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United MileagePlus Premier Status Match Challenge 2017

ByDW
A United Airlines aircraft is taking off from a runway. The airplane is white with "UNITED" written in large blue letters on the side and has a blue tail with a globe design. The background shows a landscape with fields, trees, and some buildings in the distance. The image is credited to "Aero Shots" in the bottom right corner.

United MileagePlus Premier elite status, or any airline status for that matter, provides travelers added comfort, convenience, and flexibility. For some travelers it borders on the line of obsession! Often times a quest for airline status includes flying on more expensive and/or inconvenient itineraries with a specific airline in order to reach that next level of loyalty…

A United Airlines airplane is taking off from a runway. The aircraft is white with blue and gold accents, and the word "UNITED" is prominently displayed on the side. The background features a landscape with fields, trees, and a few buildings in the distance. The image is credited to "Aero Shots" in the bottom right corner.
Photo cred – http://aero-shots.boardingarea.com/

Why does airline status matter so much to frequent travelers?

Well, specifically for United flyers, how about some of the following perks:

  • Complimentary access to Economy Plus 
  • Complimentary Premier Upgrades 
  • Mileage bonuses 
  • Priority check-in, security, boarding and baggage handling 
  • Priority phone line
  • Waived baggage fee 
  • Same-day flight changes 
  • Award travel benefits
  • Fee discounts/waivers on award tickets
  • Star Alliance Gold status 
  • Marriott Gold Status 

 

Just to name a few…

Sign me up, eh!? I like upgrades and I like fee waivers… so how can I get in on the action?

Answer: Fly a shit-ton of United flights through the rest of the year!?

The image is a table outlining the 2017 qualifications requirements for different Premier levels in a frequent flyer program. The table has three columns: Premier level, PQM and PQS requirement (and PQD requirement for U.S. residents). The rows list the following levels and their respective requirements: 1. Premier Silver: 25,000 PQM or 30 PQS (and $3,000) 2. Premier Gold: 50,000 PQM or 60 PQS (and $6,000) 3. Premier Platinum: 75,000 PQM or 90 PQS (and $9,000) 4. Premier 1K: 100,000 PQM or 120 PQS (and $12,000)
That’s a lot of United flights…

WRONG! You don’t have to be a United frequent flyer to hold United elite status…

United recognizes that adjusting airline loyalty can take convincing, so they have set up a program to entice elite flyers away from their current program over to United MileagePlus! They call it the…

United MileagePlus Premier Status Match Challenge

Have other airline status and interested in the United status challenge? Here is what you need to know:

“To keep the matched Premier status for the remainder of the 2017 program year, you will need to earn a certain number of Premier qualifying miles (PQM) or Premier qualifying segments (PQS) on flights operated by United or United Express® within a 90-day Offer Period. The number of PQM or PQS you must earn depends on the Premier status level you are matched to in MileagePlus.”

The image is a table outlining the MileagePlus Premier status levels and their corresponding PQM (Premier Qualifying Miles) or PQS (Premier Qualifying Segments) requirements for flights operated by United or United Express. The table has two columns: "MileagePlus Premier status" and "PQM or PQS requirements." The rows detail the following: 1. Premier Silver: Fly 7,000 PQM or 8 PQS. 2. Premier Gold: Fly 11,500 PQM or 15 PQS. 3. Premier Platinum: Fly 18,000 PQM or 22 PQS.
Compare these to the standard requirements pictured earlier in the post!
My favorite part? You get to enjoy your match status during the 90 day trial period! 

This offer is valid for requests received between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017. Keep in mind, you can only participate in a United Status Match Challenge once every five years!

United only publishes the level by level status matches available for Delta and American frequent flyers, but there are numerous other airlines (including Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan), in which you can match to!

Alt text: The image contains a table outlining the Premier Status match offer for an account upgrade. The table has three rows and four columns. The first row lists the current status levels: Silver, Gold, and Platinum. The second row shows the upgrade after 8 stays: Gold, Platinum, and Platinum Pro. The third row shows the upgrade after 16 stays: Premier Silver, Premier Gold, and Premier Platinum.

Check out the full Challenge page for all the relevant T&Cs!

Start Your Very Own United MileagePlus Premier Status Match Challenge

Simply click this link and sign into your current MileagePlus account.

Then, enter your email, your current status in a competing frequent flyer program, and your preferred challenge start date. As you consider timing, keep in mind that the MileagePlus status is valid through January 2019 for customers who earn Premier status through this promotion on or after July 1, 2017.

And last, attach a copy of your most recent mileage summary or current year membership card for the frequent flyer program you are matching from.

The image shows an Alaska Mileage Plan membership card. The card has a blue, green, and white design. It includes the text "Alaska Mileage Plan" at the top. Below that, it displays the name "Derek [Last Name Blurred] Winter." The card also states "Member since 2014" and "Valid through 12/2017." At the bottom right corner, it has the text "MVP GOLD." A person's hand is holding the card.
I matched my Alaska MVP Gold to United Premier Gold!
Note: Your attachment must identify your current elite status and include your status expiration date. 

United will send you an email to let you know if your request is approved. Please note that your request may take 7-14 business days to be upgraded, but in my experience it only took 2 days – just in time for an upcoming United itinerary of mine!

The image is a screenshot of a loyalty program account summary page. The background is yellow, and it includes the following details: - A welcome message: "Welcome back, Derek" - A "Premier Gold Member" badge in the top right corner. - Mileage balance: 1,000 (expires on 03/31/2018) - MileagePlus number (partially blurred for privacy) - PQM earned in 2017: 0 - PQS earned in 2017: 0 - PQD earned in 2017: $0 - A note stating, "You can reinstate your expired miles. Learn more" - A button labeled "View account" - A "Sign out" link at the bottom right.
Zero flights in 2017 so far, but I am looking to change that!

Final Thought

Airlines want your loyalty. They want it so bad that they are willing to grant you valuable perks to pry you away from competitors! While airline status won’t guarantee you a First Class each and every flight, it can greatly improve your overall travel experience!

Leverage your current airline status and Start Your Very Own United MileagePlus Premier Status Match Challenge today!

Happy Travels!

DW

The image shows a white outline of a paper airplane on a blue circular background.

 

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  1. Pingback: Is United Premier Gold Worth a Mileage Run? - AcCounting Your Points

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