Here we are the end of the year and I have a quick decision to make concerning United MileagePlus: push for top-tier 1K status in 2020 or settle for Platinum status.
One of my commanding officers in the U.S. Air Force used to love saying, “A lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.” I cannot help but to feel this applies here. In fact, I feel foolish for letting this slide until the end of December.
In terms of stress and time for my other business, it has been a very hectic year. While always trying to think big-picture, I’ve been taking things one day at a time. That has prohibited me from planning most trips in advance. When it does come time to travel, it’s usually day-of, which means using miles often makes better sense.
Although I’ve flown a lot on United Airlines this year, I’m short of the PQM (premier qualifying miles) threshold of 100,000 miles to make 1K status. I have not done a “mileage run” in years, but am considering one now.
I currently stand at 72,961 PQM with a trip booked next week that will add 8,184 PQM, bringing me to 81,145 PQM. That puts me 18,855 away. Quite a tall task considering Christmas Eve is on Tuesday!
Consequently, I’ve got between now and Tuesday to squeeze in 18,855 miles. As I look at options, I’m trying to weigh my time with the benefits of 1K status.
Is It Worthwhile?
Are the PlusPoints (upgrades) worthwhile? How about the extra service? That’s a personal determination, but I want to take my family to Israel and would love to fly up front at economy class prices. I also want to check out United’s new Cape Town service from the front of the plane, not the back.
If I do take a “mileage” run, I’d like to review a new product, just because I’ve been grounded lately and am actually all caught up on trip reports for Live and Let’s Fly. We don’t really need new United economy or Polaris reports.
My Options
Ideally, I would knock this out in one trip, even if I had to spend a bit more for premium economy for the EQM bonus. Thus, I’m look eastward toward Asia and Australia. A trip to Sydney, Melbourne, or Singapore, with a stop or two enroute, would knock this out. On the other hand, I’d love to to head back to Frankfurt, my favorite stomping grounds. On the other hand, I’ll be back in Germany soon and this is really the kind of trip where destination does not matter because I don’t plan to leave any airports…if I take the trip.
CONCLUSION
Part of me says I should just take Platinum and be done with it. But leaving 1K on the table, especially when this might be my last time to qualify, is proving difficult…
> Read More: Fundamental Changes To United MileagePlus In 2020
It’s difficult to leave 1k on the table once you know the soft, as well as, hard benefits. Wife and I did a trancon last week to wrap up 75k on Alaska. It ended being a nice time in NY. As for you better get cracking as Christmas Eve is Tuesday.
It s*cks, it’s inconvenient, but if you find a good deal price-wise, do it.
This is the classic “is 1K worth $2500 and 2 days of my life” dilemma. Do you think you can actually get three upgrade seats to TLV? PZ availability is getting worse and worse.
Do it because it’s worth it! No regrets later! 🙂
So assuming you find 1.5x earning of PQM at a sensible rate… you’d still need 12 thousand + but in seat miles which is a full 24 hrs on planes at best…
Maybe fares to HKG are good but it’s gonna be spenny to do it in less than 48hrs.
I’m usually of the mind so say status is worth it but in this case,
Unless you can say how being 1K will for sure bring you 30 hours more of time with your family across 2019 don’t bother.
Sounds really urgent ……
Do it and enjoy it. A good old fashioned mileage run. This is how we fell in love with the hobby in the first place!
It would not be worth it to me to be away from family. Note that you could buy PQMs if it was important enough to you. But I had 3 GPUs I did not use this year, and while time will tell, I would be surprised if availability gets any better next year. So I am content with ending Plat. I’ve already been looking for PZ space in spring already and finding little.
Have been 1k for many years and am MillionMiler. My recommendation – enjoy the holidays with your fam, 1k is not worth the extra effort. You have lounge access and Econ plus access anyway. The global upgrade awards often times do not work on busy routes and times – unless you fly on weekends or odd routes it is a gamble. The one thing that is really nice is the 1k phone number. But I recommend you get the Chase United Club credit card and use that – the perks of the card are worth the price and cheaper than a milage run to earn 18k PQM.
You have to do it for the blog. It is basically the United blog and it would be absurd if you were not 1K. Where are you on lifetime miles?
1.3MN
I was planning on 1K again (for the last time) this year, but I hurt my back a week ago and could not do a MEL trip (a real vacation). I then looked at a LAX-NRT-LAX mileage run (this was a cheap P fare still available). It was almost enough. In the end I decided to go to PHX for some sun. 60K miles to go before 2M, which I will have to do as Platinum. I’ll miss the upgrade instruments! If you can do it, I would…
You’ve already made up your mind 🙂
Go for a SYD/MEL trip, and spend the time in PE/Biz clearing the backlog of trip reports. That’s productive – and it’s securing you that 1K status.
The emotional benefit of status has value, too – probably a lot more than people are willing to admit to themselves. It’s okay, though!
Do it.
Status is a pleasant thing to have. There was a time that I thought it didn’t matter to me. But it does. It is a good thing to have when something goes wrong. You don’t end up at the end of the line.
The miles that come with it is nice to play with once in a while, but for me the value is in the status.
I think the decision comes down to, can you realistically find 3 comfirmable upgrades to TLV? I suspect the answer is no, in which case, save the $2,500 and enjoy 2 days relaxing with Heidi and Augustine.
I tend to think the answer is yes. The question is whether it is worth the time or even worth the money for the upgrades. That is what I am on the fence about.
The TLV route is brutal. If you’re flying from SFO it’s a little easier, but there’s a lot of GS there.
Do it! 1K is worth it.
I dumped United after all the devaluations. Earning points on fare and the cherry on top of dynamic redemptions. While 1K (and Platinum) use to have close in few waivers now there is a mileage surcharge. However, if you can write this off as a business expense then it can be worth it.
Reader Jack (with a photo) has given a very real, true picture of the United MileagePlus program. Another thing you should ask yourself is in 2020 do you want to fly with United a lot or with its partners? If you know for sure you cannot do 54 segments, will not spend $24,000 on fare (excluding tax), and will fly with partners to qualify, then 1K is not very different from a regular Gold member. Think about it- will you call United reservation 1K line when flying with Asiana or Lufthansa? Will you get Economy Plus on Air China or SAS? Gold is good enough for you to use Lounge and have priority baggage when flying internationally. Last but not least, as reader Kacee mentioned PZ is harder and harder to find. Save your $$$ unless you have a budget with $25,000 to give United again next year.
THIS. I’m in the same boat as the OP, and the upcoming changes to the Mileage Program in 2020 are challenged by my ambiguous travel schedule, not to mention the global and regional upgrade programs never worked out for me. I’m sitting on the sidelines in 2020 with 1K. Let’s see how this all plays out – I expect changes to the program again in 2021.
@Matthew: I thought the article was written about someone else who is not sure what to do. It was you; so I am certain you don’t need much advice. My apology.
I would avoid SYD right now – blanketed in smoke from massive wildfires (called bushfires here). Not pleasant, even if you’re only at the airport. MEL is much more comfortable at present.
wrong about Melbourne, your dangerous comment should be deleted
I live in MEL – there is some haze, but nothing like the smoke Sydney is experiencing.
Matthew, the simple answer is no, it’s not worth it. 1K used to mean something but not nearly as much anymore. We all know you’re a huge UA cheerleader and let’s be honest, it’s blind loyalty. UA is not loyal back. Just so you know I like UA the most out of the three US legacy carriers. Spend time with your family and enjoy the time you have. The cash in pocket and time with loved ones is more important. One day you’ll wake up and say “I’m so blessed to have had these moments with my child” — not “thank god I obtained 1k for 2020 at the expensive of time with my wife and son”…no one will EVER say that
You didn’t mention PQD…are you over already? Or are you using a foreign address somewhere?
PQD met.
Depending on how much you value the GPUs, there is always the Award Accelerator – it’s expensive but at least you won’t have to take time away from your family to fly. I resorted to that for 10K PQM for US$1,450 to ensure one last year of 1K status after 10 consecutive years. (I won’t be able to qualify under the new rules of the 2020 program). And I’m still coming down to the wire; I’m a bit nervous that I need the PQM from a Dec. 31 Europe-Canada trip to reach 100K this year. (A minor medical issue caused me to cancel a 28K PQM trip a couple months ago, which hurt!).
I had the same issue. For a variety of family reasons, I wasn’t able to travel as much this year as I expected, but I anticipate it will ramp up next year, and if things go well, I should be able to requalify next year. I think I may be doing a fair number of PP flights, and trying to upgrade to C, so the points matter.
I wound up doing 2 RT to HKG plus a little baby premier accelerator to get the last couple of thousand miles. My wife wasn’t terribly happy with my doing them, but since I’m MM and she’s the beneficiary of my status, so she got over it (mostly).
I can’t justify it on a $$$ basis, but I just don’t want to be traveling without it, especially if I’m likely to requalify next year, anyway. It’s kind of weird thinking that I may never do another status run to Europe or Asia again. I’ve done so many over the years, it’s like an old friend. I’m more likely to be doing a segment run at the end of the year, which is how I got started in 1996, doing 6 west coast round-trips to LA and back one weekend.
Do it – you’ll regret not doing it.
I was also able to clear all four of the HKG legs, so a win all around.
Either take the extra trip or consider buying the PREMIER Accellerator Miles on the trips you already have scheduled. Sometimes they do not offer that many miles that you are needing, but sometimes they do. However, expect them to be quite expensive. A lot of them cost more than the price of a ticket. If you have a ticket booked for next year already, check the accellerator prices on those. As long as they’re purchased this year, they will count towards this year. (accellerator and premier accellerator miles only)
Take Platinum and be done with it; spend the time with your family, save the money. Going forward be more of a free agent, less tied to United/ Star Alliance.
That’s what I’d do…
I leave 1k this year, ams 7 GPU (now point equivalents) on the table. Could not use them, or justify buying upgradable tickets with return flights to Europe from SFO are $500. For that I can buy premium economy and Biz when need, and have been. I am now 75k miles level on One World and Star Alliance for next year. I love the BA Lounge in SFO, with direct access to plane, Sp for me priorities have changed from being loyal to one network to have having comfortable options in two, as well as saving money and having more flexibility…and hopefully flying less in the future.
For most people, don’t do it.
For Matthew, I lean towards not doing it. However, if he can take a round trip (mileage run) and come up with some Live and Let’s Fly material, I’ll read it with enjoyment and he’ll be 1K for 2020.
I think Matthew can write up something wonderful so DO IT!!!! 1K!
Objectively not worth it. Status means little (why fly for 983 hours to avoid an extra two mins in the group two line or whatever lol).
However when I ask my friends /wife these questions I have usually made up my mind because I love flying.
Eg, should I fly to Sicily in LH F for 36 hours to see my buddy for his 40th?! Objectively no. But I always do it because I like/love airports and flying. So just do it if you want.
Btw. I’m in Sydney atm with the family and the bushfires stuff is fine. Lol at the idea of going to Melbourne instead. Sydney one of the worlds best cities (Melbourne is great but is no Sydney). Balmoral beach. Thai food. Surry hills. THE BEST. you won’t regret it. And as a marginal tiny benefit you get 1k lol.
I had to do a mini run for the PQD. Most of my projects have been west coast this year so tickets have been cheap. I was going to end up short by $850. I hit the miles back in August. So I just went back and forth between LAS-LAX a bunch of times to hit it.
I am a 1K flier, have been for years (1.4 million miles with United), and I can say it’s definitely not worth it. I recently flew SFO to TLV, and even as a 1K flier I did not get an upgrade despite trying to turn in Global Upgrade certificates. The competition is brutal, on such a long haul flight. There are too many people either willing to pay full price, or have even higher status (Global Service) that most 1K’s do not get upgraded. I suspect the same will be true for flights Cape Town. On such a long haul flight, the odds of you actually getting an upgrade are not high enough to make it worthwhile to fly and extra 18k miles in the final 10 days of the year. Plus next year it will be worse, because with United’s new dynamic “pricing” for tuning in miles to upgrade, highly-sought upgrades on long-haul flights are crazy expensive. United has greatly devalued the miles for any location you would really want to upgrade. So even if you achieve 1K, you likely still wont get the upgrades on the flights you mentioned.
Personally 1K/GS is worth it for me just not to have to wait in the stupid Group 1 line. If you met the PQD already, might as well go for it. I’m gonna go for 3MM next year so have been having the same discussion. I decided it matters to me.
I’d say go for 1K. Especially after 2020, it not be as easy to reach the milestone. Also with PlusPoints opening up the playing field for Platinum members for international upgrades, it will be difficult to ensure a seat up front with Platinum status. Good luck and looking forward to your review for this mileage run.
Save the money and hunt for discount tickets in Business class instead. United is off the rails. I qualified for 1K status but not by trying and with the program changes in 2020 am saying good bye to chasing status with UA. Sad but I wasn’t put on this planet to give them all my money or steer that of my company to their bottom line.
Do it,I just got my 1k status last week and received 360 points (40 for achieving platinum, plus 40 points for regional upgrades that I had been unable to exchange plus 280 for getting to 1k).
I spent 160 points to upgrade my family(4) to Polaris first for a trip we are doing on December 24 to Rome,originally I was doing it the old fashion way with miles (80k miles plus 2,200 USD but once I achieved the 1k, they allowed me to change to another flight where there was points availability at no extra charge, I cancelled my upgrade request and used the points without having to pay anything extra.
I have to also confess that the customer service is way better in their 1k 1800 number.
I can completely relate!!! I have 99,625 miles for 2019, putting me just 375 miles from my elusive goal of 1K!
I’m a 1K and have been for 15+ years. I have 2.5M lifetime miles. I have had only one successful upgrade in two years! I’m based in SF. There are so many GS customers 1K means very little in this market. I’ve seen 15-20 GS board many flights and I often find myself more than 10th on the upgrade list. I’ve thought about switching but United is dominant in this market and I do take the TLV non stop at least once a year which is life changing
With so many 1K’s not being able to make it again in 2020, I want to know Matthew’s perspective of being a Platinum.
Not worth it. I dumped one case that is 3 years ago and never looked back. I just buy the global economy plus subscription for me plus eight for $1299 which gives me about all I need on United. Taking 9 to GCM next month, took 3 to SIN in October, and taking 5 family members to SIN/RGN/NRT later this year. Kindly plus all the way for all of us, great savings and really the only perk I flex often. If I want to fly business class I will use points.
I did it.. was sitting with similar miles last month and knew I had a trip before New year’s that would get me to around 85k. I decided to buy biz class so up to 93k. 5k bonus from us Visa for $35k annual spend, extra 4k for United spend on visa, and somewhere between SFO and hkg on 27th I’ll hit 2k. Pqd waived for me.
Matthew, as I’m sure you realize, being based out of SFO is not the same thing as being based out of LAX, as far as status and upgrades are concerned. While I don’t clear as often as I would like, I think I do fairly well getting upgrades out of LAX as a 1K. And you fly far more often than I do, so those occasional upgrades are probably worth more to you than to me. (Being 1K is my only realistic shot at TATL upgrades, as 1) I can only book tickets in Economy for work travel and 2) I’m unwilling to even pay the $500 for a mile+co-pay upgrade.)
One question I have is how likely you think you are to re-qualify given the new rules. Based on this year’s travel, I will come very close to re-qualifying in 2020 for 2021. So I am willing to ride things out to see if/how life changes for 1Ks (which is not the top-tier status on United ;)) once these new rules come into effect.
See what they offer you for PQM purchase on your upcoming flights. That may save you some time in the air.
The great and mighty MatthewLAX might not requalify? Quelle horreur!!!
In all honesty, the fact that you, Gary, and Lucky are on the fence about earning status year after year really shows how far FFPs have fallen.
Funny, had the same decision to make in Dec last year. Went for an Premium Eco Oslo-OGG trip for 4 days, stopping at Maui for 3 nights, All but one got upgraded to First/Business so quite comfortable. Found new pont system works well, currently at 400 – happy to took this challenge!