BumbleB6

I just found out I have "premier" (I'm assuming "premier silver") status.
I'm really excited about this, but I'd be more so if I knew exactly what that meant.

The United website is kind of hard to understand.
I think this means I can upgrade to econ+ seats for free, along with one companion?
And this expires at the end of the year? Does that mean January, or one year after I originally signed up for membership?
I wasn't going to fly again until mid-January, so... maybe all of this premier status stuff is irrelevant?

Also, I apparently have some "lifetime" miles. ??

Obviously, I haven't been doing this UMP thing for long... I think I signed up for the program in January of 2014, but not sure...

Anyway, if there are United FF people here, would you mind giving a brief rundown of what this premier status is about? Thanks. Sorry, if I'm coming off as being dense, but... I really am confused y the charts on the website.. Thanks, if anyone can clarify.

clevelandbrown

These programs are often revised, so what you get now, you might not get next year.

In my opinion, the best perk is that you avoid some of the fees for checked luggage. I think Silvers can check one bag free, while Golds can check two.

You may be able to move into economy plus. If I recall correctly, silvers can move on the day before the flight, while Golds can select economy plus when they buy their ticket.

On domestic flights, but not international, you may get a free move to Business/First. But as a silver, you will be at or near the back of the line. I think platinums are moved 5 days before the flight, Golds 3 days, and Silvers one day, all subject to their calculation of whether any of the vacant seats will be sold. I have seen silvers get upgraded, so it is possible.

The status runs from the date they grant it to the end of the next year. So if you earned it this year, you are good through 2015.

I think elites get boarded in one of the first groups, which is valuable if you have carry on luggage, since they often run out of space in the overhead bins.

Based on your level, you earn a bonus on the miles you earn (these are the miles you use to buy stuff, not the miles you must fly to maintain your status).

And you get a special number for reaching customer service.

Lifetime miles are the miles you have flown since joining the program. It used to be that if you reached a million miles, they gave you lifetime Gold status, but that may have changed.

If you just achieved Silver status (flew 25,000 miles and spent a lot of money) you should find in your mail a packet that explains things much better than the website, and perhaps a spiffy luggage tag.

I started with Continental, which was merged into United. Continental had a better package, which included four coupons for wine or beer. The vouchers had no expiration date. Vouchers after the merger had an expiration date, then they stopped issuing them. I still have about six of the undated ones, and when I give them one to buy my wife a beer, they have a little meeting to figure out if the voucher is valid.

rkkwan

Your status will be valid till end of 2015 program year, which will be end of Jan 2016 (before, it was end of Feb). In early 2015, you will receive new card to reflect that.

Premier status is earned during the calendar year. So, you need to PAY enough for flights between Jan 1, 2015 and Dec 31, 2015 to requalify for the 2016 program year.

The program will be switched to dollar-based rather than mile-based. So, whether you may requalify will depend on how much you pay during the year.

Seamus

On the page at http://www.united.com/web/en-US/cont...s/default.aspx click on the info in the section labeled "Premier benefits & more"

As a silver you can select an Economy Plus seat without cost when checking in for your flight.

As rkk notes, when you qualify for a premier status is is good for the remainder of the year in which you qualify and the next year as well.

BumbleB6

Thanks, everyone!
I did finally find a page on their site that said I would keep the status through 2015, but it was worded vaguely...
I have a UMP credit card and I already get a free checked bag with that and priority boarding, but the econ plus upgrade is a good perk. Unfortunately, I already paid for an econ plus upgrade on an overseas flight for this coming March.
I do plan on flying in January and April though, on domestic flights, so this will be a nice perk.

Thanks again!