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During United’s Q3 earnings call yesterday, the Chicago-based carrier stated that it would not be making any “material changes” to its MileagePlus program for 2025 qualification (earned in 2024). This is good news to United loyalists and might cause some Delta flyers to make the jump.
United’s frequent flyer program is called MileagePlus®. When you fly on paid tickets with United Airlines and its partners, you earn MileagePlus® miles. These can be redeemed for free tickets. In addition to miles earned from flying, you can get them from purchases made with one of Chase’s co-branded credit cards, through United’s shopping portal, and a host of other ways. Elite members get specific benefits at each level ranging from priority boarding to free checked baggage to upgrades on certain routes. The higher the level, the juicier the perks become. Miles from flying are earned based on the price of the ticket with bonuses given to each Premier level. There are four published levels plus an invitation-only level called Global Services®.
Earning status is based on taking a number of flights to earn PQF (Premier qualifying flights) as well as PQP (Premier qualifying point) or just based on PQP but at higher thresholds. Basically, how much you’re spending on tickets is the most important factor in gaining and maintaining status. Only airfare counts towards PQP (no taxes or fees). A minimum of four United operated flights is also required for any status.
This is not to say that the requirements above will not change at all, but it seems like there might be some modest adjustments (or maybe none at all) to the spend levels and segments required for each tier. I think United observed the backlash that Delta Air Lines has faced after it imploded SkyMiles last month (more here).
Anthony’s Take: Delta just released what changes are rolling back (more here). I have enough flights booked to make Diamond Medallion and it looks like I will slip to Premier Gold or Platinum on United. I made the conscious decision to shift my flying this year and have been enjoying the experience regardless of the frequent flyer program.
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