For years, United MileagePlus, United Airlines’ frequent flyer program, was one of the most attractive programs within the Star Alliance. However, that came to a sudden end in 2020, when status miles were tied to ticket prices. Previously, only US residents had a revenue-based qualification system.
Now, for those who have remained loyal to United, there will once again be an increase in status requirements. From 2025, those aiming for a frequent flyer status will need to accumulate between 16% and 25% more status points than before. There are still two ways to qualify: either by reaching a higher amount of status points or through a combination of status points and flight segments:
| Status | Requirements 2024 (Option 1) | Requirements 2024 (Option 2) | Requirements 2025 (Option 1) | Requirements 2025 (Option 2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier Silver | 5,000 PQP | 4,000 PQP + 12 PQF | 6,000 PQP | 5,000 PQP + 15 PQF |
| Premier Gold | 10,000 PQP | 8,000 PQP + 24 PQF | 12,000 PQP | 10,000 PQP + 30 PQF |
| Premier Platin | 15,000 PQP | 12,000 PQP + 36 PQF | 18,000 PQP | 15,000 PQP + 45 PQF |
| Premier 1K | 24,000 PQP | 18,000 PQP + 54 PQF | 28,000 PQP | 22,000 PQP + 60 PQF |
The new requirements apply to flights from 2025 onward, with status valid until January 2027.
Not sure about the abbreviations? Here’s a brief explanation:
- Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) are status points. For flights with United, they correspond to the ticket price in USD (excluding taxes), while for flights with partner airlines, they are calculated as award miles divided by 5 or 6, and the award miles depend on distance and booking class. Our PQP calculator can help with this calculation.
- Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF) are the number of flight segments with United and its partners in a calendar year, excluding Basic Economy tickets.
To achieve Premier 1K status, you would need to spend at least $22,000 on United tickets! This is hardly feasible, especially for Europeans. For partner airline flights, distance-based calculations still apply based on booking class, but it won’t make things much easier.
As in previous years, there will be a small starting bonus for existing status members. However, this won’t make a significant difference. The bonus you receive depends on your status as of December 31, 2024:
- Premier Silver: 300 PQP start bonus
- Premier Gold: 600 PQP start bonus
- Premier Platinum: 900 PQP start bonus
- Premier 1K: 1,400 PQP start bonus
New Options for Using PlusPoints
Those who achieve Premier Platinum or 1K status receive PlusPoints, which until now could only be used for upgrades with United and selected partner airlines like Lufthansa. However, if you didn’t use them for upgrades, the points would expire annually.
Starting in mid-2025, United will introduce new ways to use PlusPoints. Unfortunately, there are no details yet on the exchange rate. What’s clear is that it will be possible to exchange PQP for the following other benefits:
- Earning additional PQP or PQF for qualification
- Award miles
- The ability to gift Premier status
- Credit in the TravelBank account
An interesting development overall. However, we expect that upgrades will remain the most attractive redemption option.
Translated by Ditmar
Cover Picture: Ditmar Lange
Comment (1)
I’m ditching UA after these latest news (am also non US based), it’s become quite difficult to hit the PQD thresholds. Could I still leverage my UA status for 2025 while crediting to TK (or LH maybe)? How would this work?