United Airlines has extended my MileagePlus Premier 1K status for another year…
How I Received A Premier 1K Status Extension From United Airlines
When I wrote in late 2024 about how I was losing my United 1K status, some of you urged me to reach out to United, explain the reasons why I did not make 1K status, and request a status extension.
It’s true…a tree fell on my house and my father passed away, both of which required a great deal of time in 2024 and sidelined my travels. So I did send an email to MileagePlus asking for an extension during the first week of the year.
I received a response telling me that I should check back in a few weeks.
So last week I did, and received a response without hours informing me my status extension request had been granted:
Just to be clear, I didn’t reach out to my PR contacts…to my knowledge, this was not extended to me because I am a blogger who writes about United. While I cannot rule that out, United has an unpublished policy of granting such status extensions due to unusual and compelling circumstances once every 5-6 years. Many have taken advantage of this and have no professional ties to the airline.
I did receive an automatic status extension during the pandemic, but this was the first time I ever asked for one.
Unfortunately, unlike the MileagePlus residents in Israel who received automatic extensions with a fresh allotment of PlusPoints, I received no PlusPoints this year. While that is perfectly reasonable, I can’t say this bump up from Platinum (which I did qualify for) to 1K will make a meaningful difference in my choice to be a free agent this year.
Over the last two months, I’ve booked domestic tickets on not only United, but Delta, American Airlines, JetBlue, and Spirit…I’m going to travel based on schedule, product, and price, buying the cheapest premium cabin seats ideally with lie-flat beds. I expect that will be on United for several trips…but it’s a real bummer I won’t be able to use my PlusPoints to upgrade the family when we go to Germany this spring or summer.
CONCLUSION
I received a 1K status extension from United with no strings attached, though I did not receive more PlusPoints. I am thankful that United recognizes that sometimes “life happens” and travel is hampered (I think that’s smart business) and am grateful for the extension when I was prepared to drop down to Platinum status.
It’s good that even large corporations do this. Sure, it’s a way to keep loyal customers but also some folks in the company understand that hardships can happen.
I can sorta relate to this as my mother recently passed away, which is why I decided to move to be closer to my father and the board were unanimously understanding allowing the schedule I have now. Sure, there’s an aspect where they don’t want me leaving my job but some people do care and understand.
I’m sorry for the loss of your mother.
During the height of the pandemic, which is still ongoing and not ended, Hertz granted lots of extensions for points that would normally expire. Flyertalk seems to suggests that nearly everyone was granted an extension. I also requested it 2 weeks before my points expired. They wrote back refusing to do so. I appealed but they still denied it. I don’t want to rent from Hertz anymore. They used to be my #1.
Even if they granted only a limited extension, like 6 months, it would have been ok.
“Still ongoing and not ended”.
Thanks for the laugh, funniest thing I have read in a long while.
Guess we found the clown wearing the mask.
I think he means the pandemic of stupidity, of which you and your republican friends have chronic cases of
White privilege
Just kidding, that’s awesome.
I wonder if DL would do the same after next year when surely status member counts drop
I also made Platinum easy this year but fell short of Premier 1K. I would have made 1K, but United cancelled two of my flights to Israel last year when El Al was the only airline flying. I had to take El Al. Even though I sent United documented proof that they cancelled these two flights, and have earned 1K every year since 2018, they denied my request for an extension of 1K status. They did, however, offer to let me purchase 1K status for a one time payment of $10,000. I declined.
Yikes.
I called the premier line and was told since I received an extension last year I was ineligible to receive one this year. What email address did you send your request to?
Consider yourself very lucky Matthew.
I *was* 8 years Global Services, personal circumstances reduced my travel. I made Platinum, but I emailed and called UA to ask for an extension for 1K status. United responded with a cash buy-up for $16,500. My jaw dropped! Call me a free agent now.
LOL lucky? The only reason why YA granted Matthew an extension is because he’s such a passionate mouthpiece for them.
@emercycrite Yeah, no kidding that he got the extension because he writes about them. Last year I asked for an extension of my 1K since my wife was hospitalized with pancreatic cancer and died from it. They wouldn’t give me an extension. I guess that wasn’t a difficult enough circumstance to them.
I’m transparent about it and that may well be – but I went through the regular 1K Voice email and I’ve also been a 1K for over a decade and spent a lot of money on UA…it’s not like I’m getting free flights. THey would not even extend the 30 PlusPoints that expired today.
Pre-pandemic my boss was pregnant and had to curtail her travel later in her pregnancy. After submitting paperwork to Delta form her physician corroborating her pregnancy, they extended her Diamond status for a year.
United wanted $17K to make me a 1K! You can’t make this stuff up! The 1K value proposition has precipitously declined and I have no interest in jumping through hoops to regain status.
You suck for talking about stuff like this – its people like you who yap their big mouths for a couple cents a click that companies shut down either nice unofficial gestures or genuine loopholes. F to the U.
I’m sorry you are so troubled.
I reject your comment and urge you to seek help for your anger management and delusion.
Veritas.
Your response is so full of anger it is almost funny.
I didn’t reach Gold this last year and they extended it wIthout any reason. They said anyone can get it every 5 years.
Thanks Will. Congrats on the status extension.
Congratulations on the status extension! It’s great to see that United Airlines took the time to consider your circumstances and offer some flexibility. Life can throw unexpected challenges our way, and it’s nice to see loyalty programs sometimes show understanding. Wishing you smoother travels in the year ahead!”
100% they gave it to you because you’re a blogger. I sent a very similar message to GS noting medical problems throughout 2024 and got a hard denial. I was GS for 13 yeas.
Not only a blogger but one of biggest cheerleaders. Is anyone surprised? When he lamented about losing it a few months ago, I was pretty certain it would get extended.
I also got the extension. Easy 60sec call.
I had nearly 80 flights but fell a few thousand short of the PQD requirement. United offered to sell me an upgrade to 1k for a scant $8k. I wasn’t even 8k short in my PQD.
I’m feeling zero love.