United Airlines has quietly prolonged the MileagePlus Premier standing of many account holders after giving no indication that it might in 2023 (and admittedly each indication that it might not). It represents the persisting actuality of air journey nonetheless compromised by the consequences of the pandemic.
United Airlines 2023 Status Extension: Premier Status Extended Again Through Early 2024 For Many United MileagePlus Members
No official phrase has been launched but and never each member was focused, however many MileagePlus members discovered their elite standing prolonged one other yr final night time.
All week, the elite progress indicator in our MileagePlus accounts seemed one thing like this:
That was a superb indication that one thing was happening behind the scenes. As it turned out, United was making ready to increase the elite standing of many members. We are nonetheless gathering information factors, however plainly many with abroad addresses had been particularly focused and obtained notes like this:
For MileagePlus members in Asia, the standing extension acknowledges that 2022 was impacted by each restricted flight schedules and lingering journey restrictions that made conventional Premier qualification nearly insurmountable. However, these standing extensions additionally focused some MileagePlus flyers within the USA and Europe as effectively, who didn’t face comparable restrictions.
On a private word, I fall on the opposite aspect for the second yr in a row. I made a push for 1K standing on the finish of the yr, moderately believing that United wouldn’t prolong standing once more on a complimentary foundation. One most important cause I did so was out of hope that the herd of 1K members can be thinned out, making it doable as soon as once more to clear upgrades on home flights. It seems that won’t be the case.
I cannot wallow in indignation over “equity” regarding these extensions (this argument nonetheless applies). At the identical time, although, I can not assist however level out that the shortage of upgrades actually eviscerates the remaining worth of 1K standing (since award modifications and redeposits at the moment are free for all MileagePlus members).
No predictions from me on how my journey patterns will in the end form up this yr – we’ll have to attend and see – however I don’t imagine United helps itself by granting such extensions for 3 years in a row however leaving in place fairly draconian insurance policies to require for standing this yr (for instance, 1K standing will purportedly require $18,500 in spending this yr, not even counting authorities taxes).
CONCLUSION
My final response to this newest spherical of standing extensions is a giant shrug. Am I glad about it? Of course not, since I spent the cash to truly re-qualify for standing. But am I going to accuse United of being unfair? Nope. Status extensions are the prerogative of United and the provider can definitely make cheap arguments for doing so. The web consequence, nonetheless, is that individuals who have flown just about nothing on United in three years should retain top-tier standing and that may definitely enhance competitors for upgrades each domestically and internationally. That disincentivizes these really reserving journey from flying on United.
Will this standing extension change your journey patterns with United in 2023?
prime picture: United