If you’re a frequent flyer and spend many hours touring annually, having elite standing together with your airline, corresponding to United Airways, could make a big distinction in your journey expertise. Shorter strains, sooner service, complimentary upgrades, worldwide lounge entry and different free advantages can simply make worrying journeys extra seamless.
Nonetheless, these perks don’t come with out a value. Airways typically require vital time, cash or each to obtain that elusive elite standing. With thresholds to succeed in standing seemingly ever-increasing, you will need to weigh the advantages in opposition to the drawbacks of remaining loyal to at least one airline program.
This information will consider United Premier standing within the MileagePlus program and break down the totally different standing tiers, earn them and if the perks that include this standing are well worth the effort for United flyers.
Right here is all the things it’s essential to learn about United Airways elite standing.
What’s United Premier standing?
If you select to fly United Airways and add your MileagePlus quantity to your reserving, along with being rewarded with miles, frequent United vacationers could get rewarded with Premier standing.
Relying on which United elite standing tier you obtain, perks vary from complimentary first-class upgrades on most home flights (relying on availability) to incomes bonus miles that may be redeemed for future journey.
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You possibly can qualify for Premier standing with United by a mixture of Premier qualifying flights and Premier qualifying factors. You possibly can qualify for elite standing primarily based on the variety of flights flown with the airline (Premier qualifying flights), how a lot you spend (which is predicated on the price of the ticket, paid upgrades and seat purchases) and when you spend on a United cobranded bank card.
Your United Premier standing is achieved whenever you attain the edge for the required variety of PQFs and PQPs or hit a sure variety of PQPs. This standing is then legitimate for the rest of the calendar 12 months and everything of the next 12 months. It additionally extends to Jan. 31 of the next 12 months.
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As an example, when you attain the standing necessities in June 2024, you’ll maintain the standing by Jan. 31, 2026, providing you with a couple of 12 months and a half to learn from the perks. So, incomes elite standing as rapidly as doable within the calendar 12 months is smart so you’ll be able to take pleasure in the advantages for so long as doable.
United Premier standing tiers
United provides 4 official elite standing tiers outdoors its unpublished unique tier, International Companies, which may solely be achieved by flying 4 million miles or through private invitation.
Anybody could make a United MileagePlus account without cost on-line, the place you begin as a “Member” and might take off in your elite standing expedition.
United Airways’ revealed elite standing tiers from lowest to highest are:
- Premier Silver
- Premier Gold
- Premier Platinum
- Premier 1K
As you fly extra with United and its companions (or spend on a cobranded bank card), you’ll be able to transfer up in this system to succeed in larger ranges. As you climb the ranks, the perks turn out to be extra profitable, providing unimaginable advantages corresponding to lounge entry or saving cash with free checked luggage.
That is just like the revealed elite standing tiers of rival airline loyalty applications American Airways AAdvantage and Delta Air Traces SkyMiles.
How one can qualify for United Premier standing
In recent times, many airways have moved away from calculating elite standing primarily based on precise mileage flown, as a substitute basing it on the quantity spent. For United, this implies elite standing is calculated primarily based on the variety of PQPs earned (to not be confused with redeemable United MileagePlus miles).
Associated: How one can redeem miles with the United MileagePlus program
United Premier qualifying factors, or PQPs, are earned primarily based on the bottom fare of tickets, upgrades and extra for the touring member. Sadly, this doesn’t embrace the taxes and charges that make up a part of the whole value of the ticket. You possibly can earn PQPs primarily based on award redemptions, associate airline exercise and cobranded bank card spending.
To qualify for United Premier standing, you have to attain various thresholds of PQPs and PQFs (Premier qualifying flights or segments flown on United or associate airways). Alternatively, United permits you to earn standing by assembly the next PQP objective with out a PQF requirement.
| Standing tier | PQPs and PQFs | Solely PQPs |
|---|---|---|
| Premier Silver | 4,000 PQPs and 12 PQFs | 5,000 PQPs |
| Premier Gold | 8,000 PQPs and 24 PQFs | 10,000 PQPs |
| Premier Platinum | 12,000 PQPs and 36 PQFs | 15,000 PQPs |
| Premier 1K | 18,000 PQPs and 54 PQFs | 24,000 PQPs |
For instance, when you earned 13,000 PQPs however solely had 25 qualifying flights on United, you’d attain United Premier Gold as you wouldn’t attain the PQF requirement to earn Premier Platinum by PQPs and PQFs.
It is usually vital to notice that United has a four-segment requirement to attain standing, that means that you have to fly on not less than 4 flights operated by United or United Categorical to earn standing.
United Premier standing advantages
Whereas the perks are nice for all members with United Airways elite standing, as you climb the ladder, the perks and advantages proceed to extend together with your loyalty.
United Airways Premier standing perks embrace:
Premier Silver
That is the entry-level tier in United’s program, the place you’ll obtain advantages corresponding to:
- Earn 7 miles per greenback spent
- Star Alliance Silver standing
- Precedence check-in, safety and Group 2 boarding
- Most well-liked seating at reserving (as much as 9 passengers)
- Financial system Plus seating at check-in (as much as two vacationers)
- One free 70-pound checked bag
- Precedence telephone help
- First-class upgrades on the time of reserving with Y or B fares
- Complimentary first-class upgrades as early because the day of departure
- Higher award availability in economic system
Premier Gold
As you degree up with United, you obtain all the similar perks as Silver, along with:
- Earn 8 miles per greenback spent
- Star Alliance Gold standing
- Marriott Bonvoy Gold standing
- Financial system Plus seating at reserving (as much as two vacationers)
- Group 1 boarding
- Two free 70-pound checked luggage
- Complimentary first-class upgrades as early as 48 hours earlier than departure
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Premier Platinum
For even more-frequent United flyers, you obtain all the similar perks as Premier Gold, along with:
- Earn 9 miles per greenback spent
- Waived phone reserving charges
- Avis President’s Membership standing
- Financial system Plus seating at reserving (as much as 9 vacationers)
- Complimentary first-class upgrades as early as 72 hours earlier than departure
- 40 PlusPoints
- Higher award availability in premium cabins
Premier 1K
That is the highest tier in United’s program for its most frequent vacationers, the place you’ll obtain all the similar perks as Premier Platinum, along with:
- Earn 11 miles per greenback spent
- Precedence boarding, together with preboarding the plane
- Three free 70-pound checked luggage
- First-class upgrades on the time of reserving with Y, B or M fares
- Complimentary first-class upgrades as early as 96 hours earlier than departure
- An extra 280 PlusPoints
- One free drink and one snack in economic system
Can a bank card assist earn United Premier standing?
United has a number of private and enterprise bank cards, all supplied by Chase, together with:
| Card | Finest for | Welcome supply | Earnings | Annual charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Gateway Card | Informal United flyers | Earn 30,000 bonus miles after you spend $1,000 on purchases within the first three months your account is open | 7 miles per greenback on flights (5 miles on base fare from United as a MileagePlus member, plus 2 miles on whole buy with bank card); 3 miles per greenback on United accommodations booked straight (2 miles as a MileagePlus member, plus 1 mile earned with the bank card); 2 miles per greenback on all different United purchases, gasoline, native transit and commuting; 1 mile per greenback on all different purchases | $0 |
| United Explorer Card | Frequent United flyers | Earn 60,000 bonus miles after you spend $3,000 on purchases within the first three months your account is open | 7 miles per greenback on flights (5 miles on base fare from United as a MileagePlus member, plus 2 miles on whole buy with bank card); 4 miles per greenback on United accommodations booked straight (2 miles as a MileagePlus member, plus 2 miles earned with the bank card), 2 miles per greenback on eating, 1 mile per greenback on all different purchases | $95, waived the primary 12 months |
| United Quest Card | Frequent United flyers | Earn 70,000 bonus miles and 500 PQPs after you spend $4,000 on purchases within the first three months your account is open | 8 miles per greenback on flights (5 miles on base fare from United as a MileagePlus member, plus 3 miles on whole buy with bank card); 4 miles per greenback on United accommodations booked straight (2 miles as a MileagePlus member, plus 2 miles earned with the bank card), 2 miles per greenback on eating, 2 miles on choose streaming; 1 mile per greenback on all different purchases | $250 |
| United Membership Infinite Card | Frequent United flyers wanting United Membership entry | Earn 80,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months your account is open | 9 miles per greenback on flights (5 miles on base fare from United as a MileagePlus member, plus 4 miles on whole buy with bank card); 4 miles per greenback on United accommodations booked straight (2 miles as a MileagePlus member, plus 2 miles earned with the bank card), 2 miles per greenback on eating and all journey, 1 mile per greenback on all different purchases | $525 |
| United Enterprise Card | Frequent United flyers with an eligible enterprise | Earn 100,000 bonus miles after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months your account is open | 7 miles per greenback on flights (5 miles on base fare from United as a MileagePlus member, plus 2 miles on whole buy with bank card); 3 miles per greenback on United accommodations booked straight (2 miles as a MileagePlus member, plus 1 mile earned with the bank card); 2 miles per greenback on eating, gasoline, native transit, commuting and workplace provide shops; 1 mile per greenback on all different purchases | $99 |
| United Membership Enterprise Card | Frequent United flyers wanting United Membership entry with an eligible enterprise | Earn 75,000 bonus miles and 1,000 PQPs after you spend $5,000 on purchases within the first three months your account is open | 7 miles per greenback on flights (5 miles on base fare from United as a MileagePlus member, plus 2 miles on whole buy with bank card); 3.5 miles per greenback on United accommodations booked straight (2 miles as a MileagePlus member, plus 1.5 miles earned with the bank card), 1.5 miles per greenback on all different purchases | $450 |
The knowledge for the United Membership Enterprise Card has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Along with the redeemable miles earned, potential membership entry and different perks of the United cobranded bank cards, it’s also possible to earn PQPs.
In 2023, United modified how one can earn PQPs out of your bank cards. The playing cards used to supply 500 PQPs for each $12,000 in spending. Nonetheless, they now supply 25 PQPs for each $500. This isn’t solely a 20% enhance within the pace at which PQPs are earned but it surely additionally means members can earn PQPs with out spending the complete $12,000.
Completely different cobranded bank cards have limits on the variety of PQPs that may be earned:
Is United Premier standing value it?
If you happen to journey with United or its associate airways recurrently and/or spend considerably on a cobranded bank card, chances are you’ll discover it straightforward to earn Premier standing, and it may be a savvy strategy to maximize your journey.
Elite standing can actually make journey extra snug and handy. For instance, when your flight is delayed, and also you need to have the ability to communicate to an agent to get a decision, having elite standing can undoubtedly make the distinction in a immediate response. Moreover, holding any United Premier standing will assist save time with precedence boarding and expedited airport check-in lanes. Complimentary upgrades are all the time fulfilling, although they will generally be onerous to return by on busy routes, particularly between hubs.
Bear in mind, if you’re flying lots and/or spending on a United bank card, you will even be incomes loads of United miles, which you’ll be able to redeem for issues like free flights, all whereas having fun with your elite standing advantages.
It is usually value contemplating United’s route map. It is not value pursuing standing when you’ll be able to’t take pleasure in the advantages you’ve got labored onerous to earn. Make sure you contemplate United’s service from your property airport(s) and the way straightforward it’s to get to your required vacation spot. Dwelling close to a United hub corresponding to Newark Liberty Worldwide Airport (EWR) or George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) can actually have a bigger impression. If United and its associate airways do not fly the place you need to journey, you will not get a lot use from the standing.
Lastly, do not forget that Premier standing doesn’t present home lounge entry when touring with United. If this profit is vital, contemplate the United Membership Infinite Card as a substitute, which offers United Membership entry and elitelike perks corresponding to two free checked luggage and Premier Entry journey providers.
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Backside line
Incomes elite standing, particularly a top-tier standing like Premier 1K, isn’t any straightforward feat and requires numerous hours on planes and 1000’s of {dollars} spent. Understanding the fee and perks of United’s elite standing is vital to find out whether it is best for you.
Premier perks could make the journey expertise much less worrying and much more fulfilling. Each traveler has their very own set of advantages that make it worthwhile to pursue elite standing primarily based on finances constraints, residence airport(s), locations and different particular person elements.
If you happen to try for United Airways elite standing, simply guarantee you’ll use the advantages you’ve got earned.
