I've been Premier Exec w/UA for probably 5-6 years now. I can possibly turn 1K this year, but wanted to know if it would be worth the hassle to do so. It would mean an extra trip ORD-BKK-ORD to manage it. I have never quite been this close to 1K before, so I want honest opinions on whether I should go for it or not. PremExec has percs that I really like (the 3-bag check-in and use of Star Alliance Gold lounges are my faves).. but what else would I be able to get with 1K status?

Hope someone can tell me.

Thanks.

Carol

I'd consider the biggest benefits to be the upgrades: systemwide upgrades for international flights (may be used on W fares or higher) and CR-1s for domestic/region 1 flights (two for every 10k miles flown on UA). If the changes to the mileage upgrades go forward as planned, these may become more valuable. Will your travel plans for next year allow you to take advantage of the upgrades?

Also, higher priority on waiting lists, red carpet boarding, and some others:

http://www.united.com/page/middlepag...linkTitle=121k

With the DEQM promotion earlier this year, I got close enough to book an extra flight or two to make it--although not as far as Bangkok!

Sorry, I was distracted and didn't quite write the CR-1 info correctly; it's two per quarter with 10k miles...but the link above spells all that out.

ms-go
I'm sure I'll do at least the required miles for premier exec next year as I'll go to BKK 3-4 times once again, plus I am considering a trip to SYD for a friend's wedding. I also fly to Europe once or twice a year, and Hawaii Boston and Vegas once a year each. It all adds up!

I've already looked at the link you provided, but really didn't quite understand the additional percs, which is why I asked here. I would prefer to see it in plain English(haha).

Thanks for the reply.

Anyone else want to chime in?

Carol

here's my take - I too have been 1P for several years but not a chance to go 1K so I'm envious. I'm assuming you live in ORD?

Anyway form a layman's perspective -

- you have higher clearance for upgrades. If you tend ot clear already on the routes/times you take as a 1 P this may not be an issue. For ex, we fly to Europe a few times a year and to the east coast a couple of times and altho we may clear at the gate we have cleared on all our UA flights this year as 1P. In ORD that may not be the case.

- you get CR-1's - certs that let you upgrade one class on any domestic flight without having to use miles AND can be given to someone not traveling with you, unlike the 500 mile certs.

- you get a special web site and email address for problems, and occasionally you get deals only open to 1K's. They can be helpful if there are problems.

- An unpublished bennie is that you can often get hotel or food vouchers in a weather delay.

- AS the last poster said with the new paid upgrades coming there will be special exceptions for 1K's.

- The crown jewel - 4 (I believe) SWU's which allow you to upgrade one class of service internationally for a lower fare than with miles and which put you to the top of the UG list. This is a savings in dollars AND in miles.

By anecdote, it seems clear 1K's are treated better when there are problems for if you need assistance. 1K's have usually earned their status even if they've used a double miles promotion by flying a whole lot and everyone form GA's to FA's to phone reps know that.

I f I could do it with one more long flight I would absolutely go for it, If you don't think the bennies are worth it you can always drop back next year!

Thanks mztery... appreciate the explanation in understandable terms. I'm thinkin' it's a go. Like you said, if I'm not all that impressed with the difference in service/percs, I can drop back to 1P once again.

It is <u>six</u> SWUs, systemwide-upgrades, per year. I think that you have upgraded using miles in the past, right? That requires a at least an M or H fare. As ms-go mentioned a SWU will get you upgrade on a W fare.

For a round-trip ORD-BKK for Nov 4-17, the lowest fare a non-upgradeable T fare, is $994. The H fare is $2042. The W fare (found by searching for upgrade=systemwide region 2) is $1408. Using two SWUs saves $634 and, what, 60,000 miles? for the round-trip.

Three times to BKK next year? Then multiply that by three: save $1900 and 180,000 miles. (this according to the rules currently in effect)

Suppose you, with your current status, booked the H fare today and waitlisted for the upgrades using miles. Next week, I (1K) book the (lower) W fare and waitlist for the upgrades using SWUs. Week after that an upgrade seat comes open and we are the only ones waiting. Guess who gets the seat? I am pretty sure I do.

In July, I got to IAD hours in advance of my flight but at the RCC got put on the standby list for a flight departing in 45 minutes to LAX. Fifteen minutes later, when I got to the gate the standby list had at least 20 people and I was number 1. Not only did I get a seat but the agent cleared the upgrade using 500-milers, saving the CR-1 I had applied to the later flight (the CR-1, confirmed region 1 upgrade, being more valuable). Same thing happened in South Bend. I got to the gate and asked to get on the earlier flight. No problem, got a bp and sat down next to a guy who had been standing by for some time. I don't think he got on.

There are extra domestic economy award seats available to UA elites. I think it only applies to 1K and GS. When booking an award online you can see what availability is like. The normal economy award booking/availability code is XY. There is an extra booking code, NY, that shows additional availability. One of you Premier Execs who knows how can check to see if they see NY booking code (with or without availability), but I think you would not even see NY.

You earn two CR1s for each quarter in which you fly 10,000 miles or more. They have an expiration date one year from when they are earned. They are good for U.S. (including Hawaii), Canada, Mexico, C.America, Carribean.

Suppose you make 1K this year. You fly 18,000 miles to/from BKK in March, upgraded both ways using SWUs. That earns you 2 CR-1s that are good until March or April 2011. You can use them in Sept. 2010 with the lowest United fare you can find to HNL to go to next year's GTG and upgrade with the 2 CR-1s.

The 1K phone line is better.

I would definitely do it.

I found it on the 1K website. http://tinyurl.com/ma3wqu
The NY awards are available only to 1Ks.

With the United MP Signature/Platinum Visa you earn 5,000 EQMs when you enroll (or 2,500 to enroll, 2,500 after first use, and 2,500 each year after). As a 1K, United pays the $140 annual fee. Buying UA tickets with the card earns EQMs. Of course, it earns redeemable miles. Get the card and buy 4 tix to BKK and you'd have around 11,000 EQMs without flying.

For reaching 75,000 EQMs this year, I was given the "reward" of being able to grant Premier Associate status to a friend.

mrwunrfl
Thanks so much for your reply. I'm understanding it much better now, thanks to your explanation. I think I'll go for it. But then if I really really really LIKE IT, I'll have to work hard to maintain it... although I do have the UA visa card and use it all the time to help build miles. I don't think I've ever switched to the platinum one though, but it has been offered to me time and again. Maybe I should switch. Is it necessary, as in your 2nd paragraph 2:50 reply? And you really EARN EQM's with it??? ... that's a no-brainer in that case.

Upgradeable fares for my November trip are running $2042.30, as of yesterday. I will probably buy the upgradeable ticket and HOPE that I get to ride in business class. I've done enough buy-ups at the counter now, to know that buying the upgradeable ticket at the outset costs me less money!! (but I always use that UA visa card to get the upgrade... lol)

Are you thinking about going out to the HNL GTG this time? Sounds like a smaller (but very nice) group right now, unless there are others who have opted to attend since I last checked.

Carol

OK, without starting a new thread... I've got another question. What do I look for, under the "details" of a flight, to see the availability of upgradeable seats on the flights. I hate to pay twice the price for my ticket and then not be able to upgrade. Is there a specific set of code letters that mean "upgradeable" seats? And of course I'd love to see a "9" after that code, meaning 9 seats are still open... or do I have that wrong??

Carol

I think I may have answered my own question. I can see that there are 9 seats available for all four legs of my flights (Nov 19/Dec 1) under M9, H9. That (hopefully) means that I can get my upgrades, since I'm premier exec... that puts me ahead of "lesser" UA FF members... (but behind 1K) right?

Thanks.

Carol

Greetings, and just to add to the fine thoughts already dispensed : go for that 1K status this year! (I have always enjoyed those SWUs and CR-1s -- and my all-time favourite UA FA who 'occasionally' works SIN-HKG.)

Now, 'mileage runs' to hit/maintain 1K status can be so much fun : vaguely recall, 'years ago', spending a most joyous ~ 30-hours at that beloved Peninsula hotel in Bangkok with a most fun-loving woman. Short, and so very sweet.

Hope 1K works out for you. (But just between us : I'll still take my rather lowly status with Singapore Airlines in a heartbeat -- various reasons, to be sure.)

macintosh (robert)


... fly the friendly skies ...

Yet another update.....
Thanks for the kind reply, AO. I think I have to agree that mileage runs would be fun!

Looks like I'd prefer to travel last 1/3 of October, returning first couple of days in Nov, rather than being in BKK during the GTG near end of November. I want to make myself available in November just in case DH says we will return to Switzerland after all during our usual time there, end of November, early December!!! I would just hate to see him flying off to Europe by himself.... haha

Anyway, fares for upgradeable ticket for my dates is just about the same as the November dates; M9 and H9 availability. Looks good to me.

Carol

UPGRADEABLE SEATS/FARES - please read!

Hi again

It looks like no one has answered your question about upgradeable seats and if oyu are asking what I THINK oyu are asking you may be misinformed.

U/G seats is a two step process.

To find out if there are COACH seats available that are in the right fare class to upgrade with miles,
- log in with your MP number
- do a search and on the dropdown box select "upgrade with miles M/H"
- the flights returned will say "upgrade eligible" if they are in the right fare class.

HOWEVER this will NOT tell you if there is upgrade space in business class. For that you need to look at the "details" of the flights you select and see if there is NC space available. NC is the code for upgrade with miles/ or other instruments.

(Often there won't be NC space. BUT you can look and see if there are plain C seats available. With the new C seats it's getting tougher - another reason to go for 1K!)


What I usually do, as I was advised by a UA Agent, is call reservations while I am at the computer looking at flights. Pick the basic route and date I want, then call Rez and ask them to look for upgradable space I can book and confirm RIGHT NOW. Then book those flights ONLINE while I am on the phone. Saves the call fee and guarantees the u/g.

Thanks for that info AO. I just hit "purchase" about 20 minutes ago, looking at M9 and H9 as a sign that seats were available.... maybe I have goofed up. I did not know to look for NC.... UGH

But the good news is, I will get to 1K by taking this flt in October.

sorry... that should be Thanks MZtery!!! my bad

I did not see NC on the flight details. I'll look for C seats. If there are some, is that a good sign... or should I contact REZ using my prem exec number?

Since you've already booked, it's probably just as easy to call and see if NC inventory is available and/or to put yourself on a waiting list.

For future reference, the regular "paid" booking function does not show award inventory, such as NC (business class upgrade) or XC (business class award). When you mouse over the flight details, you'll only see the paid fare classes. To look for award inventory, you need to do a search for a <b>standard</b> award ticket (go to Mileage Plus, Redeem Miles, etc.). Do your search there, and when you mouse over "flight details," you'll see all fare classes--paid and award. "C" is full fare business class and isn't really an indicator of available award seats

Waitlisting for upgrades is a complex subject, and there are not (to the best of my knowledge) rules that are published to the public. It's not completely based on status, although 1Ks go on a separate priority list from most others. There's a lot of info on flyertalk.

Thanks for that standard award ticket search idea! I'll give it a try. I think I shall also call my prem exec rep on the phone in a few days.

I just looked at Standard Award flights, and there is nothing that is showing availability of different types of tickets.

BTW, I already put myself on the waiting list on line at UA. It's very easy to do. I've been waitlisted before, and all but one time I've gotten my upgrades, so I'm hoping it happens again. I actually, just today, got moved from wait listed to confirmed upgrades on my ORD to HNL trip this month.

The M9 and H9 only mean that there are plenty of seats available at those fares. It doesn't mean that there are upgrade seats available.

If you did the search for standard awards but didn't see the booking codes, then you missed the ms's instruction about mousing over (or clicking on) where it says "Flight Details".

Using the Platinum visa does in fact earn one EQM per dollar spent on purchasing United tickets on united dot com. Plus the annual bonus EQMs. And as a 1K United pays the annual fee.

Maybe you will get hooked on 1K. I did. Or maybe next year you will quit at 75K and give Premier Associate to Brad.

The SWUs that you would earn for next year would be good until January 31, 2011. But they do, automatically, grant extensions (maybe only if you requalify for 1K) to May for 1 or 2 unused SWUs. But yours would be gone after the 3 trips.

I think I get your point about the M9 and H9: not many biz seats sold means that you are ahead of other 1Ps who might buy that fare after you.