United Goes Revenue Based Next Year

A big H/T to Mommy Points  who saw a post from UA Insider on Milepoint  that announces major changes in the United qualification chart for premier status....the dreaded revenue requirement.

The new Premier Qualifying Dollars (PQDs) will apply to all levels of membership and can be earned through spending on "Base fare and carrier-imposed surcharges, Flights flown by United, United Express, or Copa Airlines, Flights operated by a Star Alliance or a MileagePlus partner airline and issued on a United ticket (ticket number starting with 016) and Economy Plus purchases. United says that for 2014 the PQD requirement for Silvers, Golds and Platinums will be waved if you spend at least $25,000 net purchases using a MileagePlus Chase co-branded credit card. No waver for you 1Ks, though.

The changes will not affect qualifications for 2014, so you are safe till next year. But the full details are below  and at http://www.mileageplusupdates.com/.

New Premier Qualification Requirements

Starting in January 2014, Premier qualification requirements will include a minimum annual spending level. We will track qualifying spending with Premier qualifying dollars (PQD): dollars spent on most United tickets, including partner flights and Economy Plus purchases. The changes do not affect Premier qualifying miles (PQM) or Premier qualifying segments (PQS).

These changes apply to 2014 qualifying activity for status through 2015 and do not affect your 2013 qualifying activity for 2014 status.

A minimum of 4 paid segments on United, United Express or Copa Airlines is needed for any Premier level.

Learn More about Premier Status Qualification

As a United flyer who will finally hit Gold this year I am really sad to see these changes. I like to mileage run and I like to buy cheap fares so spending $5,000 a year just to requalify for Gold is steep if you want to maximize your cost per mile. I know that some United fliers are talented enough to qualify for 1K by only spending $5,000 so doing that just for Gold is going to drive many people away. But...as we've seen time and time again this is the model that we are starting to see more and more.

With my upcoming move to Seattle and the huge presence of Alaska Air, I think it might be time to move onto them from United.

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