Earning United Premier elite status opens the door to an array of valuable perks, but meeting the qualification requirements can seem daunting without a clear strategy.
This guide will discuss the status tier requirements of Silver, Gold, Platinum, and 1K, and how to obtain Premier Qualifying Points and Flights to level up your elite status.
United's Elite Status Tiers
United Airlines has five elite status tiers that you can obtain by earning a combination of Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) and Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs):
- Premier Silver = 4,000 PQPs + 12 PQFs or 5,000 PQPs.
- Premier Gold = 8,000 PQPs + 24 PQFs or 10,000 PQPs.
- Premier Platinum = 12,000 PQPs + 36 PQFs or 15,000 PQPs
- Premier 1K = 18,000 PQPs + 54 PQFs or 24,000 PQPs.
- Global Services = Invite-only.
Head Start for Existing Elite Members
Existing MileagePlus elite members will receive a head start in 2024 of about 5% of their PQPs, except for members who obtained their premier status from a status challenge:
- Premier Silver members will get a head start of 250 PQPs.
- Premier Gold members will get a head start of 500 PQPs.
- Premier Platinum members will get a head start of 750 PQPs.
- Premier 1K members will get a head start of 1,250 PQPs.
How to Earn Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs)
Earning Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs) is pretty straightforward. You earn one PQF for every flight segment you fly.
For example, a nonstop flight from New York to Los Angeles is one PQF, but if you have a connection in Chicago, that is two PQFs.
PQFs can be earned by flying United, Star Alliance partners, or United’s other partners, but at least four PQFs must be earned each year by flying on United or United Express.
Basic Economy tickets do not earn PQFs, but they do earn PQPs.
How to Earn United Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs)
You earn PQPs based on the base fare of the flight, including carrier-imposed surcharges but excluding taxes and other fees on United and their partner airlines.
For United Airlines flights or flights booked via United, you will earn 1 PQP per dollar spent.
For partner airlines, it depends on if the partner is a “Preferred Partner” or a “MileagePlus Partner.”
Preferred Partners:
- Earn PQPs based on the award miles you earn divided by 5 with a cap of 750 PQPs for economy and premium economy, and 1,500 PQPs for business or first class.
- Air Canada, Air China, Air Dolomiti, Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Austrian Airlines, Avianca, Azul Brazilian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Copa Airlines, Discover Airlines, Edelweiss, Eurowings, Lufthansa, SWISS International Airlines, and Virgin Australia.
MileagePlus Partners:
- Earn PQPs based on the award miles you earn divided by 6 with a cap of 500 PQPs for economy and premium economy, and 1,000 PQPs for business or first class.
- Aegean Airlines, Air India, Asiana Airlines, Croatia Airlines, EgyptAir, Ethiopian Airlines, EVA Air, Juneyao Air, LOT Polish Airlines, Olympic Air, SAS, Shenzhen Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways, TAP Air Portugal, Thai Airways International, and Turkish Airlines.
You can also earn PQPs on Economy Plus and preferred seat purchases, upgrades, award flights on United, and spending on United’s co-branded credit cards.
Earning PQPs via Credit Cards
You can earn PQPs toward Premier elite status based on your annual spending on the following United credit cards.
Starting in 2024, you will earn 25 PQPs per $500 spent on an eligible cobranded United credit card instead of 500 PQPs for every $12,000:
- United℠ Business Card (1,000 PQP annual maximum).
- United Club℠ Infinite Card (10,000 PQP annual maximum).
- United℠ Business Card (1,000 PQP annual maximum).
- United℠ Explorer Card (1,000 PQP annual maximum).
- United Quest℠ Card (6,000 PQP maximum).
However, the no annual fee United Gateway℠ Card does not earn any PQPs.
