In addition to the benefits with United, cardholders can join Avis First and receive Platinum status

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So far in our Elite Status american airlines flight schedules Series, we’ve covered American , Delta and Southwest . TPG contributor Jason Steele american airlines flight schedules has taken us through the basics of United Premier Silver , Gold , Platinum and 1K status , and for today s final post, he discusses some of the other unique features and benefits american airlines flight schedules of the MileagePlus program.
Throughout this series, I detailed the qualifications and benefits of United s four published elite levels of its MileagePlus elite status american airlines flight schedules program, Premier Silver, Gold, Platinum, and 1K. Today, I want to examine some of the unique features common to this program including other ways to earn elite-qualifying miles, MileagePlus credit cards, special elite levels beyond the Premier program, and the United RewardsPlus partnership with Marriott.
Every airline s elite-qualifying miles are the most difficult miles to earn, and the Premier-qualifying miles (PQM) in the MileagePlus program are not an exception. These miles are so-called butt in seat miles because they typically represent actual miles flown; you can t even earn them on paid tickets that are not flown. Since modern airliners american airlines flight schedules only travel american airlines flight schedules at around 500 miles per hour, it can take approximately 200 hours more than 8 days in the air to earn 100,000 PQM necessary to achieve Premier 1K status!
Thankfully, United does offer a few alternative ways to pad your PQM balance. The easiest way to earn PQMs on the ground is with the United MileagePlus Presidential Plus card from Chase, which is no longer offered to new applicants. Nevertheless, existing cardholders receive 1,000 Flex PQM per $5,000 spent. The interesting thing is that you can apply these Flex PQMs to your account in the calendar year earned, or in any of the three following calendar years. This can be a great way to insure against missing out on the next level of Premier status, american airlines flight schedules or retaining american airlines flight schedules Premier status in a year when you don t travel as much.
Just be sure not to attempt to earn Premier american airlines flight schedules 1K status by using these Flex PQM miles from this credit card. Flex PQMs only count towards Silver, Gold, or Platinum status. In fact, they don t even count in part towards 1K status .
Additionally, travelers can earn PQMs by opting for the Premier Accelerator option when purchasing a ticket. Customers are frequently presented with the option to purchase base miles, or PQMs when before they complete a ticket purchase on United s web site. Sadly, these PQMs can cost upwards of 20 cents each! As TPG concluded, this option american airlines flight schedules is rarely worth the expense .
MileagePlus members should american airlines flight schedules always be on the lookout for the occasional american airlines flight schedules event or promotion that offers a PQM bonus. While there are no active offers at the time of this writing, past opportunities american airlines flight schedules to earn PQMs have included Star MegaDos, charity auctions, and promotions for flying specific routes.
Finally, don t think about using these alternate american airlines flight schedules methods by themselves to earn Premier status. United requires american airlines flight schedules travelers to fly a minimum of four paid segments on United, United Express or Copa Airlines to earn any Premier level.
United partners with Chase to offer a range of co-branded credit cards. By themselves, these credit cards can confer many of the benefits of elite status, yet they still offer additional benefits to those who are also Premier members.
For example, holding any United MileagePlus credit card offers access to any unsold seat on any United flight, but at the standard mileage rate, which is double the saver rate. So while it s more expensive in terms of mileage, at least you have the certainty of being able to book.
1. United MileagePlus Explorer Card. This is one of the best entry-level airline cards out there. The current sign-up bonus is 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,000 in 3 months when you sign up for this card in a Chase branch . Otherwise earn  30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months. When you add an authorized user to your account you will earn 5,000 miles and you can earn another 10,000 miles if you spend $25,000 within a calendar year .
Cardholders earn 2X miles per $1 on United and 1 mile per dollar spent on all other purchases. They also receive their first checked bag free for themselves and one other traveling companion. Normally, travelers without elite status pay $25 per bag, each way. Cardholders are sent two United Club day passes american airlines flight schedules each year and receive priority boarding, but only after elites.
As a premium Chase card and a Visa Signature card, customers have access to the Luxury Hotel Resort Collection and Visa Signature Hotels . When booking hotel stays through this program american airlines flight schedules guests receive complimentary daily breakfast for two, room upgrade, if available, early check-in and late check-out, whenever available, and an additional american airlines flight schedules special benefit, unique to each property.
Other benefits include trip cancellation, trip delay, and lost luggage reimbursement coverage. In addition, american airlines flight schedules this card offers primary rental american airlines flight schedules car insurance. Finally, cardholders receive 10,000 bonus miles each calendar year when they spend at least $25,000 on their card. There is a $95 annual fee for this card that is waived the first year, and it no longer levies foreign transaction fees .
2. United american airlines flight schedules MileagePlus american airlines flight schedules Explorer Business Card . This card offers largely the same features and benefits of the personal card, with one exception. Business cardholders receive double miles for each dollar spent at restaurants, gas stations, and office supply stores. Like the personal card, there is a $95 annual fee that is waived the first year, and no foreign transaction fees. The current american airlines flight schedules public offer is just 30,000 miles when you spend $1,000 in the first 3 months, though as with the personal card, you might be able score a better deal by applying directly at a Chase branch.
3. United MileagePlus Club Card . This is United s premium MileagePlus american airlines flight schedules credit card. Its big draw is the United Club membership which normally costs $500 per year before any Premier elite discounts of $25 -$100 depending on your status level. This benefit is made even more valuable by the fact that other cards which offer membership in the Lounge Club and Priority Pass programs, american airlines flight schedules such as the American Express Platinum and Chase Ink Bold and Ink Plus cards, do not have access to United Club lounges.
Cardholders earn 2 miles per dollar spent on United purchases and 1.5 miles per dollar spent on all other purchases. Like Explorer cardholders, United opens up every unsold seat for awards at the Saver level, american airlines flight schedules but Club cardholders also receive a waiver from close-in award booking fees that can cost up to $75 depending on your status level.
United Club cardholders american airlines flight schedules receive primary rental card coverage as well as trip cancellation, trip interruption, lost luggage, and baggage delay coverage. Other benefits include extended warranty protection, purchase protection, return protection, and price protection coverage.
Cardholders who have not yet earned Premier status immediately receive Premier Access travel services which includes priority check-in, security screening (where available), boarding, and baggage handling. Cardholders and one companion receive first and second checked baggage for free.
In addition to the benefits with United, cardholders can join Avis First and receive Platinum status in the Hyatt Gold Passport program. There is a $395 annual fee for this card, and no foreign transaction fees. Finally, existing United Club members can have the remainder of their United Club membership reimbursed when they receive this card.
You may have heard United gate agents american airlines flight schedules inviting Global Services members on board a flight, and United s website makes continuous references to its Global Services program, but never really defines it. Global Services is a largely unpublished fifth status tier offered by invitation only to select customers based on the revenue they generated in the previous year. So this status is offered to those who are already 1K Premiers that often purchase first, business, and full-fare economy tickets rather than discounted economy fares.
Benefits include upgrade priority over all other elites american airlines flight schedules and admission to the First Class lounges. In fact, the Wall Street Journal reported that Global Services members were being invited to exclusive events and shuttled american airlines flight schedules to connecting flights in Mercedes as well.
In contrast to the semi-secret Global Services program, United s Million american airlines flight schedules Miler program is well documented. Lifetime flight miles include those earned with the United MileagePlus program as well as previous balances with Continental s OnePass and TravelBank programs, and even Eastern Airlines original frequent flier program (remember them?).
Those with one million lifetime flight receive lifetime Premier Gold status, two million miles receives lifetime Premier Platinum, three million Premier 1K, and four million receives Global Services status. for These benefits also apply to a spouse or significant other, but are non-transferable.
Just like Delta and Starwood teamed up to offer Crossover american airlines flight schedules benefits , United introduced its RewardsPlus partnership in July. United Premier Gold, Premier Platinum, Premier 1K and Global Services (everyone american airlines flight schedules except Premier Silver) can register american airlines flight schedules for complimentary Marriott Rewards Gold Elite status and benefits. TPG offered the full details in this post .
This status offer hotel guests lounge access and breakfast at select Marriott locations, room upgrades, complimentary Internet access, priority late check-out, and a 25% bonus points. american airlines flight schedules MileagePlus members can convert their miles to Marriott american airlines flight schedules rewards points on a 1:1 basis, up to 50,000 points a year, which is a 20% discount. In this way Marriott is hoping to win the business of United s mid-tier elites and better.
At the same time, those who are Marriott Platinum elites, those with 75 or more qualifying