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United Airlines announced today what elite members can expect to requalify for Premier status in 2025. I’m impressed that the increases aren’t as huge they could be and there are new ways to use PlusPoints.
Earning Premier Status
Status is earned by either a combination of Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF) and Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) or just PQP at a higher threshold. Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF) are based on flight segments and Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) are based on spend on United airfare (as well as partner flights, credit card spend, and some bonuses). All members also must take a minimum of four flights operated by United. Currently, members need to earn the following to advance through the levels of Premier status:
- Premier Silver: 12 PQF and 4,000 PQP or 5,000 PQP
- Premier Gold: 24 PQF and 8,000 PQP or 10,000 PQP
- Premier Platinum: 36 PQF and 12,000 PQP or 15,000 PQP
- Premier 1K®: 54 PQF and 18,000 PQP or 24,000 PQP
To qualify in 2025, these requirements are increasing. Members must now earn PQFs and PQPs at these levels:
- Premier Silver: 15 PQF and 5,000 PQP or 6,000 PQP
- Premier Gold: 30 PQF and 10,000 PQP or 12,000 PQP
- Premier Platinum: 45 PQF and 15,000 PQP or 18,000 PQP
- Premier 1K®: 60 PQF and 22,000 PQP or 28,000 PQP
While these increases will definitely mean more flying, I don’t think they are that out of line. These increases are around 20% to 25% higher than previous years and lower than what I expect we’ll see from Delta when it makes changes. This is the first time that United has increased these requirements since it changed the way status is earned back in 2019.
Premier Status Starter PQP
As in the past, United will be providing all elite members with a head start on the next year by depositing PQPs based on status level. The amounts are listed above and are higher than what was offered this year.
United’s Credit Cards Will Be More Rewarding
Cardholders will be able to earn more PQPs from spend on their cards. You’ll be able to earn one PQP for every $20 spent on all eligible cards (except the United Club℠ Infinite Card and United Club℠ Business Card as they earn at a rate of one PQP per $15 spent). The caps on earning are also increasing. The new levels include:
- United Club℠ Infinite Card increases from 10,000 PQPs to 15,000 PQPs
- United Club℠Business Card increases from 10,000 PQPs to 15,000 PQPs
- United Quest℠ Card increases from 6,000 PQPs to 9,000 PQPs
United still does not allow members to earn status just from credit card spend like American Airlines and Delta Air Lines both offer.
PlusPoints Are More Flexible
PlusPoints are the currency used for upgrades. United provides 40 to Premier Platinum members and 280 more to Premier 1K® members. Members complain that these do not clear and that the points expire. I had great success when I was a Global Services® member (those upgrades pull from a different fare bucket) and even as a Premier 1K®. Part of my push to renew my status this year is to earn PlusPoints for future trips.
Next year, PlusPoints won’t just be good for upgrades. They can also be converted to:
- Premier Qualifying Points (PQP) or Premier Qualifying Flights (PQF)
- TravelBank cash
- Bonus miles
- Gifting Premier status to other MileagePlus members
The exchange rates and rules around these new options have not yet been released. I love that these are more flexible and no one will be able to complain about not having a use for them.
The current rates for upgrades using PlusPoints are above. United has not said that these are changing.
Anthony’s Take: I’m happy with the changes to PlusPoints and that the requirements for status did not become excessive. Yes, these are higher, but hopefully they’ll also make it so that there are less elite members. Many flights have obscenely long upgrade lists and the number of folks preboarding as Premier 1K® is also quite high on many flights.
(Image Credits: United Airlines.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
