If you have a RT ticket that involves a change of plane, does each segment count as an individual segment for purposes of EQS? As an example, if I fly PHX to Frankfurt via Denver - it's 2 segments? And same back for a total of 4? Minimum flight (e.g. 500 miles) to qualify as a segment?

Looked at UA's website, but if it's there I missed it so thought I'd ask the pros here.

Doing my planning for next year - enjoyed my Premier status this year for what few flights I took but I'll lose the Premier status beginning 01/01. Trying to come up with my plan to earn it back.

In general every time a flight number changes, that's a new segment.

Yes, each individual flight counts as a segment. If I fly Chicago-Denver-Phoenix and then the same on the return, that's four segments. If I take the non-stops, that's two segments. No minimum mileage for a flight to qualify for a segment.

If you don't take many flights per year but do take a long trip or two (eg, your example to Frankfurt), it may be easier to qualify on miles (25k) rather than segments (30). If you have earned some EQMs already this year and you're flying on United in the next few months, make sure you're signed up for the current double elite qualifying mile promotion that runs through Dec. 15.

What Gardyloo says is EXTREMELY important. If you book 952/953, then you only get one segment each way, even if there's a plane change. And you only get 5,636 miles each way, which is the point-to-point distance between PHX and FRA.

If 952/953 are the flights you want and you need your segments, you need to separate the flights. Itt is usually possible to book a multi-city ticket (rather than roundtrip), using your example:

1. UA952 PHX-IAD
2. UA952 IAD-FRA
3. UA953 FRA-IAD
4. UA954 IAD-PHX

Only problem is that it may price out differently. I tried a random date in October with this strategy. Booking simple R/T is $752, while booking the way I want is $1,175. I don't have much experience on UA, but other dates may be different. I know for Continental, it is often just $10 more, because of the extra taxes.

Thanks for the info - I did sign up for the promotion too.

Yep, it depends on the flight numbering. I used to earn miles for four different segments on my Chicago to Bangkok via Tokyo trips (and it added up to MORE miles). Now I only get one segment each way, (as the crow flies???) as I usually take 881/882. I still go thru Tokyo, but since the flight each way has the same number all the way there and all the way back (with some plane changes) it counts as one segment each way. So, look at the flight numbering to figure out how many segments you will earn.
Carol

Yes, the miles earned would be as the crow flies.