Author Topic: Paying for status - United  (Read 1118 times)

Offline mobijew

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Paying for status - United
« on: January 30, 2023, 07:27:10 AM »
At what point is it worth paying an airline (in this case United) for status. I was decently close to getting to gold status on United for 2023 (one more round trip flight EWR-TLV probably would’ve put me over the threshold). I got an offer from United now to pay $1,750 to bump myself up from silver to gold for 2023. At what point does it become worth it? I live in Israel so I don’t really fly domestically, but I fly in once a quarter now (I didn’t fly in as much in 2022 hence not hitting gold). I would earn more points per flight being gold, so getting gold for 2024 would be that much easier, as well as getting 2 free bags per trip, and easier upgrade eligibility (obviously not a guarantee, but better than with silver). My question is how to quantify if this is worth the cost or not. Thanks!

« Last Edit: January 30, 2023, 07:30:13 AM by mobijew »

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Re: Paying for status - United
« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2023, 07:33:32 AM »
At what point is it worth paying an airline (in this case United) for status. I was decently close to getting to gold status on United for 2023 (one more round trip flight EWR-TLV probably would’ve put me over the threshold). I got an offer from United now to pay $1,750 to bump myself up from silver to gold for 2023. At what point does it become worth it? I live in Israel so I don’t really fly domestically, but I fly in once a quarter now (I didn’t fly in as much in 2022 hence not hitting gold). I would earn more points per flight being gold, so getting gold for 2024 would be that much easier, as well as getting 2 free bags per trip, and easier upgrade eligibility (obviously not a guarantee, but better than with silver). My question is how to quantify if this is worth the cost or not. Thanks!

You won’t get upgraded internationally so you can remove that from the equation straightaway
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Offline mobijew

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Re: Paying for status - United
« Reply #2 on: January 30, 2023, 07:35:31 AM »
You’re right that I wouldn’t get upgraded on my own, but I have a family member who is 1K and waitlists me for upgrades with plus points, which has worked in the past, although less people were flying then due to covid. So I don’t think I would remove it entirely but definitely weight it lower.

Offline DealJew

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Re: Paying for status - United
« Reply #3 on: January 30, 2023, 08:05:39 AM »
You’re right that I wouldn’t get upgraded on my own, but I have a family member who is 1K and waitlists me for upgrades with plus points, which has worked in the past, although less people were flying then due to covid. So I don’t think I would remove it entirely but definitely weight it lower.
You get 2 checked bags either way with silver status. It's not worth $1,750 over silver status.
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Offline mobijew

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Re: Paying for status - United
« Reply #4 on: January 30, 2023, 08:07:41 AM »
That's what I was thinking, just wanted someone to verify, thank you both!

Offline Danlover111

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Re: Paying for status - United
« Reply #5 on: January 30, 2023, 08:19:48 AM »
You get 3 bags when you fly international with gold.

Offline mobijew

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Re: Paying for status - United
« Reply #6 on: January 30, 2023, 08:20:54 AM »
Not such a perk for me. I fly without bags and then bring bags back with me, 2 is almost always more than enough.

Offline Danlover111

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Re: Paying for status - United
« Reply #7 on: January 30, 2023, 08:24:32 AM »
So what's your question- is it worth paying $1750 for what?

Offline mobijew

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Re: Paying for status - United
« Reply #8 on: January 30, 2023, 08:50:53 AM »
1 - I forgot that I get two bags with silver
2 - if I can get upgraded more easily
3 - if I can retain the gold status more easily since I would earn more per mile/flight

but seems like its probably not worth paying since I already get the 2 bags with silver and more than likely I still wouldn't get the upgrades.

Offline Danlover111

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Re: Paying for status - United
« Reply #9 on: January 31, 2023, 02:09:32 AM »
1 - I forgot that I get two bags with silver
2 - if I can get upgraded more easily
3 - if I can retain the gold status more easily since I would earn more per mile/flight

but seems like its probably not worth paying since I already get the 2 bags with silver and more than likely I still wouldn't get the upgrades.
You said gold has no benefit to you...
You are not more likely to get upgraded.

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Re: Paying for status - United
« Reply #10 on: January 31, 2023, 02:38:17 AM »
You said gold has no benefit to you...
You are not more likely to get upgraded.
That's what he said...

Offline hr555

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Re: Paying for status - United
« Reply #11 on: February 04, 2023, 09:20:55 PM »
You said gold has no benefit to you...
You are not more likely to get upgraded.

Is paying $2900 for Platinum status (from Gold) worth it (basically for points upgrades on EWR-TLV-EWR)?

Offline Danlover111

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Re: Paying for status - United
« Reply #12 on: February 05, 2023, 07:22:35 AM »
Is paying $2900 for Platinum status (from Gold) worth it (basically for points upgrades on EWR-TLV-EWR)?
no