Big changes to earning United status in 2020

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United is overhauling the requirements to earn MileagePlus status from 2020, replacing Premier Qualifying Dollars (PQDs) with Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) and introducing Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs). The minimum spend requirement is also no longer being waived for non-US residents.

Essentially, one PQF will be equal to one flight sector. PQPs will be based on spend for flights on United, and a percentage of award miles earned on partner airlines. The distance travelled on United flights is no longer relevant.


From the United website, here are the new United status earn requirements from next year:

Screen Shot 2019-10-12 at 3.54.57 pm.png

And this is how the United website explains how to earn PQFs and PQPs on partner airlines:

Screen Shot 2019-10-12 at 3.55.21 pm.png

Overall, these changes are terrible for me and cement my decision not to bother re-qualifying for United Gold status after next year. Asiana Club, here I come!
 
Simpler and Fairer UA style.

I read earlier over on LL that it will favour people flying non-UA metal ie preferred partners (Apart from the min 4x UA sectors).
 
I'm very glad I no longer have to chase status with UA, as I'm now lifetime plat. I really don't think I'd bother with these new rules. There are much easier ways to achieve Star gold on other carriers.
 
No more 1K for me. I will fall short on the 24K spend even with 3 work trips on Star Alliance RTW in Business. I'm Platinum One with Qantas and will now send all domestic US flying to AA and will just be exclusive to One world. No more fooling around with Star Alliance
 
No more 1K for me. I will fall short on the 24K spend even with 3 work trips on Star Alliance RTW in Business. I'm Platinum One with Qantas and will now send all domestic US flying to AA and will just be exclusive to One world. No more fooling around with Star Alliance

I will keep flying with Star Alliance, but will start crediting flights to Asiana Club. It's a much better value proposition.
 
Wow. How confusing do they want to make it. So some fare classes don't get you a PQF?

Very glad I made it to million miler and lifetime gold when it was easy to understand :)
 
I will keep flying with Star Alliance, but will start crediting flights to Asiana Club. It's a much better value proposition.

Can you elaborate a bit further? I'll requalify for United Gold, but undecided what to do next year. Holding VA Plat and needed a second program for all the travel I'm doing to Asia.

I think I only ended up going with United so I could do Comfort+ at booking when travelling to the US. Does Star Alliance Gold with another airline get you that privlege as well?
 
Well, this is one way to loss international travelers. I'm 1K and have been for a few years, I do 6 to 8 flights a years between the AU & the US. Now with this new scheme I have to travel 9 times a year via LAX or SFO to qualify for the 54 sectors, with 6 flight, where as I can get to the same location with 3 flights via Huston, but doubt I'll get the 24,000 PQP, so am going to need to look for another program.
 
Is this still an easier route to hit *A Gold than Asiana though? 6 flights and $2000 before tax, Asiana isnt that easy is it?
 
Is this still an easier route to hit *A Gold than Asiana though? 6 flights and $2000 before tax, Asiana isnt that easy is it?

To initially earn status, no it isn't. But with Asiana you get to keep your status for the rest of your membership term + 2 years, and requalifying is way easier than with United. (Not to mention the much lower threshold for lifetime *A Gold with Asiana.)
 
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