For a long time, United MileagePlus has had the most generous lifetime elite status program. Well, the airline will be making a major change to this program, which I’m sure many people will be unhappy about.
In this post:
Some United million miler companions getting status downgrade
With United MileagePlus’ lifetime elite status program:
- One million milers receive lifetime Premier Gold status
- Two million milers receive lifetime Premier Platinum status
- Three million milers receive lifetime Premier 1K status
- Four million milers receive lifetime Global Services status
It gets even better than that. With the program, million milers can nominate a companion to have the same status that they have. Since million miler members receive Premier Gold status at a minimum, that means they can also give a companion Premier Gold status on an ongoing basis.
However, if a member has million miler status and earns more than Premier Gold status, then their companion gets that status as well. This means that if one qualifies for Global Services and is a million miler, then a companion also receives Global Services status.
Thanks to a new update, this will be changing. Starting in 2027, one million miler companions will receive Premier Gold status, regardless of what elite tier the million miler member actually earns on an ongoing basis. Meanwhile two million miler companions and above will continue to receive the same status as the primary member.
My take on these lifetime elite status changes
It goes without saying that this change will be massively disappointing for many members. I know many million miler companions have enjoyed Premier Platinum, Premier 1K, or Global Services status, thanks to their companion earning that tier.
I suspect this change is being made simply because of how swelled elite ranks are getting, and the ever increasing number of million miler members. So United views this as an easy way to cut some elite members. Personally, I think the company’s companion status benefit makes a lot of sense:
- It incentivizes million milers to qualify on an ongoing basis for a tier higher than what they receive through their lifetime status
- It gives companions an incentive to fly United, when they might not have otherwise been as loyal to the airline
I think many people will be disappointed to see United essentially changing the way the million miler program works after members have already qualified for this achievement. I guess United would argue that companions are still receiving the same status as the primary member, and a “courtesy” benefit is simply being eliminated.
It’s a good reminder that it’s not worth going too far out of your way to earn lifetime status, since perks can change at any time. Yes, even for something that you think you’ve earned for a “lifetime.”
Bottom line
As of 2027, United MileagePlus is making major changes to its lifetime elite status program. Starting then, the companions of one million miler members will only receive Premier Gold status, regardless of what elite tier the million miler qualifies for on an ongoing basis. Meanwhile the companions of two million miler members and above will continue to enjoy any higher tier status that’s earned.
What do you make of United downgrading the million miler companion benefit?
#1-Gold gets us into Star Alliance lounges worldwide. That's our most valued benefit.
#2-I am Gold 100K with Alaska, and heading toward 1MM there. This change by United will make me fly more on American and Alaska flights domestically. But I still prefer *A over OW lounges internationally.
When I reached 2M several years ago, I received a lifetime United Club membership. I wonder how long that will be "lifetime."
As a UA MM and GS, this is devaluation of the program full stop for a GS. 1K and GS are earned by your butt in a seat & money spent with the airline appreciating you are flying and spending money buying tickets. Not like AA where you can buy groceries and Pilates classes to earn EP without stepping foot on an aircraft making it impossible to get an upgrade as a ACTUAL FLYING EP....
As a UA MM and GS, this is devaluation of the program full stop for a GS. 1K and GS are earned by your butt in a seat & money spent with the airline appreciating you are flying and spending money buying tickets. Not like AA where you can buy groceries and Pilates classes to earn EP without stepping foot on an aircraft making it impossible to get an upgrade as a ACTUAL FLYING EP. Unfortunately, UA is in devalue mode and it will be a race to the bottom.
To earn GS you spend a lot of time on an airplane away from your travel companion, so the ability of them to join you later on a business trip you're on knowing they'll be well taken care of as GS whilst travelling has now vanished as well as their ability yo enter the UA Club as GS when they are flying alone.
I've only got a couple more years of corporate flying as a GS so this devaluation will start after I retire so, until then my travel companion will be enjoying this benefit. Although very sad for all other GS MM's that have a ways to go to get to 2M or more...
It's amazing how much GS has been devalued surgically. The lack of 'PN' space is apalling, among other things.
I can't recall the details of how it works, but I've read where a long line of folks can daisy chain off of someone who is a 1MM and at a Global Service level, and the entire chain then gets GS status. That could have been a motivation for UA to make this change.
Yeah UA 1MM here. I think it’s a bit hyperbolic to call it a massive devaluation. My wife having Star Alliance Gold is very helpful. Especially as a family of 4 that are often on mix and match PNRs. Overall, it’s fine. Feels more like an adjustment/correction. YMMV.
This feels more like closing a loophole than a real devaluation. The old policy is more generous than you’d expect from the terms on face, unless you dig into the details.
UA Gold is already a great status. Plat is only useful for IN access. 1K is meaningless without the PlusPoints
Ik here for more than 10 years and I've never got IN access. Can you use those damn PlusPoints (I have over 700 which I lose every year) to buy IN access? That would be great! Genuine question that I don't want to wait 20 minutes on the phone to get answered. Thanks.
THIS is the content we’re here for!
This is a loss to dedicated frequent fliers. I lloved this benefit for my spouse to achieve status. We will be using other airlines a bit more now. United’s loss.
People have been saying this for years, every time there is some sort of devaluation. Truth of the matter is you won't be missed. The planes are just as full as they have ever been, record numbers of people flying at times. It's all part of their calculus.
Will Companions still get benefits of the Elite if on the same PNR? Will the companion still follow the member on the upgrade list and get same benefits while flying?
That's something every premier gets as a benefit for companions on the same PNR. Million miler not needed for that.
I’m a UA MM. As described above, I’m a free agent after achieving it. My wife gets Gold benefits. I think this is a decent policy. United has WAY too many elites. It’s a joke to be 70th on the upgrade list. I sit in PE with 1ks and neither of us have a chance at an upgrade.
My home base is SAN so I’m Gold on Alaska because of all the non stops...
I’m a UA MM. As described above, I’m a free agent after achieving it. My wife gets Gold benefits. I think this is a decent policy. United has WAY too many elites. It’s a joke to be 70th on the upgrade list. I sit in PE with 1ks and neither of us have a chance at an upgrade.
My home base is SAN so I’m Gold on Alaska because of all the non stops out of SAN. I would still be flying United but prefer direct over connect. We enjoy our Gold when we choose United but this policy doesn’t really affect me even as a MM.
I see two possible motivations,
1) Cull the herd of 'free rider' companions who get the benny's of higher status of the primary flyer, at the expense of the other lower or equal status road warriors. In my case, I'm a 2M and my wife is 1M and we are both 1K. So we gave our companion benefits to our children (as is allowed under the current rules as they're under 18). So they...
I see two possible motivations,
1) Cull the herd of 'free rider' companions who get the benny's of higher status of the primary flyer, at the expense of the other lower or equal status road warriors. In my case, I'm a 2M and my wife is 1M and we are both 1K. So we gave our companion benefits to our children (as is allowed under the current rules as they're under 18). So they have the possibility to take away opportunities for real flyers. Although to be honest, we never get upgraded anyway.
2) I also wonder if this is a way to incent 1M flyers to get back in the plane and fly United. On FlyerTalk, you see lots of people who achieve the 1M threshold and then become free agents. If you can get the benefits at 2M, you might be inclined to fly United more.
Dirty pool on United's part, probably prompted by the 'companion' gamers / exploiters. They should have limited companions to spouse, domestic partner and/or verified household member. Not coworker with a same address.
Ruined a nice 'thanks' benefit for keeping going with spend on United.
Yeah I wonder why United never cracked down on that, there's not THAT many million milers that it would be totally unfeasable.
To be fair, most MM companions (and family in general) of those spending 20k plus on United aren't even giving United much actual business since they have such a surplus of miles.