For the past couple of years, we’ve seen major airlines either extend elite status for all members, or provide significantly easier pathways to earning status. With travel demand in many parts of the globe having recovered, airlines are announcing loyalty program changes.
We saw American AAdvantage introduce its Loyalty Points system as of 2022, and Delta SkyMiles has announced elite status changes as of 2023. United MileagePlus has today announced changes to its elite status program for 2023, so let’s go over the details. This is in addition to the airline eliminating award redeposit fees.
In this post:
United MileagePlus 2023 elite status requirements
Below are the United MileagePlus elite status requirements for 2023. As you can see, status is based on earning a certain number of Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs) and Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs), with travelers generally earning one PQP per dollar spent on airfare. Status earned with these thresholds in 2023 will be valid through January 31, 2025.
For context, below are what’s United MileagePlus’ elite requirements looked like for 2022.
As you can see, if you’re going the route of earning status based on PQPs, United’s Premier 1K status will go from requiring $15,000 in eligible spending to requiring $24,000 in eligible spending. That’s a huge difference.
In October 2019, United MileagePlus announced massive changes to elite status for the 2020 program year. Those never ended up being implemented due to the pandemic. The requirements for 2023 match exactly what we were expecting in 2020.
MileagePlus elite members get elite status jumpstart
Existing MileagePlus elite members are getting an elite status jumpstart in 2023. In early 2023, United will automatically deposit PQPs into MileagePlus accounts based on status earned in 2022. This applies to anyone who earned status, with the exception of those on a trial or status challenge.
Specifically, this MileagePlus jumpstart will be as follows:
- Premier Silver members will get a jumpstart of 500 PQPs
- Premier Gold members will get a jumpstart of 1,000 PQPs
- Premier Platinum members will get a jumpstart of 1,500 PQPs
- Premier 1K members will get a jumpstart of 2,500 PQPs
Award travel will qualify toward MileagePlus status
New as of 2023, United will count award tickets toward elite status:
- This applies only when redeeming MileagePlus miles for travel on United and United Express
- You’ll receive one PQP for every 100 miles redeemed, as well as one PQF per United or United Express flight; in other words, United is valuing each MileagePlus mile at one cent for these purposes
- If an award includes travel on United and partners, the number of PQPs will be calculated as a percentage of distance flown for the United segments only
- Incremental PQPs earned this way will count toward earning PlusPoints as well
- Award flights won’t count toward MileagePlus lifetime status, which is still based on the number of revenue “butt in seat” miles flown on United
Earn elite status with credit card spending
New as of 2023, the maximum PQPs you’ll be able to earn for credit card spending will double for select cards:
- The United Quest Card will go from earning up to 3,000 PQPs to earning up to 6,000 PQPs
- The United Club Infinite Card will go from earning up to 4,000 PQPs to earning up to 8,000 PQPs
- Eligible United MileagePlus Chase cardmembers will continue to earn 500 PQPs per $12,000 spent
- The maximum number of PQPs you can earn across cards each calendar year is being increased from 5,000 PQPs to 15,000 PQPs
My take on these MileagePlus changes
I don’t think there’s anything too shocking with with these MileagePlus changes:
- It’s not surprising to see MileagePlus’ new elite requirements finally kick in, three years later than planned
- The elite status jumpstart is better than nothing, but it’s not more than ~10% of what’s required to qualify
- It’s awesome that MileagePlus award tickets will finally count toward elite status, and United is playing catch-up with Delta SkyMiles here
- While it’s nice that there are more opportunities to earn PQPs with credit card spending, United is by far the least lucrative of the “big three” US carriers when it comes to the ability to earn elite status with credit card spending
If anything, I’m a bit surprised United didn’t completely overhaul its program, but rather is just implementing the changes that had previously been announced.
Bottom line
United MileagePlus is making changes as of 2023. The program will finally implement the elite status thresholds that were first announced in late 2019, but paused due to the pandemic. On top of that, United will start counting award flights toward elite status, will provide more pathways for earning status with credit card spending, and will give elite members a jumpstart with earning status.
As far as I can tell you didn’t address the dramatic increase in miles needed. Up until a few weeks ago it was 400,000 miles for a round trip business class ticket from New York to Sydney, Australia. Now it’s 700,000 . This is approximately a 90% reduction in the value of the miles I worked hard to earn.
question: can I get PQP if I use my award miles for booking an united ticket for someone else?
The industry has you pay for luggage, seats, boarding spot. Canceled flights ? Of course the Premier Benefits qualifications go up. Why not.
I have over 90K PQPs this year and am still 1K. I get missed for upgrades on every one of my rare economy flights due to extended status and corporate travel GS extensions. The reality is that United does NOT reward loyalty. Just fly the best product you can. Sometimes that is United, other times it’s ANA, Singapore, Jet Blue Mint or Quantas. I’ve earned over 150K PQPs in 2 years and get passed over...
I have over 90K PQPs this year and am still 1K. I get missed for upgrades on every one of my rare economy flights due to extended status and corporate travel GS extensions. The reality is that United does NOT reward loyalty. Just fly the best product you can. Sometimes that is United, other times it’s ANA, Singapore, Jet Blue Mint or Quantas. I’ve earned over 150K PQPs in 2 years and get passed over for an upgrade for people who are cozy with the travel agent and people who have flown 2 flights a year for three years. This is not rewarding loyalty. If United is the best product (and often it is) then fly it but don’t expect them to reward you for it. GS is a corrupt scam not a royalty process. Don’t waste your time or $$s trying to get in. It is no longer based upon spend but rather is a chit they give to corporate travel agents. United is great sometimes but global services is not related to your spend. Happy to send you my account statements if you doubt me.
Will United keep the million miler program in 2023? I have not been able to find out any details.
I have been a loyal United customer for over 40 years and appreciate the miles that never expire. I should be at 1,000,000 true miles by Dec 2022. Which means I am gold for life. So do I start the year for IK at gold and just pick the remainder PQF & PQP/ PQP or do I start from the bottom like everyone else?
Very bad news for us that try to maintain the status, now will be more difficult te get and keep the status, we will need more flights to ensure, or keep status
If award tickets are booked in 2022 for 2023 travel, will I still earn PQP on the award miles? I'm trying to find a definitive answer so that I know if I should wait until January 1, 2023 to book award travel or not.
@DCS
I like almost always your detailed comments and practical posts. In this case, I am intrigued with your plan to move to SQ as an answer to the outrageously expensive United new rules to keep status, set up in 2019 and finally implemented in 2023. Like you I am a 1K for years, and for long haul, mostly flying to Asia. Like you, SQ is my preferred choice to travel to or intra Asia....
@DCS
I like almost always your detailed comments and practical posts. In this case, I am intrigued with your plan to move to SQ as an answer to the outrageously expensive United new rules to keep status, set up in 2019 and finally implemented in 2023. Like you I am a 1K for years, and for long haul, mostly flying to Asia. Like you, SQ is my preferred choice to travel to or intra Asia. Like you or better, I am a 2MM, within about 300K miles from 3MM, and therefore UA *gold for life. Like you, I experienced a very high percentage of upgrades with PP, like EWR NRT, ORD HND, IAD NRT, IAH NRT, maybe 100% in 2020 and 2021, about still 80% in 2022, and somewhat 60% in 2022 for Europe EWR CDG or IAD GVA. And yes, upgrades are getting more challenging in particular domestically. But the bottom line is that in 2022 you needed about 13500 - 3500 grant to start = 10000 PQP, about $11K to pay, to qualify with 36 segments, while in 2023, you will need 24000 - 2500 grant to start = 21500 PQP, or about $23K to pay, in order to qualify, if you fly less than 54 segments, an increase of over 100%. At this price, it is unsustainable. Like you I have about 560 PP to use in 2023 mostly. Unlike you, I think the upgrade situation will not improve in 2023, as the thinning of 1K will not happen until 2024, but for Asia the odds should still be good. Now I am not very familiar with accruing SQ miles while traveling UA, nor how to become a SQ*gold, which it seems you managed to get during the pandemic. So please tell me. I would appreciate the benefit of using UA lounges while traveling domestic, as you mentioned. What other benefits would you avail by crediting the miles of your UA tickets to SQ? Thanks in advance.
United makes it clear it does not want 1K's who earn it the hard way by flying 100,000 miles or more in coach for biz (cuz that's what they're company buys). Sad day. Been 1K for 20 years and this will likely be my last year. These requirements are next to impossible.
But where to go? There aren't any good alternative options.
Pass. LOL
But I'll value the free Silver status that comes with Marriott Tit
Truly BRUTAL!
United has decided to resuscitate elite qualification requirements that it had instituted just before the pandemic, which were just a bridge too far for me and I'd decided at the time to seek top elite status with SQ and part company with UA. Well, two can play that game. Since they resuscitated their ridiculous qualification requirements, I too will resuscitate my plan to bolt to SQ.
PQPs to be earned on award...
Truly BRUTAL!
United has decided to resuscitate elite qualification requirements that it had instituted just before the pandemic, which were just a bridge too far for me and I'd decided at the time to seek top elite status with SQ and part company with UA. Well, two can play that game. Since they resuscitated their ridiculous qualification requirements, I too will resuscitate my plan to bolt to SQ.
PQPs to be earned on award travel are a joke. Redeem 100,000 miles and earn 1,000 PQPs...Puny! Likewise, the opportunity cost associated with putting one's spending on UA cards to earn a limited number of PQPs is so huge it is another joke.
Fortunately, I already earned SQ Gold by taking advantage of the program's incredible offer during the pandemic to earn elite status without flying. The icing on the cake is that due to the pandemic, SQ promised to extend many members' status for another year, which, for me, will be to 12/31/2023. Right now, I am just ~1,300 PQPs shy of requalifying for 1K for the 2023 status year, so what I will do after I requalify is to fly with UA and credit all the miles (redeemable and elite) to SQ to extend my SQ Gold/*G status beyond 12/31/2023.
Since I am a UA 1MM, I am guaranteed to retain *G status even if I chose not to seek status with any FF program...
Currently, I have 300 UA PlusPoints upgrades, MileagePlus' best and distinguishing feature, of which
- 240 expire on 07/31/2023
- 60 expire on 01/31/2024
Then, after I requalify for 1K by the end of this year, I will earn 280 additional PlusPoints that will expire on 01/31/2024, which means that I will have
60 + 280 = 340
PlusPoints upgrades expiring in on 01/31/2024, i.e., plenty to ensure that I will continue to fly in the front cabin without breaking the bank, especially since I assume that the new qualification requirements will thin the ranks of 1Ks to increase the availability of PP upgrades.
I am actually looking forward to being a SQ Gold flying mostly with UA (except when I redeem miles) because as a non-UA *G, it will give me access to UA lounges even on domestic flights! SQ Gold is a perfect match for because my preferred travel destinations in Asia are where SQ is ubiquitous. For instance, for the upcoming "reboot" of my Asian Escape(TM), will redeemed mostly SQ miles to fly almost exclusively with with the airline:
- EWR-SIN (confirmed: SQ Premium Economy; waitlisted: SQ Business)
- SIN-SGN-SIN (Confirmed: SQ Business, but redeemed UA miles because it was cheaper)
- SIN-MLE-SIN (confirmed Y; waitlisted: business)
- SIN-BKK (Confirmed: SQ Business)
- BKK-REP-BKK (FD, cash)
- BKK-SIN (Confirmed: SQ Business)
- SIN-EWR (confirmed: SQ Premium Economy; waitlisted: SQ Business)
It's all SQ, soo...
...Bye bye UA, hello SQ!
I like your analysis and strategy. You stated 'plenty to ensure that I will continue to fly in the front cabin without breaking the bank', UA does not make any PZ available for long-haul flights (I spent almost two hours checked each day for the two routes EWR - HND and EWR - NRT), then no matter how many 1K's, you are still waitlisted and unconfirmed. It is not worth to stay loyalty with UA.
I am afraid that, based on...
I am afraid that, based on my experience (factually shared below), the claim that "UA does not make any PZ available for long-haul flights" is simply not true. In fact, contrary to the statement that "It is not worth to stay loyalty with UA" (because of the scarcity of 'PZ'), the high availability of PZ - higher than in any other FF program, I am sure - since UA introduced PlusPoints is pretty much the only thing that I will miss after I part company with the airline and I use up the 580 PlusPoints that I will have in the bank at the end of the year (240 expiring on 07/31/2023 and 340 on 01/31/2024).
Considering your negative experience, you are not likely to believe my claim about the unusually high availability of PZ since UA introduced PlusPoints, so I will just show you.
At link the below below, you will find screen captures that document the availability of UA 'PZ', as evidence of PlusPoints upgrades that I cleared for EWR-GVA then BRU-EWR (Aug-Sep 2022); EWR-LHR and back (May 2022); , IAH-EZE (Nov 2021); as well as for two PlusPoints upgrades I sponsored for EWR-BOM that cleared.
Here's the link:
http://bit.ly/3WLiO7H
My only regret is that due to the pandemic, my long-haul travel was quite limited. Except for a trip to FCO for which I purchased J tickets, the long-haul trips for which I provide evidence of clearing upgrades to 'PZ' were the only ones that I took between the start of the pandemic now.
G'day!
Ben - I'd love if you could cover what ACTUAL benefit you now get from United 1K status? The big benefit used to be upgrades, free point cancellations and a better phone line. Upgrades have become impossible to use (example, I've been a 1K for 10+ years. Now, 1K EWR-ATL with an Instrument applied and I'm 5th on the list // impossible to find PZ class on most / any long-haul flights to pre-confirm and...
Ben - I'd love if you could cover what ACTUAL benefit you now get from United 1K status? The big benefit used to be upgrades, free point cancellations and a better phone line. Upgrades have become impossible to use (example, I've been a 1K for 10+ years. Now, 1K EWR-ATL with an Instrument applied and I'm 5th on the list // impossible to find PZ class on most / any long-haul flights to pre-confirm and upgrade with insturment, etc.), complimentary upgrades only happen (as a 1K) on super short short-haul, and now reward redeposits are free and unlimited.
Add to that the massive point devaluation we just experienced as UA moved off an award chart (i.e. it is very clear that UA ensures that their point seats are valued < $0.015 - especially close in - to push people to buy the ticket through Amex or Chase)
Feels like United is keeping everyone focused on trying to earn status (while making it tougher), but what is actually the real benefit or am I right in my conclusion that it's virtually eroded away?
Good question. Would love Ben's thoughts on this as well, especially in light of how many miles you need to get a long-haul flight these days. As a GS member, I similarly see PZ zeroed out for almost all flights, so upgrades are out. Moreover, United now expects me to pay 280,000+ miles one way for a flight to Europe as Saver Awards are pretty much non-existent. At the very least, as the highest tier...
Good question. Would love Ben's thoughts on this as well, especially in light of how many miles you need to get a long-haul flight these days. As a GS member, I similarly see PZ zeroed out for almost all flights, so upgrades are out. Moreover, United now expects me to pay 280,000+ miles one way for a flight to Europe as Saver Awards are pretty much non-existent. At the very least, as the highest tier elite on United i should be able to use my miles in a reasonable fashion, not burn them at a rate of 500k+ miles rt a flight.
I guess my plan to switch from DL to UA mid-2023 is no longer in play given both requiring the same amount of money spent as I’m not going for Diamond / 1K. Given the low chance of upgrades anyways, may as well just target DL Gold / SkyTeam Elite Plus and be a “free agent” for the rest of my trips.
I am finding increasingly fewer incentives to be loyal to any one carrier. Between the award devaluations, fewer free upgrades, and the carriers valuing credit cards above passengers there’s just no reason to play the game anymore. 2023 will be my first year of free agency. No more AA EXP, no more UA silver. I will instead just book whatever is most convenient for me. It was good while it lasted, but after 40 years...
I am finding increasingly fewer incentives to be loyal to any one carrier. Between the award devaluations, fewer free upgrades, and the carriers valuing credit cards above passengers there’s just no reason to play the game anymore. 2023 will be my first year of free agency. No more AA EXP, no more UA silver. I will instead just book whatever is most convenient for me. It was good while it lasted, but after 40 years of playing frequent flyer games, the truth is these programs have matured and have almost run their course. As a marketing program they have been enormously successful. But they began life when there were 10-12 major US carriers. And now there are only 4. One can argue that these programs are no longer needed. Perhaps in five years there won’t be any of these programs anymore. If they’re still around then, people will continue to chase miles but those miles won’t be worth anything of value.
just as I have said about other issues with other airlines, United is a for-profit company that is tasked with maximizing returns for its owners. They have to use all of the assets at their disposal in ways that achieve their goals and many of those goals are not necessarily customer friendly - but any customer should understand that pleasing the customer is secondary to United making money.
Airline loyalty programs have grown to...
just as I have said about other issues with other airlines, United is a for-profit company that is tasked with maximizing returns for its owners. They have to use all of the assets at their disposal in ways that achieve their goals and many of those goals are not necessarily customer friendly - but any customer should understand that pleasing the customer is secondary to United making money.
Airline loyalty programs have grown to be enormously successful and complex = and profitable. United has changed and will continue to change its strategies inculding how it uses its loyalty program to maximize its profits.
At some point, every customer has to ask whether it is worth continuing a loyal relationship with any company with which they regularly do business and, for some people, becoming freelancers does make the most sense.
Given that airlines have had six months of strong post-covid recovery to figure out travel demand will look going forward, there will likely be more changes coming.
Given that the global airline industry including in the US is much more consolidated, it is harder to shop around for a true bargain. Every consumer has to figure out all of that for themselves.
I can't seem to find the wording on award bookings. The way SkyPesos does it is that award bookings are essentially same as cash in terms of elite qualifying credentials, from Status Qualifying miles/segments to million miller mileage. Have UA publicly stated the award bookings on UA metal in terms of their Million Miler programme?
Looks like I can redeem 2.4M points to become Premier 1K? Is that even possible? LOL
I have award flights booked through my account for my wife and I for 60k each on United flights. will I earn the 600 pqp on each award ticket or will my wifes ticket not count?
You will earn 600 PQP and she will earn 600 PQP.
Good point from RF. What about us good United supporters, not US based, who maybe fly to the US regularly but who also fly the world, but necessarily, on Star partner airlines?
According to the White House and the MSM, inflation is actually good!
Someone needs a tissue…
Absolutely no one said that, guaranteed. You just haven't found anyone to dumb it down enough for you. Are you aware inflation is a global problem? Your highly partisan sources of information are spinning it as a political issue. It's a result of an over-stimulated global economy which is due to extreme measures (low interest, stimulus funds) taken to keep it moving during the pandemic - a good chunk of that economy policy was decided...
Absolutely no one said that, guaranteed. You just haven't found anyone to dumb it down enough for you. Are you aware inflation is a global problem? Your highly partisan sources of information are spinning it as a political issue. It's a result of an over-stimulated global economy which is due to extreme measures (low interest, stimulus funds) taken to keep it moving during the pandemic - a good chunk of that economy policy was decided in prior to current administration even being in office.
Is United just going to let go all of their international customers? There's nothing here for them anymore.
Exactly! International members are not eligible for the credit cards mentioned as they require US residency.
Bye Bye UA . Hello BA!
I knew this was coming after being on a flight from San Francisco with 71 Premier 1K passengers getting onboard.
You do realize that having 71 1Ks flying out of SFO has been a regular thing for the past 20+ years, don’t you?
With that, for someone who travels every now and again for personal reasons and infrequently for anything business related, there is no point in going out of my way to fly United. To even get Silver I would need 6 trips per year at a cost of over 600 dollars per trip. Obviously that's the whole point of these changes. United doesn't care about the travelers like me, it's all about the business travelers. Oh well.
All the airlines are like that.
UA should have rolled back all of these changes and go back to the program with RPU & GPU. The only good change is counting award flights for status but too bad it doesn't work for lifetime status.
I am also based out of US. Since UA changed the program not to make any difference for international members few years ago, I became 'free agent'. The requirements are impossible for international flyers to achieve. Most importantly, their loyalty program is not worth.
I don’t know why they would have completely overhauled their program; they did that already for 2020 (much to my detriment) and just reduced the goal targets due to reduced flying during the pandemic. Now they’re putting the original back where they intended in the first place, with a few tweaks around the edges. Why would they reinvent the wheel they just reinvented?
All this focus on credit card spend sucks for members that are not US residents and thus can't get US credit cards..
@ Chris -- Yeah, I agree with that 100%. But that's also where the money is for airlines, so...
Stupidity of UA not to give International 1ks some slack because of no cc.
You imply that earning status via CC spend is a positive. As a 1k whose upgrade chances have suffered greatly these few years. I am glad UA makes it difficult to earn status without actually flying.
@ Pete -- There's no denying that upgrades odds across US airlines keep getting worse. I just don't buy that United making it harder to earn status will make upgrades easier. United is quite aggressive about monetizing upgrades, and I think that will continue. I just don't view complimentary upgrades as the slam dunk elite benefit that they used to be back in the day.
Personally, I do not see the point of revamping FF programs every year or two. I think the only results of these recent moves by the major US airlines was a decrease in customer loyalty. None of these qualification changes moved the airline profits but rather pushed the customers to other airlines. Perhaps, the only result of all of these changes is that some of the interns who came with these ideas got permanent jobs or moved on to greener pastures.
The easier it is to get, the less valuable it becomes. The vast majority of flights I'm on have 40-50% of passengers on the upgrade standby list, making free upgrades pretty much impossible for all but 1K. Even using miles for an upgrade rarely works.
I appreciate the free checked bags, but....
Even 1K often has no chance since it seems so many people are buying paid first (or paid upgrades). Even when I have used PlusPoints upgrades (and I'm 1K), I've often been 4-5 spots down the upgrade list with maybe 2-3 seats available 24 hours out. This will likely mean I won't earn 1K next year, but I still think it's better as it will make 1K more meaningful to those who have it.
This. As a 1K out of San Francisco, I haven't been upgraded once all year. The 1-2 available seats go to GS (and there are always more than 1-2 GS on the plane, so even they don't usually get an upgrade; there were 7 GS and 41 1Ks on my short narrowbody flight to Seattle in the late morning on a Tuesday last week).
I've been Silver (constantly flirting with Gold) for three years and have never gotten an Economy Plus upgrade. Ended up getting the economy plus subscription.
I can agree with others here - I'm Global Services and even I miss out on CPU's with some frequency this year. I basically have to buy up or purchase first class if I want it. I never chance international flights and just pay for Business class in those cases. Luckily United allows GS to force upgrades for a companion when you purchase Business class even if there's no upgrade space available so my partner's upgrades typically clear.
Basically it looks like what AA did starting this year.