I was traveling yesterday and by the time I got home United had released 2 separate hits to their program.
The first bit of bad news is a minimum spend requirement on United issued tickets in order to get elite (Premier in United speak) status.
This is basically a match of what Delta did to their elite program.
This goes into effect in 2014 for qualification for elite status in 2015. You do not need to meet the spend requirements in 2013 for 2014 qualification.
You will need to spend:
-$2,500 on tickets+25,000 flown miles+4 segments on United to get Silver status.
-$5,000 on tickets+50,000 flown miles+4 segments on United to get Gold status..
-$7,500 on tickets+75,000 flown miles+4 segments on United to get Platinum status.
-$10,000 on tickets+100,000 flown miles+4 segments on United to get 1K status.
Government taxes do not count towards the spend requirement though fuel surcharges and economy plus upgrades do.
Tickets are United partners will count towards the spend requirement only if they are issued by United. There will be a calculator on United.com next year to keep track of your qualified spending on United tickets.
In other words they don’t want people flying on cheap fares to get elite status.
There are several exceptions and workarounds for the time being:
-This only effects members who are based in the 50 United States and D.C. If your Mileage Plus address is outwide of the US then this won’t apply to you.
-If you spend $25,000 on a United credit card like the Chase United Explorer in 2014 than you can earn Silver, Gold, or Platinum status without having to meet any minimum spend requirement on United tickets.
The good news there is that you also earn 10,000 bonus miles for spending $25K on that card within a calendar year, so you will earn 35K miles for that spending or a minimum of 1.4 miles per dollar spend everywhere which is not bad at all. It was nice that they made both of those thresholds coincide at $25K.
-If you have multiple United credit cards they will add up the total spend accross all of those cards and it it totals $25K then the United spend requirement will be waived for Silver, Gold, or Platinum status.
-If you have a grandfathered Presidential Plus card you can earn Silver, Gold, or Platinum status without having to meet any minimum spend requirement on United tickets.
-If you have the United Club or Presidential Plus card you don’t have to meet the 4 United segment minimum.
-Million miler lifetime elites aren’t subject to spend requirements unless they are trying to reach a tier higher than what they have with their lifetime status.
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The 2nd bit of bad news is that change fees on award tickets for non-elites go way up for ticket purchased on or after 06/19.
-Previously date changes were free if the new flight was more than 21 days away and you didn’t change the origin or destination. Now those changes are $75. This remains free for all elites though.
-Previously making date changes were $75 if the new flight was within 21 days away or you changed the origin or destination. Now those changes are $100 for non-elites. They remain $50 for Silvers, $25 for Golds, and free for Platinum and higher.
-Previously canceling an award and redepositing the miles was $150. Now a redeposit is $200 for non-elites. They remain $125 for Silvers, $100 for Golds, and free for Platinum and higher.
-Award close-in fees for awards booked within 21 days remain $75 for non-elites, $50 for Silvers, $25 for Golds, and free for Platinum and higher.
Award close-in fees are waived for United Club cardholders.
I definitely expect to see other domestic airlines to match the $200 redeposit fee in the days to come. Delta and USAirways have always charged $150 for date changes, so they are both more expensive in that department though American continues to offer free date changes (for now!)
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30 Comments On "A Double Whammy From United"
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Ever since United and Continental merged, it’s been all downhill.
@Bill in CLE:
Without a doubt. Bad for CO guys and bad for UA guys.
Consolidation is never good for consumers.
I expect things to get even worse once the AA-US merger is completed.
Wow, for my family of four redeposit fees would be $1,600. Ouch.
@azhoopsfan:
Why?
If a 1k books an award ticket for a non elite is the close on fee and change fee etc waived?
@Dan: hopefully us air and american don’t merge maybe all this bad news might make the justice department think twice look att and tmobile didn’t happen
@Donor:
Yes. When an elite books all elite benefits apply, including free bags and upgrades, etc.
@mike:
Only in our wildest dreams will it not pass.
Dan,
You mentioned that this kills the close-in fee work-around.
What was that workaround?
Don’t hold you breath on AA not matching this. Though I don’t see it happening prior to the merger, you can bet dollars to donuts it’ll happen after.
…but the good news is that JetBlue has eliminated the expiration date on their point system. No more loosing points after 12 months if you don’t fly or have their AMEX card. We took several hits by my kids not be able old enough to have a AMEX card and having 12 and 1/2 months since the last “flight activity”.
“Award close-in fees for awards booked within 21 days remain $75 for non-elites, $50 for Silvers, $25 for Golds, and free for Platinum and higher.
Award close-in fees are waived for United Club cardholders”
Dan, what do you mean by award close in fees? tickets purchased with miles within 21 days of departure date?
also does the United Club card entitle you to the waiver of other fees you listed above besides the award close in fees
@Yosef:
Was discussed at the DansDeals seminars 🙂
@Kevin:
Except that their points stink…
do u have any post about the benefits of being a united elite member,if yes where?
how was i able to get elite status before this new rull’s
i have the united club card, how do i get the close in fee waved with this card?
was discussed @ the dd seminor….
i wanted to buy it was all sold out… maybe dan another seminor.. in bp…
I now this is not the place for these questions however can anyone help me with how to extend my BA avios I no longer have there credit card
if your spending 25k you can spend it on the Club card if you have one and that will get you 47,500 miles
@Davidd:
Yes.
No.
@i like dan:
http://www.united.com/web/en-US/content/mileageplus/premier/default.aspx
@ihow:
Without a minimum spend requirement on top of flown miles.
It’s automatic if you’re the primary member when signed into your United account.
@Chaim:
Those miles are good for 36 months from when you last earned or spent a mile.
When did you last earn or burn?
@Anonymous:
No, only 37.5K.
If you spend exactly $25K the Club card doesn’t offer much more than Explorer as it doesn’t have the 10K bonus.
if i want to book a flight that i need an agent (2 segments to Israel with connections that the site doesnt pick up), is there a way around the $25 fee? ty
@Shalsheles:
The reps that call you back will waive the fee if you can’t book it online:
http://www.dansdeals.com/archives/20506
BTW, watch when you make a change on United. Was going to Israel today business. Decided to change to business tomorrow, clicked to change just flight to Israel. Paid the change fee. After clicking to OK and booking it, saw that it somehow changed my return flight to coach. Called United who told me they couldnt do anything and it would cost $3,250 to correct. Luckily was able to use miles and $450 to upgrade. United stated that once you change one flight, the other flight defaults to coach even if other flight was business!
Need advice ! I have the Club and Explorer which are due on 7/1/13 for the annual fee. I also have the Business Explorer which I have about 6 months. What do you think I should do especially about the Club as I don’t really travel right now. Tnx
@azhoopsfan: Living in San Diego, I often book one-ways instead of roundtrips since none of UA, AA or any other airline dominates the airport. For example, our trip to Hawaii next year is on United outbound, AA return. If AA matches United, a cancellation would cost me $1600 (4 people x 2 flights x $200).
WE THE PEOPLE! Stop the American Airlines/ US Airways Merger!!! The #newamerican is having a great comeback we don’t want Doug Parker!! Sign The Petition! the Open Petitions section of We the People, so be sure to share this URL:
Short URL: http://wh.gov/lOq0r
so if I spend 25k within a year on the card, what other requirements do I need to do to reach silver status?
@Dan
Does this change your opinion of the Presidential Plus?
I’m one of the Continental holdouts and my biggest value with this card is the United Club and 2 waived bags.
I know you went from Pres+ to Mileage Explorer Plus, is this the final straw (or the writing on the wall) that makes you go from there to a different airline card?
So if I spend 25k within a year on the card, what other requirements do I need to do to reach silver status?
Dan,
I have the United Presidential, and the Club card. I seem to understand from your post, that I will be able to transfer 75k EQM’s after 2014 without having to purchase $7500 in tickets to maintain my platinum status. Is that correct?
@sam:
Fly 25K.
@Steve (Lakewood Entre):
Nice name 🙂
You are correct, enjoy!
Dan, please reply to 22 above. Thank you !!!