so clearly United waited until very late in the year to extend status because the airline wanted people to try to requalify for status
- It’s not clear yet whether United will do something significant for those who actually did requalify, rather than those who had their status extended for a second year in a row; in other words, could upgrades be prioritized for those who actually earned status the hard way, or something?
For context, last year United extended MileagePlus elite status for all members. Furthermore, earlier this year United announced it would extend invitation-only Global Services status by a further year.
United MileagePlus extends PlusPoints
It’s not just elite status that’s being extended, but also PlusPoints, which is the currency that can be redeemed for upgrades:
- PlusPoints that were due to expire on January 31, 2022, will be extended through at least July 31, 2022, which represents a seven month extension
- Global Services, 1K, and Platinum members who requalified for status this year will have their PlusPoints extended by a further six months, through January 31, 2023
United shares that all MileagePlus members with PlusPoints that expire before July 31, 2022, will have those PlusPoints extended to that date. The additional PlusPoints validity for those who earned status the hard way is at least a nice gesture, but I’m guessing most who earned status this year still won’t be happy with that.
United MileagePlus lowers elite requirements for 2022
United has also revealed that it will be easier to earn status in 2022, as the program will lower elite requirements in the same way it did in 2021 (it remains to be seen what kind of promotions will be offered beyond that).
Elite requirements will be reduced, regardless of whether qualifying based on a combination of PQPs and PQFs, or qualifying exclusively based on PQPs. Requirements are being lowered by somewhere around 33-43%, depending on the metric you’re looking at.
Here are United’s elite requirements for 2022:
- Premier Silver will require 3,000 PQPs + 8 PQFs OR 3,500 PQPs (previously it required 4,000 PQPs + 12 PQFs OR 5,000 PQPs)
- Premier Gold will require 6,000 PQPs + 16 PQFs OR 7,000 PQPs (previously it required 8,000 PQPs + 24 PQFs OR 10,000 PQPs)
- Premier Platinum will require 9,000 PQPs + 24 PQFs OR 10,000 PQPs (previously it required 12,000 PQPs + 36 PQFs OR 15,000 PQPs)
- Premier 1K will require 13,500 PQPs + 36 PQFs OR 15,000 PQPs (previously it required 18,000 PQPs + 54 PQFs OR 24,000 PQPs)
How does United’s policy compare to American and Delta?
Of the “big three” carriers in the United States, Delta SkyMiles was the first to fully extend status. The airline simply extended status by a further year. As an incentive to actually qualify for status, SkyMiles elite members who earned status this year will be prioritized for upgrades ahead of others within the same elite tier who just had their status extended. That seems fair to me.
While American AAdvantage hasn’t extended status by another year, the program has done quite a bit to make it easier to earn status:
- American AAdvantage members will have until the end of February 2022 to earn elite status, before introducing the new Loyalty Points method of qualification; this is in addition to American rolling over select miles from late 2020 towards this year’s status
- American AAdvantage has given members other easy avenues to requalify for status, including earning 2,000 EQDs or spending $15,000 on a co-branded credit card late in the year
As of now it sounds like United is somewhere between American and Delta when it comes to extending status — United is outright extending status, but not for everyone.
Bottom line
United MileagePlus has extended elite status by a further year for many elite members. We’re not exactly sure what metrics United is using to decide which status to extend, but if you check your MileagePlus account you should see if you were eligible. On top of that, PlusPoints are being extended by a further six to 12 months.
Lastly, United has lowered elite requirements for next year, to match requirements for this year. We’ll see how travel recovers, because I wouldn’t be surprised to see more promotions from the airline next year.
To United MileagePlus elite members, has your status been extended yet? How do you feel about this selective status extension?
So just looked at my card - still shows my 1K status expires on Jan 22. Going to miss 1K by 1 leg AND hit enough flights for fly to the finish - If they hold my at Platinum for 22 after that - I will not be a happy camper.
I have 8 PQS and 2800 PQP but my silver status apparently only runs "through 1/2022". I have no additional travel planned in December but do in January. If I get another 200 PQPs in January will that extend my silver status? Even though its only 24hrs, I usually can snag an E+ seat if I check in exactly 24hr before my flight. That's a pretty big benefit especially considering I will get back to almost Gold levels worth of travel in 2022.
I have seen many comments like above. Please lighten up and be less selfish and more generous, especially considering how tough the pandemic has made things for those less fortunate than we.
UA has changed the rules several during this pandemic that have mostly and...
I have seen many comments like above. Please lighten up and be less selfish and more generous, especially considering how tough the pandemic has made things for those less fortunate than we.
UA has changed the rules several during this pandemic that have mostly and variously benefited all or some members, so it unclear to me what is meant by "those of who did qualify under the rules they established". They established the rules, therefore, they are free to change them as they please. This time, I enthusiastically applaud the rules change, as one of "those of who did qualify under the rules they established."
I did 2 mileage runs to requalify for 1K under the Fly to the Finish promo and I just booked a trip to EZE that will give me the number of PQP needed to (re)qualify for 1K the "hard way". Along the way, I have collected boats of PlusPoints that I have already used (vide supra) to successfully request/sponsor upgrades to premium cabins for 6 individuals, myself included. I can do this because I am one of the fortunate ones. Therefore, I will not begrudge those less fortunate who could not Fly to the Finish or simply pay their way to status , and who, in an early Xmas present, have just had their status extended by UA.
It's the season to be jolly and generous, so I salute UA for its generosity that will contribute to making this season jolly for many!
This has nothing to do with being 'less fortunate'. This isn't a charity but frequent flier programs which should retain a value to those who do spend the money. UA is severely diluting the program for EVERYONE - and that should make folks that did go the extra mile (UA did enough promotions to make it easier) not happy. Nothing to do with being 'not generous'. I
I’m a non-US based 1K member, and with borders to the US only opening a month ago it was going to be impossible to make 1K even with the reduced requirements - I barely made Gold. Thankful to see status got extended because, had I wanted to, I would’ve made it the correct way but we just couldn’t.
I must be one of the UNLUCKY ones. I have a Club Card and am most of the way to re-qualifying for GOLD. But did not get extended.
Foreign based 1k members here. Manage to get the challenge (3k PQP) done before 30th Nov. 1k status should be extended though not appear on website yet; but digital membership card has updated. Also the PP was supposed to expired Jan 2022 now extended to 2023.
My Platinum status was extended to 2023. I’m at ~7500 PQP. One thought, at least in my case, is that they took into account the spend I control for family members. I.e. if they weigh the tickets I’ve bought on my account for kids and spouse.
Yes my family have their own independent Mileage Plus accounts, but I’m the one booking all the tickets and could in fact choose other airlines for our trips. I.e. Alaska for SFO to Sun Valley instead of United.
Any news if United will also waive the requirement to fly at least 4 segments on United (this requirement was waived in 2021)?
So some sad work flyer salesman who hasnt flown in 2 years now has the same status as someone who spent $15k this year.
Yeah that seems fair.
What if said "sad work flyer salesman" earned their status the hard way originally and then essentially could not use its benefits those two years?
If one is in a country that United has stopped flying to, or borders have been closed (ie. Japan, Australia), or even Europe or Canada, yes there have been limited opportunities and those extensions I have no issue with. After all it's not their fault.
If one is in the US and has stopped flying just because they are grounded for work, that in no way equates to "could not use benefits ".
These...
If one is in a country that United has stopped flying to, or borders have been closed (ie. Japan, Australia), or even Europe or Canada, yes there have been limited opportunities and those extensions I have no issue with. After all it's not their fault.
If one is in the US and has stopped flying just because they are grounded for work, that in no way equates to "could not use benefits ".
These people had plenty of opportunity to fly United over the last two years and have shown no loyalty unless their corporate overlord is paying.
These are the extensions I have an issue with.
For many months now my United Silver status has shown valid through Jan 2023, even though I haven’t come close to meeting the requirements for Silver. I was a 1K for many years until maybe 2019 or so, so I wonder if that had something to do with them extending me basic status through Jan 2023 many months ago with almost no flying.
I'm ok with this...
However, I re-qualified for 1K without needing an extension... So this feels a little unfair...
I hope United shows us some Loyalty as well... Since I ( and others who are flying) have shown loyalty to them.
Agreed and in the same boat...will see if United actually follows through on this, otherwise it's quite the deception on their part w/the promotions.
Same here. And, I'd just settle for finding a way to use my points plus! I found zero flights to skip waitlist. And, Im on my third flgiht with no upgrade despite being 1k.
I hope you are aware that Waitlist skipping is offered only to very few select international destinations and that it will cost you many more PlusPoints than waitlisting.
The way all cabin upgrades work is to just request them and then wait because no airline will make premium cabin seats available for upgrades until they are sure that they would not able to sell the seats. PlusPoints do not change that fact,...
I hope you are aware that Waitlist skipping is offered only to very few select international destinations and that it will cost you many more PlusPoints than waitlisting.
The way all cabin upgrades work is to just request them and then wait because no airline will make premium cabin seats available for upgrades until they are sure that they would not able to sell the seats. PlusPoints do not change that fact, unless you are extremely lucky and find an opportunity to skip the waitlist, which, again, remains rare and will cost many more PlusPoints depending on the intl destination.
In the past - before the pool got more diluted with what even UA said 'more status mentions that before covid' - you absolutely could find PZ+ on International routes. Another evidence of the dilution of the program by verbose extensions on top of all the promos
My gf is 1k currently and will requalify for 1k in 23 with our planned Xmas trip however that required the purchase of a Polaris ticket ... Wondering if she may get extended anyway if it makes sense to rebook in pre econ to save money...but how to tell if she'll get the extension?
GS here. They extended GS through 1/23 back in July. Likely would’ve qualified again anyway.
Currently Gold, but will qualify for Platinum before year end. It’s super annoying to think that I spent a LOT of money on flights this year and I’ll get no more reward than someone who hasn’t been on a UA plane in two years. United needs to do the right thing for those of us who actually helped keep the company in business this year - either prioritize us for upgrades, bump us one level...
Currently Gold, but will qualify for Platinum before year end. It’s super annoying to think that I spent a LOT of money on flights this year and I’ll get no more reward than someone who hasn’t been on a UA plane in two years. United needs to do the right thing for those of us who actually helped keep the company in business this year - either prioritize us for upgrades, bump us one level in status, extend us for an additional year to 2024, or deposit a large amount of miles in our accounts - as a thank you for actually being loyal customers.
Yes... exactly.
I hope UA finds a way to reward those of us who requalified 'the hard way' through $ and flights in 2021. 1K MM
Platinum here, flew twice this year, enough to qualify as silver, missed out on the recent promotion. My status got extended to 1/23.
Foreign based 1K Million Miler, nothing yet, fingers crossed, last flight Dec 15, 2019 before China Virus, haven't been able to get back since,
Nice! Good to see foreign based Trump supporters. Are you Turkish or Russian?
"Or who knows, maybe United is just targeting extensions to certain people, though I can’t imagine that will go over well."
This will go over as well as all the "targeted" offers you post about through Amex or any other credit card or site. I think I have qualified once or twice through the Amex simply because you had posted a "here" link and it allowed me. Other than that, I never see the offers and I do check.
I am happy to do some rather extensive reporting on my initial experience with...
I am happy to do some rather extensive reporting on my initial experience with PlusPoints.
First, the high variability in people's experiences with respect to how rewarding the very same loyalty perks can be never ceases to amaze me. We have purported "long-time" Hilton Honors "Diamonds" who claim to have never gotten a single suite upgrade, which is rather odd considering that I have cleared perhaps more than 80% of mine around the world since 2012, when suite upgrades became a HH Diamonds perk.
Now, we have someone asking whether PlusPoints, UA's new highly flexible and imaginative cabin upgrade instrument, "do anything". Based on my very recent experience, the answer is unquestionably, "Yes, PlusPoints do plenty, and there's been nothing in the history of cabin upgrade instruments that comes close to doing as much as PlusPoints do." Bear with me.
As I reported in this space, I had a total of 590 PlusPoints (PP for short), which I'd earned as follows
(a) 280 - already in my account from qualifying for 1K the prior year, just 10 of which I'd used due to no travel during the 1st year of the pandemic.
(b) 280 - after requalifying for 1K the "easy way" this year by earning just 3K PQP under UA's Fly to the Finish promo.
(c) 40 - after I flew some more and met the requirement for Premier Platinum the "hard way".
_____________
Total: 600 - 10 = 590 PP.
Then, when travel resumed in earnest this year, I decided to do something about the 270 PP from the prior status year that were due to expire in 01/2022. The remedy, which I immediately implemented, was to aggressively request upgrades for myself and to sponsor them for family and friends to fly before 01/2022. When I was done, I had requested/sponsored:
1. Two-way United Economy to United First upgrades for myself to fly LGA to ORD and back: 20 PP each way = 40 PP total.
2 Two-way United Economy to United Polaris Business upgrades for a friend to fly EWR to BOM and back: 40 PP each way = 80 PP total
3. Two-way United Economy to United Polaris Business upgrades for the friend's mom to fly PDX-EWR then to BOM and back: 40 PP each way = 80 PP total.
4. Two-way United Economy to United First upgrades for 3 family members on the same PNR to fly EWR to ORD and back: 20 PP per person each way = 120 PP total
Cumulatively, I'd requested/sponsored: 40 + 80 + 80 + 120 = 320 PP upgrades, which would consume the 270 PP that were due to expire in 01/2022 and dip into the newer batch that was to expire in 01/2023.
Here's the outcome, in the order in which the trips occurred:
1. Friend (EWR-BOM and back):
-- United Economy to United Polaris Business PP upgrade for EWR to BOM cleared at the gate. 40 PP deducted.
-- United Economy to United Polaris Business PP upgrade for BOM to EWR did not clear as cabin checked in FULL.
2. Friend's mom (PDX-EWR-BOM and back):
-- United Economy to United Polaris Business PP upgrade for EWR to BOM cleared at the gate. 40 PP deducted.
-- United Economy to United Polaris Business PP upgrade for BOM-EWR-PDX did not clear as cabins checked in FULL.
3. Three Family members (EWR-ORD and back):
-- All 3 United Economy to United First PP upgrades for EWR to ORD cleared 72 hours before flight. 60 PP deducted.
-- None of the 3 United Economy to United First PP upgrades for ORD to EWR cleared as cabin checked in FULL.
4. My own upgrades (LGA-ORD and back)
-- United Economy to United First PP upgrade for LGA to ORD cleared at the gate. 20 PP deducted.
-- United Economy to United First PP upgrade for ORD to LGA cleared 11 days before flight. 20 PP deducted.
Verdict:
Of the 320 PP upgrades requested/sponsored 180 PP or more than half cleared, which is tremendous if one considers the cost differential for flying in the premium cabins to which all 6 individuals were upgraded, at least one way!
But that is not all! My intention in so aggressively requesting/sponsoring PP upgrades was to use up the 270 PP that were due to expire in 01/22. After the flurry of activity just described, I still had 270 - 180 = 90 PP expiring in 01/2022, and that was the situation when I checked just yesterday. However, as @Ben just reported in this post and I can now confirm and add another data point, I just checked and now all my remaining 410 PP (590-180) are now being shown as expiring in 01/2023, which means that even the 90 PP that were due to expire in 01/2022 have been extended!!! So, it seems that PlusPoints are being extended even if one did not requalify status the "hard way"...
But that is not all! Because I flew quite a bit this year, the UA online status tracker shows that currently I have earned 13,502 PQP of 15,000 PQP, which means that I am "just" 1,498 PQP shy of double dipping and (re)qualifying for 1K the "hard way", and that milestone will come with another 280 PP. Combined with the 410 PP that I currently have, that will give me a total of 690 PP that will expire in 01/2023 !!! Believing, based my highly positive initial experience clearing PlusPoints upgrades, that getting the additional 280 PP is worth a mileage run, I have just booked a trip to travel in a couple of weeks to spend 7 days in one of my favorite cities in the world: Buenos Aires (EZE). With the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 beginning to make international travel increasingly uncertain, I have decided that this trip to EZE will be the extent of my year-end travels, which are usually multi-city and I'd intended this year to do in Eastern Europe rather than in Asia as in the past. That plan has now been shelved...
So,
I have provided my experience; you decide for yourself; but my answer is unequivocally: Hell, yes!
Below, I will try to provide links to screen captures that support at a glance everything that I just stated above.
I am not sure how this will work but I am going to use HTML to try to display right here screen captures that (a) show at a glance my initial PP upgrades clearance successes/failures, and (b) the current status of my PP bank and upgrade requests for my upcoming trip to EZE that have been waitlisted. It could be that the site has disabled the HTML tags for displaying images... Let's see.
(a) Initial...
I am not sure how this will work but I am going to use HTML to try to display right here screen captures that (a) show at a glance my initial PP upgrades clearance successes/failures, and (b) the current status of my PP bank and upgrade requests for my upcoming trip to EZE that have been waitlisted. It could be that the site has disabled the HTML tags for displaying images... Let's see.
(a) Initial PP U[grades Clearance Successes/Failures
(b) PP Status and Waitlisted PP Upgrade Requests for EZE Trip
Now we know that the HTML tags for displaying images inline have been disabled. Here are the links to the images, the old fashioned way. A picture is worth a 1000 words!
(a) Initial PP U[grades Clearance Successes/Failures: https://bit.ly/3dlzGMX
(b) PP Status and Waitlisted PP Upgrade Requests for EZE Trip: https://bit.ly/3rJMdlw
Thank you for posting. Helpful information. I do hope your double dip worked. I did fly to the finish and ultimately requalified "fully", but did not receive double Plus Points.
Haven’t flown United since May 2020, but status extended until 2023, I have a Club Card though with decent spend on it.
Currently Gold. Have had 3 RT between HNL and SFO this year. Participated in fly to the finish promo and paid for a first class ticket so I could reach the 1,400 PQP target. I just saw my Gold status extended to 1/23. Not sure if I was extended because of me reaching the 1,400 PQP with my Thanksgiving weekend flight or due to United extending status.
It makes complete sense now that you think about it, in July they started the fly to finish promotion (in July...) that was to end 30th of November, so they knew they would extend eventually, I suspect everyone will be extended.
1k, qualified for Platinum legitimately so far this year. Tried to Fly to the Finish for 1K but didn’t make it. But sure enough just got extended 1K to 1/23 and Plus Points to 7/22. Thank goodness for me. But feel bad for those who actually earned it.
It would be more valuable if they opened up skip the waitlist than just extending points plus. Clearly, they just want to suck us in and have no intention of us actually using them. As others have noted, I haven't been able to use them.
The idiot of the village: I can't locate the expiration date of my 1K status on united.com. Please help.
Thanks in advance.
Go to the link where it shows your actual MileagePlus membership card. Expiration date will be on it.
Tap on your virtual card on the app
1k and extended thru 2023 but pluspoints only until July 2022 in my account. Where my head is ready to explode is that I busted my butt to hit the Fly2Finish and I’m not sure it matters or counts! I called MileagePlus desk last week because one of my paid upgrades wasn’t registering the PQPs so they had to manually add it but the agent said “oh, I don’t think paid upgrade PQPs count as...
1k and extended thru 2023 but pluspoints only until July 2022 in my account. Where my head is ready to explode is that I busted my butt to hit the Fly2Finish and I’m not sure it matters or counts! I called MileagePlus desk last week because one of my paid upgrades wasn’t registering the PQPs so they had to manually add it but the agent said “oh, I don’t think paid upgrade PQPs count as PQPs for the promo”. What!? I’ve spent about $1000 on upgrades purely to get the PQPs. Even spent them on flights where I would have easily been upgraded as 1k. Have scoured the rules/regs and t&c’s but don’t see anything that would tell me that only some PQPs count for F2F promo. Frustrating. Anybody know?
Actually, paid upgrades usually don't count toward PQP, while 'changing' the flight and thus manually upgrading from, say, S to Z DOES (that's usually more expensive, versus the inline upgrades). UA can be nice and help unfortunately this is WAI.
I have earned 1k in 20 and 21. All my Plus Points were just extended through 1/23. So now that they are extending those who have not qualified what is United going to do for those of who did qualify under the rules they established? The Plus Points have been of no use on any long-haul flights although they have cleared for several shorter legs.
It seems like the only thing they ll do for those of us who actually qualified is a slap in the face.
Meanwhile some corporate drone who flew a few times in 2019 to present a power point will have the same status.
It sure would be nice if they would recognize those of us who have spent just as much if not more to re-qualify for 1K during 2020 and 2021.
I've been 1K for many years, but this year flew almost none. A few months ago, UA posted a "fly-to-the-finish" promotion that offered status extension for another year (thru 2022) if I spent a nominal amount (I think under $6000 until the end of the year). I flew twice on that promotion and re-qualified. I'm not sure whether everyone who didn't fly also got their status extended, but it would be mildly annoying to learn...
I've been 1K for many years, but this year flew almost none. A few months ago, UA posted a "fly-to-the-finish" promotion that offered status extension for another year (thru 2022) if I spent a nominal amount (I think under $6000 until the end of the year). I flew twice on that promotion and re-qualified. I'm not sure whether everyone who didn't fly also got their status extended, but it would be mildly annoying to learn that everyone re-qualified regardless of whether they flew at all, given the "special 'fly-to-the-finish' promotion". Otherwise, I'm quite pleased with UA in general. The service continues to improve.
Premier Platinum. Haven’t flown since February 2020. Extended until 2023.
Having qualified twice over the real way in both '20 and '21 this is now a bit maddening to continue extending status and also allowing so many more premier members at reduced levels. As others have said it is impossible to get an upgrade as a 1K already. I really hope there is a prioritization of those who have actually earned status.
Just checked and my plus points have been extended until July 2022. I have no flights this year but am a million miler, so I always get Premier Gold. Most of my flights are to Japan and Australia, both of which are closed, so happy for the extension.
United Gold. Have met qualifications for silver for 2022 and about 70% to gold. 1.5 international round trips this year and my gold status has not been extended.
Silver here. Haven't flown at all since early March 2020 and last UA flight was late Feb 2020. I do have 1 RT and 1 OW booked for Jan/Feb 2022. Status extended to 01/2023.
GS, earned 15k PQP this year. All my old plus points extended through 1/23.
I find them to be pretty useful to confirm upgrades in advance, just have to be a bit flexible to find PN space.
1K here - short of renewal due to low work travel (made it to Gold) and just got extended to 1/23.
Gold here. Flew w/ them once on a paid ticket, the rest (~5) flights have been on award tickets. Was due to expire 1/22 and now credentials say 1/23.
Dumb question...Where do you see expiration of status?
You need to go to the United app and look at your MileagePlus digital membership card. It has the "good thru" stamped on the card.
As others have said, do points plus do anything? I have over 500 in my account and still can't do anything with them. I sit on waitlists and 80% of the time, polaris is full. I am 1k and am lucky to be the 4th person down on the waitlist. Would love to see reporting on this.
I've gotten upgraded on every flight I've taken this year with PlusPoints, but I fly the LAX-NYC route and will change my flight the day before to one with the most empty seats in business class. So flexibility helps.
I do most of my travelling between UA hubs - IAD/ORD/DEN/LAX/SFO - and have the same experience. I have over 500 points and get upgraded maybe 10% of the time. It only seems to work if I am flying to a spoke airport or on a domestic widebody.
So good news they are extending PP expiration, but hope they follow Delta's model and prioritize those of us who earned 1K.
I re-earned Platinum status with Fly to the Finish this year, I wish they would simply give soft landings to those who didn't put in the miles. I flew over 100K miles in 2019, but didn't spend enough to make 1K. There's no way to have predicted the pandemic, but if I had known I definitely would have paid more to get 3 free years of PlusPoints.
@David and @mike, can I please get...
I re-earned Platinum status with Fly to the Finish this year, I wish they would simply give soft landings to those who didn't put in the miles. I flew over 100K miles in 2019, but didn't spend enough to make 1K. There's no way to have predicted the pandemic, but if I had known I definitely would have paid more to get 3 free years of PlusPoints.
@David and @mike, can I please get some points next summer? I'm planning on flying to the Philippines with my wife and newborn to introduce the in-laws to their first grandchild, could certainly use the extra space.
I requalified Platinum this year, I wish United would give soft landings to those who didn't put in the miles. I flew over 100K miles in 2019, but didn't spend enough to make 1K. No way to predict the pandemic, but if I had known I would have spent more to get 3 free years of PlusPoints.
@David and @mike - can I have a few points next summer? I'm flying to the Philippines...
I requalified Platinum this year, I wish United would give soft landings to those who didn't put in the miles. I flew over 100K miles in 2019, but didn't spend enough to make 1K. No way to predict the pandemic, but if I had known I would have spent more to get 3 free years of PlusPoints.
@David and @mike - can I have a few points next summer? I'm flying to the Philippines with my wife and newborn to introduce the in-laws to their first grandchild, we would definitely appreciate the extra space.
It is usually a good idea to find out how things so that you'd know both how to make the most of them and to better manage your expectations.
UA does prioritize upgrades based only elite status, as well. However, prioritizing by elite status does you no good if, as is the case...
It is usually a good idea to find out how things so that you'd know both how to make the most of them and to better manage your expectations.
UA does prioritize upgrades based only elite status, as well. However, prioritizing by elite status does you no good if, as is the case during most holiday seasons, premium cabin seats sell out on every flight - something that anyone can easily follow on the UA app because it shows
(a) the sizes of premium cabins (i.e., the total number of premium seats)
(b) how many seats have been sold, ergo how many remain
(c) and, on the travel day, (i) how many seats have been sold, (ii) how many passengers for those seats have checked in, and (iii) where you stand if you are waitlisted.
The process is, thus, completely transparent. If you fly out of GS-heavy or business traveler-heavy hubs, your chances of clearing any kind of upgrade instrument are low, unless you are a GS or traveling on an expensive ticket because, otherwise, you will always be toward the bottom of the waitlist.
With 320 PlusPoints, which are how many someone who earns 1K by fulfilling the official requirements automatically gets each year, I was about to request 6 two-way upgrades, for a total of 12, including 4 to an intl destination (2x EWR-BOM and back). First, you would not have been able to request so many upgrades with UA's prior 6 GPUs (or, for that matter, with whatever many upgrade instruments AA or DL give their elites). Second of the 12 PP upgrades requested, I cleared 7, including two to an intl destination (2x EWR-BOM) , which is simply remarkable and all I did was to request and wait. Third, through UA's generosity during the pandemic, I still have 410 PP remaining after clearing 7, so that I am still able to continue requesting upgrades, which I just did for a trip I've booked from NYC/NJ to EZE and back, and I like my changes.
Those are the facts and the reality. Bitching about PlusPoints after you are aware of how things work is an exercise in futility because that won't increase your chances.
G'day.
"... find out how things work so that..."
BTW, UA cannot prioritize those of [you] who "earned" 1K because, unlike DL, UA does not care about how anyone earned 1K. Once a 1K, one is just part of the same pool, with information on how one got there irrelevant, and that is how it should be. There should be no "classes" of elites, as that would be clearly discriminatory. Hilton makes no distinction whatsoever between those who earn status the "hard way" and...
BTW, UA cannot prioritize those of [you] who "earned" 1K because, unlike DL, UA does not care about how anyone earned 1K. Once a 1K, one is just part of the same pool, with information on how one got there irrelevant, and that is how it should be. There should be no "classes" of elites, as that would be clearly discriminatory. Hilton makes no distinction whatsoever between those who earn status the "hard way" and those who earn it through CCs. The status is promised, the status must be delivered in full when the qualifications, whatever they are, are met. And, any program is free to simply award status to any member if it wishes!