United Airlines has announced plans to make changes to its MileagePlus program in 2025. Elite status will be harder to earn, though there are also some potentially positive changes.
In this post:
United MileagePlus increases elite requirements
The biggest change coming to United MileagePlus in 2025 is that the requirements to earn elite status will be increasing considerably. This applies for activity in the 2025 program year, for the purposes of earning status that’s valid throughout 2026.
As a reminder, you can qualify for MileagePlus status either exclusively based on how many Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs) you earn, or based on a combination of PQPs and Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs). You generally earn one PQP per dollar spent on airfare, and earn one PQF per segment flown.
Here are the United MileagePlus elite requirements for 2025:
- Premier Silver will require 15 PQF and 5,000 PQP, OR just 6,000 PQP
- Premier Gold will require 30 PQF and 10,000 PQP, OR just 12,000 PQP
- Premier Platinum will require 45 PQF and 15,000 PQP, OR just 18,000 PQP
- Premier 1K will require 60 PQF and 22,000 PQP, OR just 28,000 PQP
As a point of comparison, here are the elite requirements for 2024:
- Premier Silver requires 12 PQF and 4,000 PQP, OR just 5,000 PQP
- Premier Gold requires 24 PQF and 8,000 PQP, OR just 10,000 PQP
- Premier Platinum requires 36 PQF and 12,000 PQP, OR just 15,000 PQP
- Premier 1K requires 54 PQF and 18,000 PQP, OR just 24,000 PQP
As you can see, elite requirements are increasing an average of somewhere around 20-25%. So top-tier Premier 1K status will require either $28,000 in spending, or $22,000 in spending with 60 eligible flights. That’s significant!
In fairness to United, the airline hasn’t otherwise increased its elite requirements since the new PQP and PQF program was announced in 2019, so I imagine elite ranks have swelled significantly since then. Now, I’m not sure this will actually solve much or make elite status more exclusive, but it may net United more revenue, which I assume is the goal. 😉
United MileagePlus elite members get jumpstart
Existing United MileagePlus elite members are getting an elite status jumpstart in 2025. In early 2025, United will automatically deposit PQPs into MileagePlus accounts based on status earned in 2024. This applies to anyone who earned status, with the exception of those on a trial or status challenge.
Specifically, this MileagePlus jumpstart for 2025 will be as follows:
- Premier Silver members will get a jumpstart of 300 PQPs
- Premier Gold members will get a jumpstart of 600 PQPs
- Premier Platinum members will get a jumpstart of 900 PQPs
- Premier 1K members will get a jumpstart of 1,400 PQPs
As you can see, this is a 5-6% jumpstart when it comes to earning elite status, assuming you plan to qualify based exclusively on PQPs.
United MileagePlus credit cards become more rewarding
Starting in 2025, those with a co-branded United and Chase credit card will have more opportunities to earn PQPs with spending.
For one, members will earn one PQP per $20 spent on all eligible cards, except the United Club Infinite Card and United Club Business Card, which will earn one PQP per $15 spent. This offers more flexibility than the old system, which awarded PQPs in chunks of $500 in spending.
On top of that, the cap on how many PQPs you can earn through credit card spending will increase:
- The United Club Infinite Card cap will increase from 10,000 PQPs to 15,000 PQPs
- The United Club Business Card cap will increase from 10,000 PQPs to 15,000 PQPs
- The United Quest Card cap will increase from 6,000 PQPs to 9,000 PQPs
It’s interesting that United still hasn’t gone as far as American or Delta when it comes to being able to earn elite status exclusively through credit card spending.
United MileagePlus offers more ways to redeem PlusPoints
United MileagePlus has its PlusPoints currency, which are earned for achieving Premier Platinum or Premier 1K status. Currently they can be used to confirm upgrades, though as of 2025, they can be redeemed for new perks, including:
- PQPs or PQFs
- TravelBank cash
- Bonus miles
- Gifting Premier status to other members
These new benefits will be available with PlusPoints earned during the 2025 qualification year, though more details haven’t yet been made available. More flexibility is of course a good thing, especially for those who struggled to use PlusPoints.
Bottom line
Changes are coming to the United MileagePlus program in 2025. Elite requirements will be increasing by 20-25%. However, it’ll be possible to earn more elite qualification through credit card spending, and there will also be new ways to redeem PlusPoints.
I suspect most MileagePlus members won’t be a fan of these updates, though it’s also not surprising to see an airline continue to expect more of its loyal customers, while continuing to offer less (in particular in terms of upgrade percentage). That’s just how the industry works nowadays.
What do you make of the United MileagePlus changes for 2025?
United is making it increasingly difficult to stay loyal. After 20 years and half a million miles I find the reasons less and less compelling. 3/4 international flights were cancelled/delayed by at least a day. One being two days, another three days. One of the worst cancellation rates in the industry. The last two day delay received only $175 in credits not even covering my added expenses. More expensive flights with fewer options unless you...
United is making it increasingly difficult to stay loyal. After 20 years and half a million miles I find the reasons less and less compelling. 3/4 international flights were cancelled/delayed by at least a day. One being two days, another three days. One of the worst cancellation rates in the industry. The last two day delay received only $175 in credits not even covering my added expenses. More expensive flights with fewer options unless you live near a hub. Higher and higher requirements for same status. And credit cards don’t comare to delta… which has half the cancelled flights. Someone needs to wake United up.
1MM'er here since last year. I've done an insane amount of flying this year, due to father's illness on a different continent. I don't even qualify for platinum under the existing guidelines, let alone the new ones. In fact I wouldn't even be gold under the new limits. Hard to see how you get any status above silver without a *significant* dose of OPM, whether it's airfares or putting company spend on your chase visa....
1MM'er here since last year. I've done an insane amount of flying this year, due to father's illness on a different continent. I don't even qualify for platinum under the existing guidelines, let alone the new ones. In fact I wouldn't even be gold under the new limits. Hard to see how you get any status above silver without a *significant* dose of OPM, whether it's airfares or putting company spend on your chase visa. I'll need to wait for another industry downturn (or another million miles!) to see any status upgrade...!
Again…if everyone is elite, nobody is elite.
Assuming my travel remains the same, this has zero impact on me. In my case, the card PQP increase offsets the higher total PQP requirement completely. If these rules had been in effect this year, I’d have hit 1K in late June instead on on June 1st. That’s effectively a “meh” from me unless it’s effective in knocking down the total number of elites.
What used to be a "frequent flyer program" now is a "sufficient payer program".
In other words, a genuine loyalty program became a "something around points" program.
That is United's choice. Me, I made 1K for a dozen years with 100+ kMiles in coach every year, went out of my way using United, and felt the deal was fair both ways. Now I am MM/UA*AG and a free agent with *A and beyond.
Hi Ben,
Reading about spending with UA-CCs, and getting PQPs, is there a way for Germans to get a UA Credit Card?
Thanks for helping.
I looked into this a bit ago, and without a US address and US social security number there does not appear to be a way to get a UA credit card.
This quote is why I left AA as a Concierge Key and now flying UA: “It’s interesting that United still hasn’t gone as far as American or Delta when it comes to being able to earn elite status exclusively through credit card spending.”
SO GLAD UA respects us who FLY FOR OUR STATUS versus those buying groceries & gas, getting upgraded and not knowing how to operate the seat in FC.
Agree, the spend...
This quote is why I left AA as a Concierge Key and now flying UA: “It’s interesting that United still hasn’t gone as far as American or Delta when it comes to being able to earn elite status exclusively through credit card spending.”
SO GLAD UA respects us who FLY FOR OUR STATUS versus those buying groceries & gas, getting upgraded and not knowing how to operate the seat in FC.
Agree, the spend isn’t that much of a stretch if you make a couple Polaris Asia/Pacific flights as well as all the new international destinations UA is now flying.
I'll status match to Alaska.
Not a friend update. Instead of getting loyalty, United will lose customers.
A bridge too far. I hopped off the UA MileagePlus status hamster wheel because I could no longer justify the cost. Rather than spending $24K or $28K a year to make 1K, why not just use the money to fly in premium cabins with any *A airline, some of which provide a better experience than one would get as a 1K? In fact, I have the best of all possible worlds because as a UA 1MM and lifetime Premier Gold, I enjoy *G benefits when flying with any *A carrier.
I’m just glad I’m lifetime gold!
Basically, this cannibalizes any loyalty to UA and only rewards spend like at Delta and American.
Would have liked a lower PQP threshold if you do achieve more PQFs. E.g. Silver (3,000 PQP + 25 PQF), Gold (6,000 PQP + 50 PQF), Platinum (10,000 PQP+ 75 PQF), 1K (15,000 PQP + 100 PQF).
Next thing you know UA will be devaluating what a PQF is.
It doesn't cannibalize anything.... Thanks to the pandemic, rich people who "WFH" are working from anywhere and everywhere and flying United to get there. It's comical what upgrade lists look like these days compared to 2017 when it was MUCH easier to get status.
Exactly. Poor OPM flyers whose employer buys Y are the only losers here.
People who pay fof their own tickets are flying up front more often without caring about status.
Honestly, as a United 1K I find this reasonable. There are way too many of us (me included, in theory). And airfare has increased - I passed the 18k spend threshold easily this year without really increasing my amount of flying (will fall short of the old 24k only PQD route).
I do wish they were a bit more liberal with other ways to earn beyond just CC spend, but also like that there is...
Honestly, as a United 1K I find this reasonable. There are way too many of us (me included, in theory). And airfare has increased - I passed the 18k spend threshold easily this year without really increasing my amount of flying (will fall short of the old 24k only PQD route).
I do wish they were a bit more liberal with other ways to earn beyond just CC spend, but also like that there is still a segments + spend route rather than making it just $$ based like their competitors.
On the whole, could've been worse.
Agreed. Also good for them to requiring flying rather than credit card spend. What are they in the business of doing? Flying loyal customers and serving them or trying to be a credit card company? You could argue that United is exceptionally focused on serving customers right now and making them the heart of all their decisions while AA is focused on credit card deals and domestic destinations.
I agree with the fairness, plus airfare has increased over the last 2 years making it quite easy for an individual traveling an average amount to attain 1K status.
In reality UA should get 1K back to being an Elite Level, not so easily attained. Segments used to be 100 in a year so 60 is quite low. Increase minimum spend to $36K and then 1K’s would actually be able to use the or upgrades when desired.
And it should require flying 100,000 miles (or more)
None of these fake 1Ks who get 1K with 2 or 3 OPM trips to Europe.
I agree, wish the miles would still factor in, however that will never happen again because it is all now about revenue. That is why there are so many of us, years ago 1K was only for the most frequent travelers.
2 or 3 OPM trips should not be enough for 1K, period.
It's outright difficult for the "individual traveler" who typically only has 4-5 weeks of vacation time a year to attain 1K unless they add at least some business trips and/or never fly coach. Breaking down by a monthly average of 1k status for this year, you have to earn $1500/mo and 4.5/mo segments. Even most remote workers/digital nomads aren't taking multiple round-trip long hauls per month, they'll take a one-way long haul to somewhere like...
It's outright difficult for the "individual traveler" who typically only has 4-5 weeks of vacation time a year to attain 1K unless they add at least some business trips and/or never fly coach. Breaking down by a monthly average of 1k status for this year, you have to earn $1500/mo and 4.5/mo segments. Even most remote workers/digital nomads aren't taking multiple round-trip long hauls per month, they'll take a one-way long haul to somewhere like Bali and then take a short flight on an Asian airline to explore other Asian countries for months before flying home
"In fairness to United, the airline hasn’t otherwise increased its elite requirements since the new PQP and PQF program was announced in 2019"
This is not true, they increased the requirements in 2023
Find "Updates to the 2023 MileagePlus Premier program" on their blog: https://www.united.com/en/us/fly/mileageplus/whats-new.html
I believe that 2023 announcement was atually just bringing back what was announced in 2019, but then greatly reduced/shelved in 2020-2022 due to the pandemic where either status was just rolled over or significantly reduced thresholds.
Smart move.
OPM flyers will milk their travel budgets to reach the next threshold anyway by fiddling with someone elses money.
United will be cashing in on that.
Guess 2024 is my last year at United for crediting it to them.
The key to status is getting people to “push” to the next level. In other words get people who otherwise would not spend/fly to do more to get the level they want. I will make gold this year from flying and a little bit of CC spend to push me over. Knowing there’s essentially no chance I’ll reach it next year no more CC spend for me and I’ll be more likely to use AF internationally. I wonder how many other threshold people will decide it’s not worth it…
So I will finish this year with about 70 PQF's, but will be lucky to hit about 14k PQF's. I will lose my 1k status for first time since 2018. As I am set to retire next year, isn't that big of a deal, but now it's not an incentive to consider UA loyalty in my flights going forward. Not sure how UA benefits from this.
Will the spending requirements on the credit card of 1 pqp for each $20 spent change automatically in the credit cards we have, or are the changes only for newly opened credit cards?
I’m sure they are for existing cards as well.
If AA does nothing else right, it structured its loyalty program right: create an incentive for customers to spend across all revenue channels. AA's hotel, rental car, and shopping portals are super high margin business segments -- all flowing to the bottom line. Other airlines need to get their minds around this concept.
Expedia, Orbitz, Costco, and countless other agencies that package trips might disagree.... AA is supposed to make money flying planes and not trying to sell Air Fryers from Macy's through a shopping portal.
Exactly, and their inflight product & service shows they don’t care about the folks who fly, just the clowns that buy groceries and gas.
Bye Bye Bye!
Seems the requirements are in line with Delta now. At least the 1K/DM level. Wonder if United will get the same blowback lol
It's STILL much easer to access a United Club while bringing in a guest. Delta doesn't seem to have a handle on that.... Also, United never did the strange Delta Rollover madness. So, they have fewer people to upset. However, people like me will need to decide if Star Gold and complimentary economy plus at booking are still worth the expense.