Good news: United will make it easier to earn elite status next year

Sarah Hostetler, CNN Underscored
·4 min read

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Angel Di Bilio/iStock Editorial/Getty Images

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If you’ve never had airline elite status before, it can revolutionize your travel. It can save you money and elevate your travel with perks like free checked bags, complimentary seat upgrades, preboarding, free drinks and more.

United Airlines offers just such elite status benefits. But what if you don’t find yourself on a plane nearly often enough to earn United elite status?

You can still achieve high-tier status from credit card spending. And while that’s been true for years, recent changes surrounding the United Airlines MileagePlus loyalty program and its travel credit cards mean you can earn status considerably faster.

Here’s everything you need to know about United’s recently announced elite status changes.

How to earn United elite status

Roman Tiraspolsky/iStock Editorial/Getty Images
Roman Tiraspolsky/iStock Editorial/Getty Images

To earn entry-level United Airlines Premier Silver elite status, you’ve got two options:

  • Earn 12 Premier Qualifying Flights (PQFs) and 4,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs).

  • Earn 5,000 Premier Qualifying Points (PQPs).

PQFs are based on the number of United and United Express segments you fly. You’ll earn PQPs based on the amount you spend with United on flight purchases, seating purchases and paid upgrades.

For award flights, you’ll also earn 1 PQP per 100 United miles redeemed. You can even earn PQPs through United Airlines credit card spending (as we’ll discuss in a minute).

With the technical stuff out of the way, here’s what you’ll need to earn in a calendar year to achieve United Airlines elite status next year.

These are the same thresholds United required this year, and United has confirmed that this will not change for the upcoming status year. This is great news, especially given the fact that Delta Air Lines recently announced that it’s significantly raising elite status requirements next year.

Note that, while taking the purely PQP route, you’ll still need at least four segments flown on United Airlines each year to qualify for status.

Why United elite status is now easier to achieve

Nirian/iStock Unreleased/Getty Images
Nirian/iStock Unreleased/Getty Images

Increased PQPs earnings

You’ll now earn 25 PQPs for every $500 you spend with eligible United credit cards. This means you’ll earn PQPs more incrementally than before, when you were required to meet higher spending requirements to unlock large PQP bonuses.

Previously, United credit cards would award 500 PQPs after spending $12,000 on purchases. With this change, you’ll achieve 500 PQPs after just $10,000 in spending.

United Club Infinite Card becomes more valuable

Each PQP-earning United credit card enforces a firm cap on the amount of PQPs you can earn in a calendar year. For example:

The United Club℠ Infinite Card already had the highest earning potential at 8,000 PQPs. But in 2024, this card’s ceiling will raise to 10,000 PQPs. In other words, this card alone can earn United Premier Gold after spending $200,000 on the card.

No cap for earning PQPs across multiple United credit cards

Starting next year, it will be possible to earn PQPs on more than one United credit card.

United once capped the amount of PQPs you could earn to 15,000 per calendar year. Now, it’s possible to earn up to 19,000 PQPs, provided you hold every PQP-earning United credit card.

True, it would take hundreds of thousands of dollars in spending to actually pull that off — but the fact that it’s even possible is mind blowing. And because PQPs will count toward any status level, you could find yourself just 5,000 PQPs away from top-tier Premier 1K status.

United elite status jumpstart

This isn’t credit card related, but it’s still an interesting update. If you hold United elite status on Feb. 1, 2024, you’ll receive an automatic deposit of PQPs in your account. The amount of points you get will depend on your status level:

  • Premier Silver: 250 PQPs.

  • Premier Gold: 500 PQPs.

  • Premier Platinum: 750 PQPs.

  • Premier 1K: 1,250 PQPs.

Not a revolutionary bonus, but certainly a pleasant surprise for those re-qualifying for United elite status.

Bottom line

United MileagePlus elite status can make a real difference in your travel experience. With United’s recent changes to its MileagePlus program, you will soon be able to earn elite status more easily with credit card spending. Plus, existing United elites will start 2024 with a boost toward status re-qualification.

Looking for a new travel credit card? Check out CNN Underscored’s list of the best credit cards currently available.

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