In case you are a frequent flyer and spend many hours touring every year, having elite standing with an airline, reminiscent of United Airways, could make a major distinction in your journey expertise. Shorter strains, quicker service, complimentary upgrades, worldwide lounge entry and different advantages can simply make annoying journeys extra seamless.
Nonetheless, these perks don’t come with out a price. Airways usually require important time, cash or each to realize 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 1 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 well 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?
If 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 way of a mix 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 lot of the next yr, and the primary month of the yr after.
As an illustration, in case you reached standing necessities anytime in 2024, you’ll maintain the standing by way of Jan. 31, 2026. So, incomes elite standing as shortly as potential within the calendar yr is sensible so you possibly can take pleasure in the advantages for so long as potential.
Associated: Greatest 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 similar to the elite standing tiers of rival airline loyalty packages American Airways AAdvantage and Delta Air Traces SkyMiles. As you climb the ranks, the perks grow to be extra profitable, providing unimaginable advantages reminiscent of lounge entry and free checked baggage.
There’s additionally an unpublished unique tier referred to as World Providers, which may solely be achieved by flying 4 million miles or receiving a private invitation.
Associated: Find out how to redeem miles with the United MileagePlus program
Find out how to qualify for United Premier standing
Lately, many airways have moved away from calculating elite standing based mostly on precise mileage flown. For United, this implies elite standing is achieved by taking Premier qualifying flights, or PQFs, which embody 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 charge will depend on which airline operates the flight and whether or not you guide it with money or miles. You too can earn PQPs by way of spending on cobranded bank cards.
| Kind of flight | PQP incomes charge |
|---|---|
| United and United Specific 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 Specific 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 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 will 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 will solely earn miles on flight segments operated by United. |
You’ve got 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 adjustments:
| 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 case 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 present 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. Should you certified for standing in 2024, you will 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 vital 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 realize standing. This implies you should take not less than 4 flights operated by United or United Specific to earn any standing tier.
United Premier standing advantages
As you possibly can think about, the perks of United loyalty get an increasing number of interesting as you climb the Premier standing ladder. This is an outline of what you will take pleasure in with every tier:
Premier Silver
That is the bottom elite tier within the MileagePlus program, the place you’ll obtain advantages reminiscent of:
- Earn 7 miles per greenback spent on flights (primary 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 telephone help
- Complimentary Premier Upgrades as early because the day of departure
- On the spot upgrades to premium cabins on economic system tickets
Premier Gold
If you attain the Gold tier, you obtain the entire identical 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 every other 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 identical perks as Premier Gold, along with:
- Earn 9 miles per greenback spent
- Waived phone reserving charges (these sometimes 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 identical 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
- An extra 280 PlusPoints
PlusPoints, which can be found solely to Platinum and 1K members, are a separate foreign money used for seat upgrades. Sadly, utilizing them towards upgrades has grown more and more tough lately 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 adjustments 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 show you how to earn United Premier standing?
United has a number of private and enterprise bank cards, all issued by Chase, that may show you how to get nearer to elite standing. None of those playing cards present complimentary elite standing, however you will earn further 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 | Greatest for | Welcome provide | PQP incomes cap | Annual charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 charge 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 charge 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 data 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 value it?
Elite standing can definitely make journey extra comfy and handy. For instance, when your flight is delayed and also you wish to converse 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 all the time fulfilling, although they will typically be arduous to come back by on busy routes, particularly between hubs.
Should you journey with United or its companion airways often and/or spend considerably on a cobranded bank card, you might discover it simple to earn Premier standing, and it may be a savvy solution to maximize your journey. Plus, this implies you will even be incomes loads of United miles, which you’ll be able to redeem for United award flights, all whereas having fun with your elite standing advantages.
Nonetheless, it isn’t value pursuing standing when you possibly can’t take pleasure in the advantages you have labored arduous to earn. You should definitely think about United’s route map, its presence at your private home airport(s) and the way simple it’s to get to your required vacation spot. Dwelling close to a United hub reminiscent of Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport (EWR) or George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) can definitely 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 vital to you, think about making use of for the United Membership Infinite Card, which offers United Membership entry and elite perks reminiscent of two free checked baggage and Premier Entry journey companies.
Associated: Is United Airways premium economic system value it to Europe?
Backside line
Incomes elite standing, particularly a top-tier standing like Premier 1K, isn’t any simple feat and requires numerous hours on planes and hundreds of {dollars} spent. Understanding the price and perks of United’s elite standing is vital to find out whether it is best for you — particularly since United’s latest adjustments will make standing tougher to earn in 2025.
Premier perks could make the journey expertise much less annoying and extra fulfilling. Each traveler has their very own set of advantages that make it worthwhile to pursue elite standing based mostly on finances constraints, residence airports, locations and different particular person components. Should you try for United Airways elite standing, make sure you can use the advantages you have earned.