If you’re a frequent flyer and spend many hours touring annually, having elite standing with an airline, equivalent to United Airways, could make a big distinction in your journey expertise. Shorter traces, quicker service, complimentary upgrades, worldwide lounge entry and different advantages can simply make aggravating journeys extra seamless.
Nonetheless, these perks don’t come with no price. Airways usually require vital time, cash or each to attain that elusive elite standing. With thresholds to succeed in standing seemingly ever-increasing, you will need to weigh the advantages towards the drawbacks of remaining loyal to at least one airline program. That is very true for the United MileagePlus program, which just lately unveiled elevated thresholds for incomes Premier standing in 2025.
This information will consider United Premier standing and break down the completely different standing tiers, how you can earn them and if their perks are definitely worth the effort for United flyers.
Associated: United Airways MileagePlus: Information to incomes and redeeming miles, elite standing and extra
What’s United Premier standing?
Once you select to fly United Airways and add your MileagePlus quantity to your reserving, along with incomes miles, you earn factors towards Premier standing. Relying on which United elite standing tier you obtain, perks vary from complimentary first-class upgrades on most home flights (relying on availability) to incomes bonus miles that may be redeemed for future journey.
You may qualify for Premier standing by a mixture of Premier qualifying flights and Premier qualifying factors, or with Premier qualifying factors alone. The variety of flights and factors you earn in a calendar yr will decide which standing you obtain, which is then legitimate for the rest of the calendar yr, the whole thing of the next yr, and the primary month of the yr after.
For example, in the event you reached standing necessities anytime in 2024, you’ll maintain the standing by Jan. 31, 2026. So, incomes elite standing as rapidly as doable within the calendar yr is sensible so you possibly can take pleasure in the advantages for so long as doable.
Associated: Finest United Airways bank cards
United Premier standing tiers
Anybody could make a United MileagePlus account free of charge on-line, the place you begin as a “Member” and might take off in your elite standing expedition. You may have 4 official elite standing tiers to work towards:
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- Premier Silver
- Premier Gold
- Premier Platinum
- Premier 1K
These are corresponding to the elite standing tiers of rival airline loyalty applications American Airways AAdvantage and Delta Air Strains SkyMiles. As you climb the ranks, the perks develop into extra profitable, providing unbelievable advantages equivalent to lounge entry and free checked baggage.
There’s additionally an unpublished unique tier known as World Companies, which might solely be achieved by flying 4 million miles or receiving a private invitation.
Associated: Easy methods to redeem miles with the United MileagePlus program
Easy methods to qualify for United Premier standing
Lately, many airways have moved away from calculating elite standing primarily based on precise mileage flown. For United, this implies elite standing is achieved by taking Premier qualifying flights, or PQFs, which embrace flight segments on each United and companion airways, and incomes Premier qualifying factors, or PQPs. PQPs — to not be confused with United MileagePlus miles — are earned solely for the aim of elite standing and can’t be redeemed for award flights.
You may earn PQPs by flying, although the incomes price will depend on which airline operates the flight and whether or not you e book it with money or miles. It’s also possible to earn PQPs by spending on cobranded bank cards.
| Kind of flight | PQP incomes price |
|---|---|
| United and United Categorical flights booked with money | Earn 1 PQP per greenback spent on base airfare and carrier-imposed surcharges (not together with taxes and different charges). |
| United and United Categorical flights booked with miles | Earn 1 PQP for each 100 MileagePlus miles redeemed on flights and seat upgrades. |
| Companion flights booked with money | Earn 1 PQP for each 5 award miles on most popular companion airways. Notice that you could solely earn a most of 750 PQPs for economic system and premium economic system seats and 1,500 PQPs for first- and business-class seats.
Earn 1 PQP for each 6 award miles on MileagePlus companion airways. You may earn 1 PQP for each 6 award miles; you may earn a most of 500 PQPs per flight in economic system and premium economic system and 1,000 PQPs per flight in first and enterprise class.
|
| Companion flights booked with miles | Companion award tickets don’t earn PQPs; you may solely earn miles on flight segments operated by United. |
You’ve two avenues to qualify for United Premier standing: You may attain a sure variety of mixed PQPs and PQFs, or earn PQPs alone.
Sadly, United just lately introduced that these thresholds would improve by roughly 25% for the 2025 standing qualification yr. This is a abstract of the modifications:
| Standing tier | PQPs and PQFs (2024) | PQPs and PQFs (2025) | PQPs solely (2024) | PQPs solely (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier Silver | 4,000 PQPs and 12 PQFs | 5,000 PQPs and 15 PQFs | 5,000 PQPs | 6,000 PQPs |
| Premier Gold | 8,000 PQPs and 24 PQFs | 10,000 PQPs and 30 PQFs | 10,000 PQPs | 12,000 PQPs |
| Premier Platinum | 12,000 PQPs and 36 PQFs | 15,000 PQPs and 45 PQFs | 15,000 PQPs | 18,000 PQPs |
| Premier 1K | 18,000 PQPs and 54 PQFs | 22,000 PQPs and 60 PQFs | 24,000 PQPs | 28,000 PQPs |
So, even in the event you secured elite standing in 2024, you might have to rethink your qualification technique to satisfy the brand new incomes necessities in 2025.
Nonetheless, United has introduced plans to provide present elite members a head begin on subsequent yr’s standing within the type of bonus PQPs — and these numbers have additionally elevated from final yr. If you happen to certified for standing in 2024, you may get the next bonus PQPs in early 2025, relying in your present standing degree:
- Premier Silver: 300 PQPs
- Premier Gold: 600 PQPs
- Premier Platinum: 900 PQPs
- Premier 1K: 1,400 PQPs
It is usually necessary to notice that whether or not you are working towards standing with PQPs and PQFs or PQPs alone, United has a four-segment requirement to attain standing. This implies you should take not less than 4 flights operated by United or United Categorical to earn any standing tier.
United Premier standing advantages
As you possibly can think about, the perks of United loyalty get increasingly interesting as you climb the Premier standing ladder. This is an outline of what you may take pleasure in with every tier:
Premier Silver
That is the bottom elite tier within the MileagePlus program, the place you’ll obtain advantages equivalent to:
- Earn 7 miles per greenback spent on flights (fundamental members solely earn 5 miles per greenback)
- Star Alliance Silver standing
- Precedence Group 2 boarding
- Most well-liked seating at reserving (for as much as eight journey companions)
- Financial system Plus seating at check-in (for you and as much as one journey companion)
- One free 70-pound checked bag
- Precedence cellphone help
- Complimentary Premier Upgrades as early because the day of departure
- Immediate upgrades to premium cabins on economic system tickets
Premier Gold
Once you attain the Gold tier, you obtain the entire similar perks as Silver, along with:
- Earn 8 miles per greenback spent
- Star Alliance Gold standing
- Marriott Bonvoy Gold standing
- United Membership lounge entry when flying internationally with United or another Star Alliance airline
- Financial system Plus seating at reserving (for you and as much as one journey companion)
- Group 1 boarding
- Two free 70-pound checked baggage
- Complimentary Premier Upgrades as early as 48 hours earlier than departure
Premier Platinum
For even more-frequent United flyers, you obtain the entire similar perks as Premier Gold, along with:
- Earn 9 miles per greenback spent
- Waived phone reserving charges (these usually price $25)
- Avis President’s Membership standing
- Financial system Plus seating at reserving (for as much as eight journey companions)
- Complimentary Premier Upgrades as early as 72 hours earlier than departure
- 40 PlusPoints
Premier 1K
That is the highest tier in United’s program for its most frequent vacationers, the place you’ll obtain the entire similar perks as Premier Platinum, along with:
- Earn 11 miles per greenback spent
- Precedence boarding, together with preboarding the plane
- Three free 70-pound checked baggage
- Complimentary Premier Upgrades as early as 96 hours earlier than departure
- A further 280 PlusPoints
PlusPoints, which can be found solely to Platinum and 1K members, are a separate forex used for seat upgrades. Sadly, utilizing them towards upgrades has grown more and more troublesome in recent times as demand has skyrocketed. That is why United MileagePlus is introducing a number of new methods to make use of your PlusPoints in 2025:
- A PQP or PQF deposit
- TravelBank money
- Bonus miles
- Gifting Premier standing to different MileagePlus members
Although we do not have many particulars on these modifications but, they need to make it simpler to get worth from this elite standing perk. Look out for extra data on new methods to make use of your PlusPoints as we head into the brand new yr.
Associated: Your information to Star Alliance airways, lounges and elite standing
Can a bank card enable you to earn United Premier standing?
United has a number of private and enterprise bank cards, all issued by Chase, that may enable you to get nearer to elite standing. None of those playing cards present complimentary elite standing, however you may earn extra PQPs with on a regular basis purchases.
In 2023, United introduced how cardholders would earn PQPs from bank cards. Cardholders now earn 25 PQPs per $500 spent on an eligible cobranded United card.
The next playing cards earn 25 PQPs for each $500 in eligible spending; plus, some playing cards provide PQPs as a part of the welcome bonus:
| Card | Finest for | Welcome provide | PQP incomes cap | Annual payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United℠ Explorer Card | Frequent United flyers | Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $3,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. | As much as 1,000 PQPs per calendar yr | $0 introductory annual payment for the primary yr, then $95 |
| United Quest℠ Card | Frequent United flyers | Earn 60,000 bonus miles and 500 PQPs after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. | As much as 6,000 PQPs per calendar yr | $250 |
| United Membership℠ Infinite Card | Frequent United flyers who need United Membership lounge entry | Earn 80,000 bonus miles after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. | As much as 10,000 PQPs per calendar yr | $525 |
| United℠ Enterprise Card | Frequent United flyers with an eligible enterprise | Earn 75,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months your account is open | As much as 1,000 PQPs per calendar yr | $0 introductory annual payment for the primary yr, then $99 |
| United Membership℠ Enterprise Card | Frequent United flyers with an eligible enterprise who need United Membership entry | Earn 50,000 bonus miles and 1,000 PQPs after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months your account is open | As much as 1,000 PQPs per calendar yr | $450 |
The knowledge for the United Membership Enterprise Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Associated: The final word information to incomes elite standing with United playing cards
Is United Premier standing price it?
Elite standing can actually make journey extra comfy and handy. For instance, when your flight is delayed and also you wish to communicate to an agent to get a decision, having elite standing can undoubtedly make the distinction in a immediate response. Moreover, holding any United Premier standing will assist save time with precedence boarding and expedited airport check-in lanes. Complimentary upgrades are at all times satisfying, although they’ll typically be onerous to return by on busy routes, particularly between hubs.
If you happen to journey with United or its companion airways commonly and/or spend considerably on a cobranded bank card, you might discover it straightforward to earn Premier standing, and it may be a savvy approach to maximize your journey. Plus, this implies you may even be incomes loads of United miles, which you’ll redeem for United award flights, all whereas having fun with your elite standing advantages.
Nonetheless, it is not price pursuing standing when you possibly can’t take pleasure in the advantages you’ve got labored onerous to earn. Be sure you think about United’s route map, its presence at your house airport(s) and the way straightforward it’s to get to your required vacation spot. Dwelling close to a United hub equivalent to Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport (EWR) or George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) can actually make it extra worthwhile to pursue United standing. If United and its companion airways do not fly the place you reside or the place you wish to journey, you will not get a lot use from United standing.
Lastly, keep in mind that Premier standing doesn’t present home lounge entry when touring with United. If this profit is necessary to you, think about making use of for the United Membership Infinite Card, which offers United Membership entry and elite perks equivalent to two free checked baggage and Premier Entry journey providers.
Associated: Is United Airways premium economic system price it to Europe?
Backside line
Incomes elite standing, particularly a top-tier standing like Premier 1K, isn’t any straightforward feat and requires numerous hours on planes and hundreds of {dollars} spent. Understanding the price and perks of United’s elite standing is necessary to find out whether it is best for you — particularly since United’s latest modifications will make standing tougher to earn in 2025.
Premier perks could make the journey expertise much less aggravating and extra satisfying. Each traveler has their very own set of advantages that make it worthwhile to pursue elite standing primarily based on finances constraints, dwelling airports, locations and different particular person elements. If you happen to try for United Airways elite standing, ensure you’ll use the advantages you’ve got earned.
