I switched from Delta to United a few years ago for work travel (and by extension, for personal as well to cash in those work travel points) and have overall been pleased, but I am not enamored with their moving somewhat invisible goalposts to maintain Global Services each year. Below is the latest email they sent out to customers. Like, just tell me what I need to hit…
“We extend a limited number of invitations annually to select MileagePlus Premier® members based on their outstanding United® and United Express® flight activity over the past several years. Unlike Premier status qualification, eligibility for United Global Services is not measured by the number of Premier qualifying points earned, but instead on several other criteria. Members who receive United Global Services invitations tend to increase their flight activity each year, fly in premium cabins, and purchase fully refundable tickets—all exclusively on United. MileagePlus members directly influence the annual criteria, as we compare activity amongst our top fliers. Achieving status is increasingly competitive each year, and previously holding United Global Services status doesn’t guarantee a future invitation.”
the last bit kinda kills me as i keep trying to cut down on business travel each year, so the PlusPoints gravy train will eventually end
I’m going to be at about $55K spend this year after just under $50K last year. If I don’t get GS now, and I probably won’t, I don’t think it’s happening for me. I might find myself flying to Europe about 10-15 times next year so that could do it but that’s very iffy.
There is a good discussion (or was) on flyer talk about this. There used to be a shared spreadsheet where people would share their status, revenue/mile, and hub to help get a gauge on what it’s took for each city to get GS as it changes every year.
My heaviest year I didn’t get GS even though I was about about 70k miles flown and including 8 international business class trips (3 Europe, 2 Brazil, 2 China / Korea, Australia) even though my friend has 20k less miles. My 11 ORD to LGA flights in economy crushed my Revenue / Mile ratio which is key. Also don’t help I was ORD based. I also had 3 flights each to Mexico City and Toronto shopping with a few others thrown in.
360 with Delta is pretty much the same deal. No defined standards from what I can tell, but it certainly keeps people on the hamster wheel chasing status
Interesting. My hub is EWR. Last year I flew 60k miles but they were all nonrefundable business class trips for work to SF, London, Paris, Santiago, and Berlin. Basically fly the same places for work every year and prob come in around that number again this year so not liking my chances… at least easy to always lock in 1k status but spring every year but my GS status prob short lived…
That’s not true. I have two friends here in Chicago who both were at $55K last year and got it. One of the guys has a very similar pattern to me where he’s been 1K for about 10 years and steadily growing his spend, topped out last year at around where I will this year, and got it. One of my business partners (also Chicago based) got it for about 3-4 years and the tail end of his career (lost it last year) on way less spend - topped out at about $45K - but had a longer history. So, who knows for sure but I’m in the mix.
Flying SJC to EWR today through Denver. The lines for Group 1 and 2 for the SJC to DEN flight are 25+ people deep and it’s not even 10 minutes until boarding.
It doesn’t help that the gate doesn’t have the space for this so it’s just a mob of people in the walkway.
360 is just diamond with a better phone line from all the years I had it. Sure, they gave you a nice gift, but grand scheme it didn’t matter and wasn’t worth chasing after.
Honestly as soon as I saw them I thought how much more sense that made. Hopefully it becomes a trend - was disappointed to see the rest of C is not like that.
The Denver airport is an abomination that needs a desperate update but being able to eat milk chocolate covered marshmallows while I waited for my layover yesterday was pleasant.
